Black Sea Black Sea Methane Methane HHydrate Stability ydrate Stability ZoneZone

Contribution 11, by: Contribution 11, by: L. Dimitrov and A. VassilevL. Dimitrov and A. Vassilev

Black Sea Black Sea Methane Methane HHydrate Stability ydrate Stability ZoneZone

Contribution 11, by: Contribution 11, by: L. Dimitrov and A. VassilevL. Dimitrov and A. Vassilev

Adapted from: Vassilev, A. and L. Dimitrov, 2000. Spatial and qualitative evaluation of methane hydrates in the Black Sea. Geology & Geophysics. 43(7): 672-684.

The average water depth from which methane hydrate start to forms runs from 620 m to 700 m embracing a prone area of 288,100 km2. The average thickness of the MHSZ is 303 m with a bulk of sediment running from 85,310 to 100,280 km3. Generalized methods of estimation set the total methane content on 10-50x1012 m3 and more precise evaluations suggest 0.1-1.0x1012 m3 of methane are trapped within the Black Sea gas hydrates.

The average water depth from which methane hydrate start to forms runs from 620 m to 700 m embracing a prone area of 288,100 km2. The average thickness of the MHSZ is 303 m with a bulk of sediment running from 85,310 to 100,280 km3. Generalized methods of estimation set the total methane content on 10-50x1012 m3 and more precise evaluations suggest 0.1-1.0x1012 m3 of methane are trapped within the Black Sea gas hydrates.

Black Sea Black Sea Gas Gas HHydrate ydrate ShowsShows

Black Sea Black Sea Gas Gas HHydrate ydrate ShowsShows

Core of the first gas hydrate finding in the Black Sea on the slope of Danube fan atwater depth of 1950 m (43o35’ N - 31o08’ E) in 1971. (Dgigchenko, B.P., 1984. Hydrocarbon Gases. Nedra, Moscow, 112 p.)

Core of the first gas hydrate finding in the Black Sea on the slope of Danube fan atwater depth of 1950 m (43o35’ N - 31o08’ E) in 1971. (Dgigchenko, B.P., 1984. Hydrocarbon Gases. Nedra, Moscow, 112 p.)

Black Sea Black Sea Gas Gas HHydrate ydrate ShowsShows

Black Sea Black Sea Gas Gas HHydrate ydrate ShowsShows

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Several gas hydrate samples in the mud volcano area of SorokinTrough (separate mud volcanoes are named).(Bouryak & Akhmetjanov, 1998. Marine Geology, 137: 215-222 Bohrman et al., 2002. 7th Conference “Gas in Marine Sediments”, 7-12 October, Baku, Azerbaijan)

Several gas hydrate samples in the mud volcano area of SorokinTrough (separate mud volcanoes are named).(Bouryak & Akhmetjanov, 1998. Marine Geology, 137: 215-222 Bohrman et al., 2002. 7th Conference “Gas in Marine Sediments”, 7-12 October, Baku, Azerbaijan)

BSRs observed along the northern Caucasian margin and eastern part of Cuban fan where Meisner and co-workers (1998)reported that more than 200 km2 of continuous BSR.

Side-scan sonar imageof supposed gas hydrate mounds on the seafloor (dark patches) and corresponding subbottom profiler section. (after Kruglyakova et al., 2002. Geology andGeophysics, 43 (7): 706-711).

Lump of gas hydrate from the bottom of the core from the same location.(after Gibsburg and Soloviev, 1998)

Lump of gas hydrate from the bottom of the core from the same location.(after Gibsburg and Soloviev, 1998)

Plates of gas hydrates in deformed muds from a mud volcano, offshore Crimea (44o17’40’’ N – 34o58’39’’). (Gibsburg, G. & V. Soloviev, 1998. Submarine Gas Hydrates. VNIIOkeangeologia, St.Petersburg)

Plates of gas hydrates in deformed muds from a mud volcano, offshore Crimea (44o17’40’’ N – 34o58’39’’). (Gibsburg, G. & V. Soloviev, 1998. Submarine Gas Hydrates. VNIIOkeangeologia, St.Petersburg)

Two cores with gas hydrate finding taken in the Bulgarian zone of the continental slope in 1990. (C193 - water depth of 1970 m (42o53.6’ N - 29o10.2’ E;(C211 - water depth of 2100 m (42o09.4’ N - 29o32.7’ E) Institute of Oceanology, Varna, Bulgaria

Two cores with gas hydrate finding taken in the Bulgarian zone of the continental slope in 1990. (C193 - water depth of 1970 m (42o53.6’ N - 29o10.2’ E;(C211 - water depth of 2100 m (42o09.4’ N - 29o32.7’ E) Institute of Oceanology, Varna, Bulgaria

4 gas hydrate findings sampled from two mud

volcanoes in the abyssal plain in 1988.Konyuhov et al., 1990. Mud volcanoes and gas hydrates in the deep water parts of the

Black Sea. (in Russian) Lithology and Mineral Resources, 137: 215-222.

4 gas hydrate findings sampled from two mud

volcanoes in the abyssal plain in 1988.Konyuhov et al., 1990. Mud volcanoes and gas hydrates in the deep water parts of the

Black Sea. (in Russian) Lithology and Mineral Resources, 137: 215-222.

That’s all for now…

Lyobomir Dimitrov(geo@io-bas.bg)

That’s all for now…

Lyobomir Dimitrov(geo@io-bas.bg)