Gas hydrates off Canada's western cost studied

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SUMMARY

The IODP expedition off Canada's western coast revealed unexpected high concentrations of gas hydrates at depths of 50-120 meters, challenging previous assumptions about their formation. Led by co-chief Michael Riedel from McGill University, the 43-day research aboard the JOIDES Resolution focused on the Cascadia Margin, where gas hydrates are typically found at greater depths. The findings indicate that sediment grain size significantly influences gas hydrate formation, as stated by co-chief Timothy S. Collett of the U.S. Geological Survey. This research provides critical insights into the geological conditions that support gas hydrate stability.

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  • Understanding of gas hydrate formation and stability conditions
  • Familiarity with sedimentology and grain size analysis
  • Knowledge of ocean drilling techniques and equipment, specifically the JOIDES Resolution
  • Basic concepts of natural gas and its geological implications
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  • Research the role of sediment grain size in gas hydrate formation
  • Explore the geological characteristics of the Cascadia Margin
  • Study the methodologies used in ocean drilling expeditions
  • Investigate the implications of gas hydrates for energy resources and climate change
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Geologists, oceanographers, energy resource researchers, and environmental scientists interested in gas hydrate formation and its implications for natural gas resources.

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http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/exp311.html
http://scitation.aip.org/getabs/servlet/GetabsServlet?prog=normal&id=GPYSA7000067000004001038000001&idtype=cvips&gifs=yes
http://www.iodp.org/news-releases/frozen-natural-gas-discovered
Ocean-drilling expedition off Canada's western coast produced data on various frozen gas hydrates is largely natural gas

Contrary to established expectations of how gas hydrate deposits form, IODP expedition co-chief Michael Riedel, of McGill University, Montreal, confirms, "We found anomalous occurrences of high concentrations of gas hydrate at relatively shallow depths, 50-120 meters below the seafloor."

The science party used the drilling facility and laboratories of the U.S. research vessel, JOIDES Resolution, on a 43-day expedition in Fall 2005 during which they retrieved core samples from a geological area known as the (northern) Cascadia Margin. Gas hydrate deposits are typically found below the seafloor in offshore locations where water depths exceed 500 meters, and in Arctic permafrost regions. Gas hydrate remains stable only under low temperature and relatively high pressure.

IODP co-chief scientist Timothy S. Collett of the U.S. Geological Survey states, "After repeatedly recovering high concentrations of gas hydrate in sand-rich layers of sediment, we're reporting strong support for sediment grain size as a controlling factor in gas hydrate formation." Prior to drilling, the scientists anticipated that gas hydrate would be more concentrated at deeper levels below the seafloor and more evenly distributed among the various grain sizes comprising the sediments.
 
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None of the pictures in the report were that pretty. Just the stuff covered in weird-looking sand. Huge grains, black-ish.
 

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