Thermal anomalies and gas-hydrate occurrence related to large fluid flow structure in the SW Barents Sea

This project proposal applies for funding for a personal overseas research grant for Univ. of Tromsø PhD student Sunil Vadakkepuliyambatta to work on fluid/heat transport processes and associated hydrate accumulations using a novel 3D thermal technique de veloped in the USA. The Barents Sea is a large hydrocarbon-prone basin of the Norwegian Arctic region. A significant portion of the hydrocarbons has leaked or migrated into the shallow subsurface and is now trapped in gas-hydrate and shallow-gas reservoir s. Gas hydrates are supposed to contain more carbon than does any other global reservoir and may be important as a possible future energy resource. Moreover, the enormous unconventional methane that is stored in gas hydrates may play a critical role in cl imate change and ocean acidification. However, the total amount of gas hydrates is yet unknown, and therefore, it is unclear if hydrate impacts the environment. The overall aim of the work is to develop a high-resolution 3D thermal model for the areas in the SW Barents Sea, in which the occurrence of gas hydrates is indicated by the presence of a bottom-simulating reflection (BSR) on seismic data. The work is based on a newly developed 3D thermal technique that can detect and quantify methane hydrate in u nprecedented detail. The analysis reveals where fluids migrate in 3D across a continental margin, and can be used to quantify hydrate with meter-scale resolution. Our main study area focuses on the area west of the Loppa High, along the northern part of t he Ringvassøya Fault complex and the Polheim Sub-platform, where massive fluid leakage features occur. Most of these features show clear evidence for the presence of gas hydrates at its upper termination. The work will utilize existing high-resolution and conventional 3D seismic data. The project will lead to a better understanding of spatial fluid migration systems, heat transport processes and its relationship to gas hydrate accumulations in the SW Barents Sea.