Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T17:03:16.780Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Expressions of shallow gas in the Netherlands North Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 April 2016

B.M. Schroot  and
R.T.E Schüttenhelm
B.M. Schroot*
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute of Applied Geoscience TNO, PO Box 80015, 3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands
R.T.E Schüttenhelm
Affiliation:
Netherlands Institute of Applied Geoscience TNO, PO Box 80015, 3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands
*
2Corresponding author; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Surface and sub-surface expressions of shallow gas in the Netherlands part of the southern North Sea are described, using standard E&P 2D and 3D seismic surveys, as well as higher frequency acoustic surveys. Surface expressions observed are pockmarks, which are geomorphologic features at the seabed indicative for venting of gas, and cemented sandstones. The subsurface expressions found comprise both phenomena indicating efficient trapping of gas in reservoir sands, such as shallow bright spots and flat spots, and phenomena, which are indications of migration or leakage to the seabed. We refer to the latter as ‘seismic anomalies indicating leakage’. These anomalies include gas chimneys or seismic chimneys. All chimneys found in the area have in common, that they belong to a seepage style, which is called ‘small and localised’. Much of this seepage is situated over salt domes, with the accompanying normal fault above the domes acting as pathways for the gas or fluids. Although there is admixture of biogenic gas, it is believed that many of the features observed relate to thermo-genic gas.

Keywords

North Seachimneyspockmarksseepageshallow gas
Type
Research Article
Information
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences , Volume 82 , Special Issue 1: Geofluids in the Netherlands , April 2003 , pp. 91 - 105
Copyright
Copyright © Stichting Netherlands Journal of Geosciences 2003

References

Baum, M.G., K.H. Bleschert, K.H., M. Wagner, M. & M. Schmitt, M., 1996. Application of surface prospecting methods in the Dutch North Sea. In: Extended Abstracts of the 58th EAGE Meeting and Technical Exhibition, Amsterdam, paper 010: 15 pp.Google Scholar
Cameron, T.D.J., Laban, C. & Schüttenhelm, R.T.E., 1984. Quaternary Geology, Flemish Bight Sheet 52° N-02° E. 1:250 000 map series. British Geological Survey & Rijks Geologische Dienst, Ordnance Survey, Southampton.Google Scholar
Cameron, T.D.J., Laban, C. Mesdag, C.S. & Schüttenhelm, R.T.E., 1986. Quaternary Geology, Indefatigable Sheet 53° N-02° E. 1:250 000 map series. British Geological Survey & Rijks Geologische Dienst, Ordnance Survey, Southampton.Google Scholar
Cameron, T.D.J., Laban, C. & Schüttenhelm, R.T.E., 1989a. Upper Pliocene and Lower Pleistocene stratigraphy in the Southern Bight of the North Sea. In: Henriet, J.P. & De Moor, G. (eds) The Quaternary and Tertiary Geology of the Southern Bight, North Sea. Belgian Geological Survey, Brussels: 97–110.Google Scholar
Cameron, T.D.J., Schüttenhelm, R.T.E. & Laban, C. 1989b. Middle and Upper Pleistocene and Holocene stratigraphy in the Southern North Sea between 52° and 54° N, 2° to 4° E. In: Henriet, J.P. & De Moor, G. (eds) The Quaternary and Tertiary Geology of the Southern Bight, North Sea. Belgian Geological Survey, Brussels: 119–135.Google Scholar
Davies, T.A., Bell, T., Cooper, A.K., Josenhans, H., Polyak, L., Solheim, A., Stoker, M.S. & Stravere, J.A. (eds), 1997. Glaciated continental margins : an atlas of acoustic images. Chapman & Hall (London): 315 pp.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Davis, A.M., 1992. Shallow gas: an overview. In: Davis, A.M. (ed.) Methane in marine sediments, Continental Shelf Research 12: 1077–1079.Google Scholar
Faber, E., 1996. Stabile Isotope sorbierter Kohlenwasserstoffe aus flachen Nordseebohrungen. Geol. Jb., A1 46: 203–215.Google Scholar
Fannin, N.G.T., 1980. The use of regional geological surveys in the North Sea and adjacent areas in the recognition of offshore hazards. In: Ardus, D.A. (ed.) Offshore Site Investigation. Graham and Trotman, London: 5–22.Google Scholar
Floodgate, G.D. & Judd, A.G., 1992. The origins of shallow gas. In: Davis, A.M. (ed.) Methane in marine sediments, Continental Shelf Research 12: 1145–1156.Google Scholar
Gallagher, J.W., Hovland, M., Amaliksen, K.G., Braaten, A.M., Jacobsen, T., Granii, J.R., 1991. Shallow gas on Haltenbanken, Statoil report no. 91023027.Google Scholar
Heggland, R., 1994. Detection of near surface gas seepage by the use of conventional 3D seismic data. In: Extended Abstracts of the EAEG 56th Meeting andTechnical Exhibition, Vienna.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heggland, R., 1997. Detection of gas migration from a deep source by the use of exploration 3D seismic data. Marine Geology 137: 41–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heggland, R., Meldahl, P., de Groot, P. & Aminzadeh, F., 2000. Chimney cube unravels subsurface. The American Oil and Gas Reporter, February 2000.Google Scholar
Hovland, M. & Judd, A.G., 1988. Seabed Pockmarks and Seepages, Impact on Geology, Biology and the Marine Environment. Graham and Trotman, London: 293 pp.Google Scholar
Hovland, M., Talbot, M., Olaussen, S., & Aasberg, L., 1985. Recently formed methane-derived carbonates from the North Sea floor. In: Thomas, B.M. (ed.) Petroleum Geochemistry in Exploration of the Norwegian Shelf. Norwegian Petroleum Society, Graham and Trotman: 263–266.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hovland, M., Talbot, M., Qvale, H., Olaussen, S. & Aasberg, L., 1987. Methane-related carbonate cements in pockmarks of the North Sea. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 57: 881–892.Google Scholar
Iversen, N., 1990. Methane in marine sediments. Methane in marine sediments, Conference, Edinburgh, September 19–21, 1990, programme & abstract volume.Google Scholar
Jeffery, D.H., Frantsen, P., Laban, C. & Schüttenhelm, R.T.E., 1989. Quaternary Geology, Silver Well Sheet 54° N-02° E. 1:250 000 map series, British Geological Survey & Rijks Geologische Dienst, Ordnance Survey, Southampton.Google Scholar
Jørgensen, N.O., 1976. Recent high-magnesian calcite/aragonite cementation of beach and submarine sediments from Denmark. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 46: 940–951.Google Scholar
Jørgensen, N.O., 1994. Gas-induced structures and genesis of methane-derived carbonate cemented sandstones from Denmark. 3rd International Conference on Gas in Marine Sediments, Texel, September 25–28, 1994, Abstract Volume: 1 p.Google Scholar
Judd, A.G., 1990. Shallow gas and gas seepages: a dynamic process? In: Ardus, D.A. & Green, C.D. (eds) Safety in offshore drilling - the role of shallow gas surveys. Advances in Underwater Technology, Ocean Science and Engineering 25: 27–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Judd, A.G. & Hovland, M., 1992. The evidence of shallow gas in marine sediments. In: Davis, A.M. (ed.) Mediane in marine sediments, Continental Shelf Research 12: 1081–1097.Google Scholar
Juel, N., 1839. Fortsatte Bidrag til Naturbemaerkninger over Jyllands nordligste Odde. København Naturhist. Tidsskrift II: 1838–1839.Google Scholar
Laban, C. 1995. The Pleistocene glaciations in the Dutch sector of the North Sea - A synthesis of sedimentary and seismic data. PhD Thesis, University of Amsterdam: 200 pp.Google Scholar
Laban, C. 1999. Gaskraters in de Noordzee. Mens en Wetenschap 26-2: 96–99.Google Scholar
Laier, T., Jørgensen, N.O., Buchardt, B. & Cederberg, T., 1990. Accumulation of biogenic gas in northern Denmark. Methane in marine sediments, Conference, Edinburgh, September 19–21, 1990, programme & abstract volume.Google Scholar
Laier, T., Jørgensen, N.O., Buchardt, B. & Cederberg, T. & Kuijpers, A., 1992. Accumulation and seepages of biogenic gas in Northern Denmark. Methane in marine sediments, Continental Shelf Research 12: 1173–1186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Long, D., 1992. Devensian Late-glacial gas escape in the central North Sea. In: Davis, A.M. (ed.) Methane in marine sediments, Continental Shelf Research 12: 1097–1110.Google Scholar
Lorié, J., 1897. De stormvloed van December 1894 en het vraagstuk der schelpvisscherij langs onze kust. Tijdschrift Koninklijk Nederlands Aardrijkskundig Genootschap (2) 14: 492–554.Google Scholar
McQuillin, R. & Fannin, N.G.T., 1979. Explaining the North Sea floor. New Scientist 1163: 90–92.Google Scholar
Meldahl, P., Heggland, R., Bril, B., & de Groot, P., 2001. Identifying faults and gas chimneys using multi-attributes and neural networks. The Leading Edge 20-5: 474–482.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rice, D.D. & Claypool, G.E., 1981. Generation, accumulation, and resource potential of biogenic gas. Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists 65: 5–25.Google Scholar
Salisbury, R.S.K., 1990. Engineering geological aspects conceptual platform design in a shallow gas habitat with salt intrusives. In: 6th International IAEG Congress, Rotterdam, 301–309.Google Scholar
Schroot, B.M., 2002. North Sea shallow gas as a natural analogue in feasibility studies on C02 sequestration. In: Extended Abstracts of the 64th EAGE Meeting and Technical Exhibition, Florence, paper HO 10: 4 pp.Google Scholar
Sha, L.P.(ed.), 1991. Quaternary Sedimentary Sequences in the southern North Sea basin, Final discipline rept. of the project: The Modelling And Dynamics Of The Quaternary Geology Of The Southern North Sea And Their Applications To Environmental Protection And Industrial Developments, CEC DGXII, Scientific Programme Contract No. SCI*-128-C 9EDB: 135 pp., app.Google Scholar
Trasher, J., Fleet, A.J., Hay, S.J., Hovland, M., & Düppenbecker, S., 1996. Understanding geology as the key to using seepage in exploration: spectrum of seepage styles, In: Schumacher, D. & Abrams, M.A. (eds) Hydrocarbon migration and its near-surface expression: AAPG Memoir 66: 223–241.Google Scholar
Van Straaten, L.M.J.U. 1957. Recent sandstones on the coast of the Netherlands and of the Rhône delta. Geologie & Mijnbouw 19: 196–213.Google Scholar