Gas Hydrates of the Southern Caspian

The geological structure and bathymetry of the deepwater part of the South Caspian indicate the possible formation of significant amounts of gas hydrates. The aim of the research is to calculate the volume of hydrocarbon gases of gas hydrates according to integrated geological-geophysical, geochemical, and thermodynamic data, as well as to study and predict the migration of hydrocarbon gases into the upper part of the section. For a regional characterization of gas hydrates to be used for 17 seismic profiles, 1282 gas survey samplings and thermodynamic data were collected in the deepwater area of the South Caspian. Estimation of the gas volume of gas hydrates is based on an interpretation of seismic (8.06 x 10(12) m(3)) and thermodynamic data (1.15 x 10(13) m(3)) The result of the gas survey indicates heterogeneous nature of gas hydrate by area. Finally, it has been established that hydrocarbon gases in bottom sediments and sediments of the upper part of the South Caspian section are closely related to the sources of hydrocarbon formation, migration and other processes occurring in deeply buried sediments, as well as in the upper part of the section.