DANGEROUS GAS-SATURATED OBJECTS IN THE WORLD OCEAN: THE CHUKCHI SEA (RUSSIA AND THE USA)

For the first time, interpretation of the upper part of archival seismic CDP time sections of the United States Geological Survey (USGS) for the sectors of Russia and the USA in the Chukchi Sea with total length of 9500 km was conducted. The large-scale shallow gas saturation of the Cretaceous-Quaternary clastic deposits was proved, 782 anomalous potentially gas-saturated objects (gas pockets) were detected on average every 12 km of the studied seismic lines. The widespread distribution of deep genesis gas in potentially gas-bearing objects was justified. No evidence of gas hydrates was found in the shallow water part of the Chukchi Sea. The necessity of intensifying comprehensive research for increasing the safety of prospecting, exploration and development of hydrocarbon fields in off- and onshore areas was substantiated.

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