The Response of Gas Hydrates to Tectonic Uplift

Abstract

AbstractPressure reduction following uplift may lead to dissociation of gas hydrates. The dynamics of hydrate dissociation in such settings, however, are poorly understood. We used TOUGH+HYDRATE to investigate the response of gas hydrates to an uplift of 0.009 myr$$^{-1}$$ - 1 over the last 8 kyrs, the approximate end of the postglacial sea-level rise. Geological parameters for the simulations are based on hydrate deposits from the Nankai Trough subduction zone. Our results suggest stabilisation from endothermic cooling, elevated pore pressure, and pore water freshening significantly slows hydrate dissociation such that the hydrate remains in place at its pre-uplift level. A shallower hydrate layer forms from upward-migrating gas when assuming moderate to high permeability (10$$^{-15}$$ - 15 and 10$$^{-13}$$ - 13 m$$^{2}$$ 2 ), while gas remains trapped for low permeability (10$$^{-17}$$ - 17 m$$^{2}$$ 2 ). In the latter case, we predict elevated pore pressure with potential implications for seafloor stability. Our findings suggest that following uplift, hydrates may exist outside the predicted regional gas hydrate stability field for thousands of years.