The presence of gas hydrates offshore of eastern Canada has long been inferred from estimated
stability zone calculations, but the physical evidence is yet to be discovered. While geophysical
evidence derived from seismic and borehole logging data provides indications of hydrate occurrence
in a number of areas, the results are not regionally comprehensive and, in some cases, are
inconsistent. In this study, the results of systematic seismic mapping along the Scotian and
Newfoundland margins are documented. An extensive set of 2-D and 3-D, single and multi-channel,
seismic reflection data comprising ~45,000 line-km was analyzed for possible evidence of hydrate.
Bottom simulating reflectors (including one double BSR) were identified at five different sites,
ranging between 300 and 600 m below the seafloor and in water depths of 1000 to 2900 m. The
combined area of the five BSRs is 1720 km2, which comprises a small proportion of the theoretical
stability zone area along the Scotian and Newfoundland margins (~635,000 km2). The apparent
paucity of BSRs may relate to the rarity of gas hydrates on the margin or may be simply due to
geophysical limitations in detecting hydrate.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:BVAU.2429/1044 |
| Date | 07 1900 |
| Creators | Mosher, David C. |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
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