Gas hydrate accumulations in high-altitude permafrost settings remain notoriously difficult to characterize seismically, yet they hold significant resource potential This study addresses key technical challenges in seismic exploration for gas hydrates in the permafrost of the Tso Co area, Qiangtang Basin, Tibetan Plateau, including low signal-to-noise ratio, complex static corrections, and difficult structural imaging. An integrated acquisition, processing, and interpretation workflow was developed to provide a high-precision seismic detection system suited to plateau permafrost conditions. A wide-line high-density geometry, combined with a low-frequency vibrator source with a sweep frequency of 1.5–96 Hz and point-receiver technology, enhanced low-frequency penetration and raw-data fidelity. Data processing used pseudo-three-dimensional wide-line tomographic static correction and global-optimization residual static correction to resolve high-frequency static distortions through iterative refinement. A multi-domain, stepwise, amplitude-preserving denoising workflow effectively suppressed high-energy noise, including surface waves and linear interference. Refined velocity modeling based on the Dip Moveout velocity field and finite-difference time migration achieved accurate positioning of complex structures. High-quality seismic profiles reveal alternating depression-uplift structural frameworks and major fault systems. The base of the permafrost layer shows a low-frequency, high-amplitude reflection of 10–35 Hz, with varying thickness (30–140 m). Ultra-low-frequency (5 Hz) relative impedance highlights permafrost distribution and indicates hydrate potential zones concentrated along faults, demonstrating structural control on gas migration. Low-frequency amplitude anomalies provide a reliable regional indicator for hydrate exploration.

The Quemocuo area in the Qiangtang Basin is a key prospect for permafrost gas hydrate exploration in China. This study investigates source-reservoir-caprock characteristics and their control on gas hydrate accumulation based on drilling results from wells QK-8 and QK-9, integrated with multiple analytical methods. Two high-quality marine source rocks with cumulative thickness similar to 1000 m exhibit TOC values of 0.74-2.5%, Type II2 kerogen, and vitrinite reflectance (Ro) of 1.37-2.94%, indicating high to over-mature thermal evolution primarily generating dry thermogenic methane. Gas logging shows hydrocarbon anomalies with a maximum desorbed gas content of 90 mL, confirming strong gas generation capacity. Although reservoir matrix properties are poor (porosity mostly <5%, permeability < 0.2 x 10(-3) mu m(2)), multi-phase tectonics and dissolution formed a secondary fracture-vug system. Permafrost conditions are favorable (thickness 100-120 m; geothermal gradient 4.5-4.7 degrees C/100 m), with extremely low permeability at high ice saturations, forming an effective multi-level seal together with thick mudstones. A key novel finding is the significant mixing of biogenic and thermogenic gases, with the biogenic component interpreted to originate from overlying Jurassic-Quaternary low-maturity strata, facilitated by late tectonic uplift and fault conduits. NW-trending faults connect deep thermogenic reservoirs and provide pathways for shallow biogenic gas migration. For the first time, this study establishes a region-specific composite accumulation model for the Qiangtang Basin, characterized by "lower generation and upper storage, fault-fracture conduit and permafrost sealing", which reveals fault-controlled migration, fracture-vug-controlled storage, permafrost-controlled sealing, and mixed gas enrichment under a high geothermal gradient.

Wetlands are an important source of atmospheric methane (CH4) and are sensitive to global climate change. Alpine swamp meadows, accounting for similar to 50% of the natural wetlands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, were considered one of the most important ecosystems. Methanogens are important functional microbes that perform the methane producing process. However, the response of methanogenic community and the main pathways of CH4 production to temperature rise remains unknown in alpine swamp meadow at different water level in permafrost wetlands. In this study, we investigated the response of soil CH4 production and the shift of methanogenic community to temperature rise in the alpine swamp meadow soil samples with different water levels collected from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau through anaerobic incubation at 5 degrees C, 15 degrees C and 25 degrees C. The results showed that the CH4 contents increased with increasing incubation temperature, and were 5-10 times higher at the high water level sites (GHM1 and GHM2) than that at the low water level site (GHM3). For the high water level sites (GHM1 and GHM2), the change of incubation temperatures had little effect on the methanogenic community structure. Methanotrichaceae (32.44-65.46%), Methanobacteriaceae (19.30-58.86%) and Methanosarcinaceae (3.22-21.24%) were the dominant methanogen groups, with the abundance of Methanotrichaceae and Methanosarcinaceae having a significant positive correlation with CH4 production (p < 0.01). For the low water level site (GHM3), the methanogenic community structure changed greatly at 25 degrees C. The Methanobacteriaceae (59.65-77.33%) was the dominant methanogen group at 5 degrees C and 15 degrees C; In contrast, the Methanosarcinaceae (69.29%) dominated at 25 degrees C, and its abundance showed a significant positive correlation with CH4 production (p < 0.05). Collectively, these findings enhance the understanding of methanogenic community structures and CH4 production in permafrost wetlands with different water levels during the warming process.

To reduce deforestation and ensure energy security for socioeconomic advancements, Rwanda must find alter-natives to wood fuel. Widely developed metasedimentary mudstones gradually became a petroleum survey object due to the progress of petroleum exploration theories and practices in the Mesoproterozoic strata all over the world. In this study, extensive field and experimental work was conducted to explore the organic features of the Mesoproterozoic strata and their relationship with the geological background, which is important for a petroleum survey of such strata. The results show that (1) the Mesoproterozoic samples have low total organic carbon (TOC) and S1+S2 and (2) except for the high degree of thermal maturity (Ro ranging from 3.71 to 3.82, avg. 3.77), the low TOC is mainly caused by the hypoxia degree and dissolution of terrigenous clastic materials in shallow water environments related to the fluvial delta. Hence, the Gikoro and Pindura groups should be paid more attention in Northwestern Rwanda (offshore direction in paleography) in subsequent exploration work for their thicker mudstones.

In order to determine the significant role of gas hydrate in seasonal wetland methane emission at the drilling-affected permafrost, the carbon isotopic monthly field monitoring of methane (CH4), as well as carbon dioxide (CO2), emitted from near-surface soil and a gas hydrate drilling well (DK-8) was conducted in the Muli permafrost of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The methane source effused from the well DK-8 was calculated as −25.9 ± 1.4‰ and −26.5 ± 0.5‰, respectively, by the Keeling and Miller Tans plots, with the carbon isotope fractionation (εC) between CO2 and CH4 from −25.3‰ to −32.1‰. The carbon isotopic signatures are indicative of thermogenic origin associated with gas hydrate dissociation. The near-surface soil-emitted methane has δ13CCH4 values between −52.0 ± 1.2‰ and −43.2 ± 1.8‰ with the heaviest in December and the lightest in July. Further, the εC values of near-surface soil-emitted gases were between 28.6‰ and 47.9‰, significantly correlated with the δ13CCH4 values. The linear correlation between εC and δ13CCH4 values indicated binary end-member of microbial and thermogenic sources control the seasonal variation of wetland methane emission. The thermogenically derived methane was identified as the dominant methane source in autumn and winter, compared with the increasing contribution of microbially derived methane in spring and summer. The finding provides reliable evidence for gas hydrate release on the seasonal wetland methane emission in the Muli permafrost affected by drilling activities. The combined application of εC and δ13CCH4 to distinguish thermogenic from biogenic methane is well established and powerful in complex environments, which can provide an improved constraint on source apportionment for wetland emitted methane in the permafrost of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

已有勘探资料表明,西藏尼玛盆地古新统—始新统牛堡组地层具有良好的油气资源显示,然而目前有关于该套地层的地层格架划分仍然薄弱.化学地层学方法在北美页岩气勘探开发中取得了巨大成功,鉴于此,本文以尼玛盆地东部的协德乡南牛堡组剖面作为研究对象,通过对露头样品的主微量元素测试结果进行沉积地球化学、主成分分析、完备总体经验模态分解、以及自相关函数分析,从化学自—异旋回角度以及元素耦合行为出发,探讨地球化学基准面对化学地层格架的控制作用,从而为牛堡组地层提供化学地层划分方案.主成分分析结果表明,牛堡组地层沉积主要受控于细粒碎屑输入、碳酸盐岩、粗粒碎屑输入、氧化还原—生产力、以及盐度这五个因素;经验模态分解和自相关函数分析结果表明,牛堡组地层受到了明显的异旋回驱动,显示出多尺度基准面震荡特点.通过对异旋回信号分量(本征模函数,IMFs)进行重构,并且结合元素相互耦合特性,建立了牛堡组化学地层格架,该结果与岩石地层单元以及沉积相单元一致,证明了本文所提出的化学地层划分方案的可靠性和实用性.

Wetland methane emissions in the permafrost regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is more sensitive to climate warming and can result in a positive climate feedback. Natural gas hydrate, as a potential methane source, may play a pivotal role in wetland methane emission in the permafrost regions. However, it was lacking of evidence. To determine the role of gas hydrate release in wetland methane emission, the two-year field monitoring of methane emitted from a hydrate drilling well, in near-surface soil free gas and low-level air was conducted at a typical gas hydrate reservior in the Qilian Mountains permafrost. The carbon isotope fractionation between CO 2 and CH 4 (ε C ) associated with carbon isotopic composition of methane (δ 13 C CH4 ) is used as a good tracer to identify methane sources of thermogenic origin or of microbial origin. The monitoring results of the gas hydrate drilling well DK-8 indicated a notable release of the deep gas hydrates occurred in April- May and resulted in the increase of methane content in low-level air. The significance of gas hydrate release in the permafrost region on local wetland methane emission as well as low-level air methane was confirmed by the seasonal variation of methane source of near-surface soil fluxes and low-level air. The thermogenically derived methane were identified as the dominant methane source in autumn and winter compared with increasing contribution of microbially derived methane in summer. The carbon isotopic signatures of tracing methane sources can provide more reliable evidence for gas hydrate release and its effect on the wetland methane emission in the Qilian Mountains permafrost.

1 研究目的(Objective) 尼玛盆地构造上位于班公湖—怒江缝合带中部,是发育在侏罗系—白垩系海相地层之上的古近系陆相裂谷盆地,北接羌塘地块,南邻冈底斯地块,近东西向展布,面积约3000 km2.本次研究目的是初步查明尼玛盆地东部冻土发育特征,调查盆地东部古近系地层层序,获取古近系烃源岩、储盖层等关键评价参数,进一步评价盆地油气资源潜力.

我国多年冻土区多位于中纬度高原地区,与环北冰洋极地地区多年冻土的状态不完全相同,天然气水合物成因机理、赋存环境和基本特征更为复杂.近10年来,在自然资源部行业专项和中国地质调查局水合物试采专项的资助下,先后在青藏高原和东北多年冻土区开展了天然气水合物地球化学勘探技术攻关,总结了多年冻土区天然气水合物地球化学指标组合和识别标志,探讨了多年冻土区天然气水合物地球化学成藏机制,研发了多年冻土区天然气水合物地球化学勘查模型,初步建立了多年冻土区天然气水合物调查地球化学方法技术体系,在勘探实践中发挥了重要的作用,地球化学方法技术对天然气水合物的有效性得到了初步检验和应用,具有广阔的应用前景.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (also referred to as the Plateau) is the largest area bearing alpine permafrost region in the world and thus is endowed with great formation conditions and prospecting potential of natural gas hydrates (NGH). Up to now, one NGH accumulation, two inferred NGH accumulations, and a series of NGH-related anomalous indicators have been discovered in the Plateau, with NGH resources predicted to be up to 8.88×1012 m3. The NGH in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau have complex gas components and are dominated by deep thermogenic gas. They occur in the Permian-Jurassic strata and are subject to thin permafrost and sensitive to environment. Furthermore, they are distinctly different from the NGH in the high-latitude permafrost in the arctic regions and are more different from marine NGH. The formation of the NGH in the Plateau obviously couples with the uplift and permafrost evolution of the Plateau in spatial-temporal terms. The permafrost and NGH in the Qilian Mountains and the main body of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau possibly formed during 2.0–1.28 Ma BP and about 0.8 Ma BP, respectively. Under the context of global warming, the permafrost in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is continually degrading, which will lead to the changes in the stability of NGH. Therefore, The NGH of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau can not be ignored in the study of the global climate change and ecological environment.

针对QK-3井取得的曲色组泥页岩、油页岩以及液态油苗进行了有机地球化学特征分析,探讨曲色组烃源岩与液态油苗的亲缘性.研究表明:QK-3井曲色组泥岩及油页岩达一般—好烃源岩标准,有机质类型多为Ⅰ及Ⅱ1型,处于成熟阶段;油页岩、油苗样品生物标志物对比表明,二者形成环境及成熟度特征较为接近,具有很好的可比性,在曲色组中发现的油苗与该组烃源岩有着较好的亲缘关系,油苗源于曲色组油页岩等烃源岩.综合烃源岩有机地球化学特征及曲色组分布范围与沉积厚度认为,下侏罗统曲色组泥质烃源岩的生烃能力属于较好级别,是研究区内最主要的烃源岩,具有较好的勘探潜力.

China has been attaching great importance to research on natural gas hydrate resources. Since the mid-1990s, China has experienced three stages of resource prediction, investigation, and test production. Until now, five hydrate accumulations have been discovered by drilling and sampling in the Shenhu, Dongsha, Qiongdongnan Basins, and offshore Taiwan of the South China Sea and in the Muli area of Qilian Mountain, and seven hydrates have been inferred by various indicators, including geology, geophysics and geochemistry in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. According to the hydrate stability zone, the natural gas hydrate resources in the South China Sea are estimated to be 64.6 x 10(12) m(3), those in the East China Sea are similar to 28.5 x 10(12) m(3), and those in the terrestrial permafrost are similar to 38 x 10(12) m(3). The total amount of the natural gas hydrates in China reaches up to 131.1 x 10(12) m(3), which is twice the amount of China's conventional natural gas resources. China has successfully conducted the five field test production of gas hydrates in the Muli permafrost region of Qilian Mountain and in Shenhu area of the South China Sea since 2011, in particular first using horizontal well technologies to exploit hydrates that occurred in the fine-grained reservoirs. It is expected that commercial production from the hydrate reservoir will come true in the 2030s.

基于天然气水合物钻探试验井QK-8井的调查成果,以雀莫错地区发现的高烃类气体显示为线索,从影响高山冻土区天然气水合物成藏的关键地质因素出发,系统分析了影响天然气水合物成藏的冻土厚度、烃源岩特征、储集空间、疏导系统、矿物特征及盖层条件等地质因素,明确了该区天然气水合物成藏潜力.结果显示:雀莫错地区冻土厚度较大(约100 m);上三叠统主力烃源岩整体表现为有机质丰度高,为Ⅱ2型干酪根,成熟度较高(Ro为1.3％ ～1.5％);储集空间以缝洞型储层为主,裂隙、孔隙型次之;具备有效的运移通道和良好的区域盖层,同时多层段发育方解石和黄铁矿等天然气水合物伴生矿物.综合分析认为,雀莫错地区具有一定的天然气水合物成藏潜力,是下一步天然气水合物含油气系统综合能源资源调查的主要方向.

In this study, systematic soil methane cycle geochemical monitoring was carried out in a typical gas hydrate region in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Soil gas samples were collected for hydrocarbon components and carbon isotope analysis. Meanwhile, soil-methane fluxes from the upper active layer (20–30 cm) were monitored during six months of one year. The results of this research provide evidence of a new source of methane emission from wetland soils in permafrost regions: gas hydrate release. Sites with large methane emissions were found using flux monitoring, the characteristics of thermogenic methane were identified using carbon isotope tracing, and the relationship between emission by soils and effusion from gas hydrates was determined through correlation analyses of soil-adsorbed hydrocarbons. Seasonal variation of methane emissions are also discussed by considering the emission of bacterial methane, thermogenic methane, and the absorption of methane from the soil active layer. These comprehensive findings provide valuable information for carbon cycle research of wetlands in permafrost regions.

祁连山哈拉湖坳陷与已发现天然气水合物的木里坳陷同属于南祁连盆地次级坳陷,有相似的水合物成藏条件,但由于该区地质工作程度低,坳陷内第四系覆盖层下的地质构造信息不清,对该区的天然气水合物成藏条件缺乏认识.为查明哈拉湖坳陷的地质构造特征和天然气水合物成藏条件,在哈拉湖坳陷区内开展了物化探综合探测及研究,结果表明:(1)调查区内可划分出4个凹陷区、2个凸起区,调查区内可划分出26条断裂;(2)调查区永冻土层分布特征以新生界沉积区以大面积片状和基岩出露区以岛状分布为主,永冻土层发育与高程、地形、地表覆盖层及表层土壤水分等因素密切相关;(3)调查区发现了两处地球化学异常,以酸解烃重烃、酸解烃干燥系数、顶空气甲烷和荧光光谱为指标组合,显示了两种不同的异常特征类型,异常浓集中心明显,强度较高;(4)哈拉湖坳陷的烃原岩条件相对差,烃源岩的保存完整性和印支—燕山期圈闭构造是水合物成藏的关键,哈拉湖坳陷区北部和地球化学Ⅰ号异常区可为水合物成藏远景区.本文为南祁连盆地下一步天然气水合物资源调查与评价提供了依据.

Alpine permafrost regions are important sources of biogenic CH4 and methanogens play an important role in the methane-producing process. The alpine permafrost on the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau comprises about one-sixth of China’s land area, and there are various types of alpine ecosystems. However, the methanogenic communities in the typical alpine ecosystems are poorly understood. In this study, the active layers and permafrost layers of the natural ecosystem of alpine grassland (DZ2-1) and alpine swamp meadow (DZ2-5) were selected to investigate the diversity and abundance of methanogenic communities. Methanobacterium (63.65%) are overwhelmingly dominant in the active layer of the alpine grassland (DZ2-1A). ZC-I cluster (26.13%), RC-I cluster (19.56%), and Methanobacterium (15.02%) are the dominant groups in the permafrost layer of the alpine grassland (DZ2-1P). Methanosaeta (32.92%), Fen cluster (29.59%), Methanosarcina (16.33%), and Methanobacterium (13.95%) are the dominant groups in the active layer of the alpine swamp meadow (DZ2-5A), whereas the Fen cluster (50.85%), ZC-I cluster (27.63%), and RC-I cluster (14.15%) are relatively abundant in the permafrost layer of the alpine swamp meadow (DZ2-5P). qPCR data showed that the abundance of methanogens was higher in the natural ecosystem of alpine swamp meadow than in alpine grassland. We found that the community characteristics of methanogens were related to environmental factors. Pearson correlation analyses indicated that the relative abundance of Methanobacterium had a significantly positive correlation with hydrogen concentration (P < 0.01), while the relative abundances of Methanosaeta and Methanosarcina were positively correlated with acetate concentration (P < 0.05). This study will help us to understand the methanogenic communities and their surrounding environments in alpine ecosystems.

陆域冻土区天然气水合物成矿机制较为复杂,水合物横向难以对比,形成机理不清楚,急需对天然气水合物迁移机理进行研究.文章根据祁连山冻土区天然气水合物发现区钻井揭示的地质和地球化学资料以及岩芯样品分析测试结果进行了综合分析.结果显示,研究区中侏罗统和上三叠统均为较好烃源岩,天然水合物气源以热解气为主,主要由上三叠烃源岩迁移和中侏罗统木里组烃源岩扩散提供,显示了多源多期次的特点.根据地质和地球化学分析,祁连山天然气水合物的形成经历了晚侏罗世—早白垩世的气体运移与聚集、中新世中晚期—上新世整体抬升、第四纪游离气体转化成天然气水合物矿藏3个阶段,经历了"先聚集-再抬升-后成藏"等过程,是构造-气候耦合作用的结果,初步建立了祁连山冻土区天然气水合物迁移机理.

我国是世界上既有海域水合物也有陆域水合物的少数几个国家之一.中国地质调查局高度重视陆域水合物调查研究,2016年正式设立"陆域天然气水合物资源勘查与试采工程",通过对我国重点冻土区开展地质、地球物理和钻探调查,研发有效的陆域水合物调查、钻探和资源评价技术,初步摸清资源家底,评价资源潜力.自2002年开始探索性调查以来,已在青海省发现木里天然气水合物产地1处、昆仑山垭口盆地和乌丽地区疑似产地2处及系列找矿线索,评价出南祁连盆地、羌塘盆地及漠河盆地三大成矿远景区、12个成矿区带,资源潜力巨大;在祁连山木里地区成功实施单直井和水平对接井试采,并取得了陆域天然气水合物成矿理论、勘采技术、环境调查和平台建设系列成果.以上成果有力推进了我国天然气水合物资源勘查试采进程,支撑国务院将天然气水合物设为第173个新矿种,初步形成"海陆并举、资环并重"的良好局面.

哈拉湖地区目前基本属于地质空白区,有关天然气水合物形成及分布的研究较少,尤其针对该地区天然气水合物储层研究与认识较为有限。青徳地2井（QH-2）位于南祁连盆地哈拉湖坳陷西部,为坳陷内首口天然气水合物调查深井,钻遇第四系、新近系—古近系和三叠系。以青徳地2井三叠系主要储集岩层段岩心为研究对象,通过岩石薄片观察以及孔隙度、渗透率、密度、铸体薄片等物性测试,结合测井资料开展哈拉湖坳陷储层特征研究,结果表明:青德地2井三叠系储层分布较广,厚度巨大,但储集性能整体较差,绝大部分属非常规储集层,且整体裂隙较不发育,较难形成类似木里地区固结岩层中的裂隙型水合物及孔隙型水合物,而该区冻土层下存在厚层第四系松散沉积物及裂隙相对发育的古近系—新近系,可为天然气水合物形成提供良好的储集空间。