Features of Methane Hydrate-bearing Sandy-sediments of the Forearc Basin along the Nankai Trough: Effect on Methane Hydrate-Accumulating Mechanism in Turbidite

Methane hydrate-bearing sediments taken by a Pressure Temperature Core Sampler (PTCS), were recovered from the NE-Nankai Trough to clarify the accumulating mechanisms whereby methane hydrate accumulates in pore spaces. The sediments were of the sand and mud alternation layer, which were turbidities and hemi-pelagic mud, respectively. Their sediment features such as grain size, porosity, and methane hydrate saturation of pore spaces were analyzed systematically. Relationships among grain size distribution, Bouma's sequence and hydrocarbon gas volume produced by methane hydrate dissociation were confirmed, thus we understood the correspondence of the features of turbidities features and methane hydrate saturation; i.e., we understood that the part of high methane hydrate saturation had a porosity of 50-55%, median of 1.9-3.3φ, and grain sorting of from -1.4 to -0.4. These features indicate the lower section of turbidite called as Ta and/or Tb. Other sections of turbidite had small amounts of methane hydrate. From these results, we estimated that only permeable sections could maintain the accumulation of methane hydrate from first to last stage. If their pores had been filled with gas-saturated water and the pressure/temperature condition was sufficient for methane hydrate, the methane hydrate would precipitate homogeneously in sediments from its initial accumulation. However, methane hydrate precipitation reduces permeability because methane hydrate growth in pores causes a reduction of pore volume. During accumulation, it is inevitable that gas-rich fluid could not reach into low permeable layers, although it could still be supplied into high permeable layers. This mechanism does not need any cap rock or some trap system in sediments, and it is quite a different mechanism from conventional oil and gas accumulation.