Collaborative Research: Physical and Chemical Constraints on Fluxes at LExEn Gas Hydrate Sites in the Gulf of Mexico

OCE-0118101的摘要；“对Lexen和墨西哥湾拟议的ODP点通量的物理和化学限制”拟议的项目将侧重于解开中通量和高通量点之间的天然气水合物储藏的动态。至1。)通过使用渗透通量计直接测量流体通量，2)获取高分辨率热流数据，3)使用孔隙水和固相气体通量指标，以及4)使用高分辨率深拖线性调频剖面对通量管道成像，这项研究将限制对天然气水合物的形成和长期稳定性至关重要的通量的空间和时间变化。这一结果验证了能量、流体和气体流量的可量化空间变化与游离气和天然气水合物分布的可观察变化有关的假设。这些研究地点与NSF资助的极端环境中生命项目的两个重点微生物学研究地点不谋而合。研究地点还与墨西哥湾天然气水合物钻探拟议的两个地点不谋而合，该项目将为拟议的钻探提供额外的现场勘测数据。

Abstract of OCE-0118101; "Physical and Chemical constraints on fluxes at LExEn and proposed ODP sites in the Gulf of Mexico"The proposed project will focus on unraveling the dynamics of the gas hydrate reservoir at and between moderate and high flux sites. Through 1.) direct measurement of fluid flux with osmotic flux meters, 2) acquisition of high resolution heat flow data, 3) use of porewater and solid-phase proxies for gas flux and 4) imaging of flux conduits with high-resolution, deep-tow Chirp profiles, the study will constrain spatial and temporal variations in fluxes critical to the formation and long-term stability of gas hydrates. The results provide a test of the hypothesis that quantifiable spatial variations in energy, fluid and gas flux are related to observable changes in the distribution of free gas and gas hydrate. The study sites coincide with two sites chosen for focused microbiological research as part of an NSF funded Life in Extreme Environments project. The study sites also coincide with two sites proposed for Gulf of Mexico gas hydrates drilling and the project will provide additional site survey data for the proposed drilling.