Abstract
Migration of hydrocarbons to the seafloor in the Black Sea occurs via direct seepages, mud volcanoes, and development of fluidized sediment flows (e.g., diapers). Gas migration occurs on the shelf, continental slope, and abyssal plain. Gas hydrates are spatially related to gas accumulations and are present in shallow subsurface sediment layers. Their distribution is controlled by the activity of mud volcanoes. In regions of methane seepages, specific biogeochemical processes related to the activity of methane-oxidizing bacteria are evident. This activity results in the formation of diagenetic minerals (carbonates, sulfides, sulfates, phosphates and other minerals).
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the NATO Science Programme for support of our participation in the NATO Workshop and Shallow Gas Conference in Baku during October 2002. We acknowledge the contributions by numerous geologists and geophysicists from Yuzhmorgeologiya of the Federal Scientific Centre (FSC) to our understanding of many aspects discussed in this paper. We are obliged to Prof. Robert E. Garrison and to our referees, Prof. Jordan Clark and Dr. Lybomir Dimitrov, for their comments.
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Kruglyakova, R.P., Byakov, Y.A., Kruglyakova, M.V. et al. Natural oil and gas seeps on the Black Sea floor. Geo-Mar Lett 24, 150–162 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-004-0171-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-004-0171-4