Fatty-acids and their C-13 signatures in seep carbonates from hydrocarbon seeps on the upper (GC 185) and lower (AC 645) continental slope of the Gulf of Mexico

Here we reported the fatty-acids and their δ 13C values in seep carbonates collected from Green Canyon lease block 185 (GC 185; Sample GC-F) at upper continental slope (water depth: ∼540 m), and Alaminos Canyon lease block 645 (GC 645; Sample AC-E) at lower continental slope (water depth: ∼2200 m) of the Gulf of Mexico. More than thirty kinds of fatty acids were detected in both samples. These fatty acids are maximized at C16. There is a clear even-over-odd carbon number predominance in carbon number range. The fatty acids are mainly composed of n-fatty acids, iso-/anteiso-fatty acids and terminally branched odd-numbered fatty acids (iso/anteiso). The low δ 13C values (−39.99‰ to.32.36‰) of n-C12:0, n-C13:0, i-C14:0and n-C14:0 suggest that they may relate to the chemosynthetic communities at seep sites. The unsaturated fatty acids n-C18:2 and C18:1Δ9 have the same δ 13C values, they may originate from theBeggiatoa/Thioploca. Unlike other fatty acids, the terminally branched fatty acids (iso/anteiso) show lowerδ 13C values (as low as −63.95‰) suggesting a possible relationship to sulfate reducing bacteria, which is common during anaerobic oxidation of methane at seep sites.

Diversity, abundance and distribution of amoA-encoding archaea in deep-sea methane seep sediments of the Okhotsk Sea

The authors would like to thank Jin Sun, Jian Sun, Liangliang Kong, Nianshuang Wang, Chunhui Wang, Linbao Zhang and Ying Zhang for their assistance in the project. This work was supported by China Ocean Mineral Resources R&D Association grants DYXM-115-02-2-20 and DYXM-115-02-2-6, Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China grant 2007AA091903, China National Natural Science Foundation grant 40576069, National Basic Research Program of China grant 2009CB219506 and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China grant 09CX05005A. M. G. K. was funded by incentive funds provided by the UofL-EVPR office and the US National Science Foundation (EF-0412129).

Diverse and Novel nifH and nifH-Like Gene Sequences in the Deep-Sea Methane Seep Sediments of the Okhotsk Sea

Diverse nifH and nifH-like gene sequences were obtained from the deep-sea surface sediments of the methane hydrate-bearing Okhotsk Sea. Some sequences formed novel families of the NifH or NifH-like proteins, of currently unresolved bacterial or archaeal origin. Comparison with other marine environments indicates environmental specificity of some of the sequences, either unique to the methane seep sediments of the Okhotsk Sea or to the general deep-sea methane seep sedimentary environments.

Initiation and development of water film by seepage

When water seeps upwards through a saturated soil layer, the soil layer may become instability and water films occur and develop. Water film serves as a natural sliding surface because of its very small friction. Accordingly, debris flow may happen. To investigate this phenomenon, a pseudo-three-phase media is presented first. Then discontinuity method is used to analyze the expansion velocity of water film. Finally, perturbation method is used to analyze the case that a water flow is forced to seep upwards through the soil layer while the movement of the skeleton may be neglected relative to that of water. The theoretical evolutions of pore pressure gradient, effective stress, water velocity, the porosity and the eroded fine grains are obtained. It can be seen clearly that with the erosion and re-deposited of fine grains, permeability at some positions in the soil layer becomes smaller and smaller and, the pore pressure gradient becomes bigger and bigger, while the effective stress becomes smaller and smaller. When the effective stress equals zero, e.f. liquefaction, the water film occurs. It is shown also that once a water film occurs, it will be expanded in a speed of (U)(t)/(1 - E >).

Fine-scale vertical distribution of bacteria in the East Pacific deep-sea sediments determined via 16S rRNA gene T-RFLP and clone library analyses

Although the deep-sea sediments harbor diverse and novel bacteria with important ecological and environmental functions, a comprehensive view of their community characteristics is still lacking, considering the vast area and volume of the deep-sea sedimentary environments. Sediment bacteria vertical distribution and community structure were studied of the E272 site in the East Pacific Ocean with the molecular methods of 16S rRNA gene T-RFLP (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism) and clone library analyses. Layered distribution of the bacterial assemblages was detected by both methods, indicating that the shallow sediments (40 cm in depth) harbored a diverse and distinct bacterial composition with fine-scale spatial heterogeneity. Substantial bacterial diversity was detected and nine major bacterial lineages were obtained, including Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, and the candidate divisions OP8 and TM6. Three subdivisions of the Proteobacteria presented in our libraries, including the alpha-, gamma- and delta-Proteobacteria. Most of our sequences have low similarity with known bacterial 16S rRNA genes, indicating that these sequences may represent as-yet-uncultivated novel bacteria. Most of our sequences were related to the GenBank nearest neighboring sequences retrieved from marine sediments, especially from deep-sea methane seep, gas hydrate or mud volcano environments. Several sequences were related to the sequences recovered from the deep-sea hydrothermal vent or basalt glasses-bearing sediments, indicating that our deep-sea sampling site might be influenced to certain degree by the nearby hydrothermal field of the East Pacific Rise at 13A degrees N.

Methane-derived authigenic carbonates from the Ulleung basin sediments, East Sea of Korea

Authigenic carbonates were sampled in methane-enriched piston core sediments collected from gas venting sites on the western continental slope of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea of Korea. Multidisciplinary investigations on these carbonates, including the scanning electronic microscope (SEM) observations and mineralogical-geochemical compositions, were carried out to identify the carbon and oxygen sources and the forming mechanism of these carbonates. The authigenic carbonates from the study area correspond to semi-consolidated, compact concretions or nodules ranging from 2 to 9 cm in size. X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe analyses showed that most of the sampled carbonate concretions were composed of almost purely authigenic high-Mg calcite (10.7-14.3 mol% MgCO3). Characteristically, microbial structures such as filaments and rods, which were probably associated with the authigenic minerals, were abundantly observed within the carbonate matrix. The carbonates were strongly depleted in delta C-13 (-33.85 parts per thousand to -39.53 parts per thousand Peedee Belemnite (PDB)) and were enriched in delta O-18 (5.16-5.60 parts per thousand PDB), indicating that the primary source of carbon is mainly derived from the anaerobic oxidation of methane. Such methane probably originated from the destabilization of the underlying gas hydrates as strongly supporting from the enriched O-18 levels. Furthermore, the strongly depleted delta C-13 values (-60.7 parts per thousand to -61.6 parts per thousand PDB) of the sediment void gases demonstrate that the majority of the gas venting at the Ulleung Basin is microbial methane by CO2 reduction. This study provides another example for the formation mechanism of methane-derived authigenic carbonates associated with gas-hydrate decomposition in gas-seeping pockmark environments. (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Diversity of Both the Cultivable Protease-Producing Bacteria and Their Extracellular Proteases in the Sediments of the South China Sea

Protease-producing bacteria are known to play an important role in degrading sedimentary particular organic nitrogen, and yet, their diversity and extracellular proteases remain largely unknown. In this paper, the diversity of the cultivable protease-producing bacteria and their extracellular proteases in the sediments of the South China Sea was investigated. The richness of the cultivable protease-producing bacteria reached 10(6) cells/g in all sediment samples. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the predominant cultivated protease-producing bacteria are Gammaproteobacteria affiliated with the genera Pseudoalteromonas, Alteromonas, Marinobacter, Idiomarina, Halomonas, Vibrio, Shewanella, Pseudomonas, and Rheinheimera, with Alteromonas (34.6%) and Pseudoalteromonas (28.2%) as the predominant groups. Inhibitor analysis showed that nearly all the extracellular proteases from the bacteria are serine proteases or metalloproteases. Moreover, these proteases have different hydrolytic ability to different proteins, reflecting they may belong to different kinds of serine proteases or metalloproteases. To our knowledge, this study represents the first report of the diversity of bacterial proteases in deep-sea sediments.

Gas seepage on the sea floor of Okinawa Trough Miyako Section

A marine geophysical survey was carried out, on the RN Science 1 of the Institute of Oceanography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS), in 2000, at the Miyako Section of Okinawa Trough. Here we present seismic and acoustic evidence of a gas seep on the sea floor on the western part of the Okinawa Through, near the lower slope of the East China Sea Slope and discuss the possibility of related formation of gas hydrate. A gas column reflection was observed in echo-sounder data above a section where the sea floor reflector was missing, on both the echo-sounder and the seismic data for line H14. The seismic data also show an acoustic curtain reflection and a turbidity reflection at this section. These anomalies are the evidence of the existence of a gas seep, which occupies an area 2.2 km in diameter. Based on the acoustic curtain on line H14, we believe that the amount of gas contained in the sediments below the gas seep is larger than 1 % by volume of sediment. Tectonically, the gas seep developed in a small basin controlled by basement uplift in the north, south and east. The thickness of the sediment layer can be greater than 3.5 km. A mud diapir structure was found in layer D beneath the gas seep. Over-pressure may occur due to the large sediment thickness and also the tectonic basement uplift in the north, south, and east. The mud diapir could be the preferential pathway for methane-rich fluids. The acoustic curtain may indicate that free gas related to the gas seep can be formed on the sea floor. We also note that the layer above the acoustic curtain on profile H14 may contain gas hydrate.

Sedimentary processes and development of the Zenisu deep-sea channel, Philippine Sea

Zenisu deep-sea channel originated from a volcanic arc region, Izu-Ogasawara Island Arc, and vanished in the Shikoku Basin of the Philippine Sea. According to the swath bathymetry, the deep-sea channel can be divided into three,segments. They are Zenisu canyon, E-W fan channel and trough-axis channel. A lot of volcanic detritus were deposited in the Zenisu Trough via the deep-sea channel because it originated from volcanic arc settings. On the basis of the swath bathymetry, submersible and seismic reflection data, the deposits are characterized by turbidite and debrite deposits as those in the other major deep-sea channels. Erosion or few sediments were observed in the Zenisu canyon, whereas a lot of turbidites and debrites occurred in the E-W channel and trough axis channel. Cold seep communities, active fault and fluid flow were discovered along the lower slope of the Zenisu Ridge. Vertical sedimentary sequences in the Zenisu Trough consist of the four post-rift sequence units of the Shikoku Basin, among which Units A and B are two turbidite units. The development of Zenisu canyon is controlled by the N-S shear fault, the E-W fan channel is related to the E-W shear fault, and the trough-axis channel is related to the subsidence of central basin.

A comprehensive investigation of an offshore active fault in the Western Sagami Bay, central Japan

Offshore active faults, especially those in the deep sea, are very difficult to study because of the water and sedimentary cover. To characterize the nature and geometry of offshore active faults, a combination of methods must be employed. Generally, seismic profiling is used to map these faults, but often only fault-related folds rather than fracture planes are imaged. Multi-beam swath bathymetry provides information on the structure and growth history of a fault because movements of an active fault are reflected in the bottom morphology. Submersible and deep-tow surveys allow direct observations of deformations on the seafloor (including fracture zones and microstructures). In the deep sea, linearly aligned cold seep communities provide indirect evidence for active faults and the spatial migration of their activities. The Western Sagami Bay fault (WSBF) in the western Sagami Bay off central Japan is an active fault that has been studied in detail using the above methods. The bottom morphology, fractured breccias directly observed and photographed, seismic profiles, as well as distribution and migration of cold seep communities provide evidence for the nature and geometry of the fault. Focal mechanism solutions of selected earthquakes in the western Sagami Bay during the period from 1900 to 1995 show that the maximum compression trends NW-SE and the minimum stress axis strikes NE-SW, a stress pattern indicating a left-lateral strike-slip fault.

新元古代陡山沱期古海洋的氧化还原环境演变

High resolution geochemical analysis of Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation deposits in eastern Gorges area, including carbon and sulfur isotope compositions, trace elements, rare earth elements, and so on, show a whole panorama of the oceanic environment in Ediacaran Doushantuo Formation. The deposits of Doushantuo II recorded consistent δ13Corg values and variable δ13Ccarb values, which suggets that it is strongly redox stratified in Doushantuo ocean, and there is a large DOC reservior in the deep ocean. The redox state of Doushantuo ocean in Yangtze area was not steady. The movement of chemocline was concerned with the transgression and/or regression. During the transgression, raising sea level and upwelling with anoxic deep water would cause the ocean anoxic; during the regression, declining sea level and weathered sulfate input would cause the suface ocean becoming oxic. The oxidations of this DOC reservior would caused negative δ13C excurions in Doushantuo Formation. Comparing with oceanic redox states and fossils productivity, we found that the stratum with high biologic productivity and diversity did not indicated oxic conditions. In the opposite, these stratum recorded anoxic conditions. We suggeste that it would be relatived to burial and preservation of fossils, because anoxic conditions are in favor of burial and preservation of fossils. It is proved that methane seep occurred at the base of Duoshantuo cap carbonate. However, comparing cap carbonate with seep carbonate, we found that oxidation of methan and the post-diagenesis could not derictely result in cap carbonate deoposition. Cap carbonate would be derived from the high level CO2 in atomosphere.

非饱和膨胀土力学特性及其工程处置研究

The unsaturated expansive soil is a hotspot and difficulty in soil mechanics inland and outland. The expansive soil in our China is one of the widest in distributing and greatest in area, and the disaster of expansive soil happens continually as a result. The soil mechanics test, monitor, numerical simulation and engineering practice are used to research swell and shrinkage characteristic, edge strength characteristic and unsaturated strength characteristic of Mengzi expansive soil. The seep and stability of the slope for expansive soil associated with fissure are analyzed and two kinds of new technique are put forward to be used in expansive soil area, based on disaster mechnics proposed of the slope.The technique of reinforcement in road embankment is optimized also. Associated with engineering geology research of Mengzi expansive soil, mineral composition, chemical composition, specific area and cation content, dissolubility salt and agglutinate, microcosmic fabric characteristic, cause of formation and atmosphere effect depth are analyzed to explain the intrinsic cause and essence of swell and shrinkage for expansive soil. The rule between swell-shrinkage and initial state, namely initial water content, initial dry density and initial pressure, can be used to construction control. Does Response model is fit to simulate the rule, based on ternary regression analysis. It has great meaning to expansive soil engineering in area with salt or alkali. The mechanics under CD, CU and GCU of expansive soil is researched by edge surface theory to explain the remarkable effect of consolidation pressure, initial dry density, initial water content, cut velocity, drainage and reinforcement to the edge strength characteristic. The infirm hardening stress strain curves can be fitted with hyperbola model and the infirm softening curves can be fitted with exponential model. The normalization theory can be used to reveal the intrinsic unity of the otherness which is brought by different methods to the shear strength of the same kinds of samples. The unsaturated strain softening characteristic and strength envelope of remolding samples are researched by triaxial shear test based on suction controlled, the result of which is simulated by exponential function. The strength parameters of the unsaturated samples are obtained to be used in the unsaturated seep associated with rainfall. The elasticity and plasticity characters of expansive soil are researched to attain the model parameters by using modified G-A model. The humidification destroy characteristic of expansive soil is discussed to research the disaster mechanism of the slope with the back pressure increasing and suction decreasing under bias pressure consolidation. The indoor and outdoor SWCCs are measured to research the effect factors and the rule between different stress and filling environment. The moisture absorption curves can express the relationship between suction and water content in locale. The SWCCs of Mengzi expansive soil are measured by GDS stress path trixial system. The unsaturated infiltration function is gained to research seep and stability of the slope of expansive soil. The rainfall infiltration and ability of slope considering multifarious factors are studied by analyzing fissure cause of Mengzi expansive soil. The mechanism of the slope disaster is brought forward by the double controlling effect between suction and fissure. Two new kinds of technique are put forward to resolve disaster of expansive soil and the technique of reinforcement on embankment is optimized, which gives a useful help to solving engineering trouble.

胜坨油田沙二段油藏流场剩余油形成机理和分布模式

By applying multi-discipline theory and methods comprehensively and with full use of computer, the paper deeps into studying changing rule and control factor of fluid field of ES2 Shengtuo oil field during waterflood development, physical and chemical function, and stress. Matrix field, network field, fluid field, stress field and physical chemistry field and fluid model for dynamic function were established. Macroscopic and microscopic genesis mechanics, distribution rule and control factor of remaining oil were revealed. Remaining oil and emulate model were established. Macroscopic and microscopic distribution rule of mover remaining oil were predicted, several results were achieved as following: The distribution of remaining oil was controlled by micro-structure. At the same development stage, remaining oil saturation of the wells located in higher position of micro-structure is higher than the average saturation in the same layer. The water content ratio has same law. It is the enrichment district that the high position of micro-structure controlled by seal faults. The remaining oil distribution was affected by sedimentary micro-facies, micro-structure, fault sealing, reservoir heterogeneity and affusion-oil extraction. On the plane, the zone owning higher saturation of remaining oil is the area that at the edge miacro-facies and sand-body distribution discontinuously; on the section, the content of waterflood of the upper or middle-upper oil layer of positive rhythm and positive comprehensive rhythm is lower, middle and weak waterflood is main, remaining oil is in enrichment relatively. The remaining oil is relative enrichment at the zones of well network of affusion and oil extraction not affected. 4D dynamic model of reservoir of Es2in Shengtuo oil field was established. Macroscopic and microscopic forming mechanics, distribution rule and control factor were revealed. The emulate model of dynamic function of Shengtuo oil field was established, the space distribution of remaining oil were predicted. Reservoir flow field, matrix field, network field, seep field, physical and chemical field, stress field and fluid field models were established. Reservoir flow field character and distribution were revealed. An improvement of the development geology theory in continental fault depression continental basin was brought on.

文33块沙二下段油藏动态模型及剩余油预测

By applying synthetically multi-subject theories, methods and technology, such as petroleum geology, sedimentology, seep mechanics, geochemistry, geophysics and so on; and by making full use of computer; combining quantity and quality, macroscopic and microscopic, intensive static and active description, comprehensive studying and physical modeling, 3 dimension and 4 dimension description; the paper took Wen-33 block of Zhongyuan oil field as an example; and studied reservoir macroscopic and microscopic parameter changing rule and evolve mechanics in different water-blood stage. The reservoir dynamic model and remaining-oil distribution mode was established, and several results were achieved as follows: (1) Three types of parameter gaining, optimizing and whole data body of Wen33th reservoir were established. Strata framework, structure framework, reservoir types and distribution of Wen33th reservoir were discussed. Reservoir genesis types, space distribution law and evolve rule of Wen33th reservoir were explained. 4D dynamic model of macroscopic parameter of reservoir flow dynamic geologic function of Wen33th reservoir was established. The macroscopic remaining-oil distribution and control factor was revealed. The models of the microscopic matrix field, pore-throat network field, fluid field, clay mineral field of Wen-33 block were established. The characters, changing rules and controlled factors in different water stage were revealed. The evolve rule and mechanics of petroleum fluid field in Wen-33 block reservoir were revealed. Macroscopic and microscopic remaining oil distribution mode of Wen-33 block were established. Seven types, namely 12 shapes of dynamic model of microscopic remaining oil were discussed, and the distribution of mover remaining oil was predicted. Emulation model: mathematical model and prediction model of Wen-33 block were established. The changing mechanics of reservoir parameter and distribution of remaining-oil were predicted. Firstly, the paper putting forward that the dynamic geologic function of petroleum development is the factor of controlling remaining-oil, which is the main factor leading to matrix field, network field, clay mineral field, fluid field, physic and chemical field, stress field and fluid field forming and evolving. (10) A set of theories, methods and technologies of investigating, describing, characterizing and predicting complex fault-block petroleum were developed.

墨西哥湾Alaminos Canyon、Bush Hill冷泉碳酸盐岩有机地球化学与沉积环境

本文通过对墨西哥湾Bush Hill 的5个冷泉碳酸盐岩样品和Alaminos Canyon 的1个冷泉碳酸盐岩样品的总有机质含量、可溶有机质含量、饱和烃、芳烃、脂肪酸、δ13C组成分布特征和部分地球化学参数的研究，探讨了冷泉碳酸盐岩中有机质来源、成熟度和沉积环境。 Bush Hill的冷泉碳酸盐岩样品的总有机碳为0.78-9.02%，可溶有机质含量5.77-65.06mg/g。总有机碳达9.02%的GC-B样品高碳数正构烷烃奇偶优势明显，存在荧蒽、芘和苝系列化合物，表明该样品有陆源物质的输入，并明显受深部渗漏原油的影响，其中烷烃的δ13C为-27.64～-32.36‰，正构脂肪酸δ13C为-26.52～-39.99‰，与现代菌藻类及下伏油气藏的δ13C值（-27～-31‰）相似，表明样品中的有机质主体可能来源于深部油气藏。其余4个Bush Hill冷泉碳酸盐岩样品和1个Alaminos Canyon冷泉碳酸盐岩样品正构烷烃的低碳优势明显，而奇偶优势不明显，低碳数分布的环己烷和长链烷基苯，以及三芳甾烷和甲基三芳甾烷的存在，推断这些样品的母质以菌藻类来源为主。 所有分析样品的甾烷成熟度参数C29ββ/(ββ+αα)为0.28-0.40，C2920S/(20S + 20R)为0.42-0.61、及C20-C21三芳孕甾烷TA(Ⅰ)/C26-C28三芳甾烷TA(Ⅱ)为0.49都说明样品的有机质成熟度较低,。 AC深水区AC-E样品UCM隆起不明显，Bush Hill浅水区样品（GC-B、GC-D、GC-F、GC-G，GC-H）UCM隆起均十分明显，这种隆起的形成是因为正烷烃、甚至五环三萜烷遭受生物降解。被微生物降解的正构烷烃与未被降解的环烷烃和支链烷烃等形成不能被溶解的复杂混合物（UCM）。因此，UCM隆起通常被认为是有机质遭受生物降解最直接的证据。深水区AC-E和Bush Hill浅水区GC-F样品中芴、氧芴和硫芴之间的丰度关系为硫芴﹥芴﹥氧芴，表明其为弱氧化-弱还原的沉积环境。具有较负碳同位素组成（-63.95‰ ~ -50.48‰）的异构/反异构脂肪酸是硫酸盐还原细菌的典型生物标志化合物，进一步证实冷泉碳酸盐岩的形成与甲烷缺氧氧化作用有关。 关键词：墨西哥湾 冷泉碳酸盐岩 有机质组成分布 单体烃碳同位素 沉积环境