--> Abstract: Models of Gas Hydrate Accumulation in Permafrost Areas, by Evgeny Chuvilin; #90177 (2013)

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Models of Gas Hydrate Accumulation in Permafrost Areas

Evgeny Chuvilin

Permafrost sediments occupy significant part of the Arctic areas of continental Eurasia, America. Their thickness reaches 300-700 meters. Geological studying and temperature modeling of underwater conditions show that permafrost can also exist within the limits of a continental shelf of the Arctic seas. Frozen sediments on a shelf can meet up to 60 meters isobath. As the Arctic seas are shallow, the shelf frozen ground can occupy greater territories, thus its thickness can reach 200-300 meters. Processes of cooling and long-term frost penetration which periodically occurred in Arctic regions promoted formation of not only powerful thicknesses of frozen sediments, but also gas hydrates congestions, first of all methane gas hydrates. In natural conditions gas hydrates form essentially in bottom deposits of seas and oceans and also in permafrost regions in front of perennial frost penetration of rocks, i.e. under positive temperatures. But there are occasions when gas hydrate accumulation occurs in freezing, thawing and frozen gas saturated grounds under thermo-baric conditions of hydrate formation. Processes of natural hydrate formation under negative temperatures in zone of permafrost can be widespread sufficiently, which is necessary to take into account for development of Arctic regions. Based on analysis of geological data and experimental researches possible models of gas hydrates formation in permafrost area presented.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90177©3P Arctic, Polar Petroleum Potential Conference & Exhibition, Stavanger, Norway, October 15-18, 2013