A marine gravimeter based on electromagnetic damping and its tests in the South China Sea

A new gravity sensor based on electromagnetic damping for the JMGrav marine gravimeter is presented.The new gravity sensor considered the advanced construction methods of the electromagnetic damping system of the gravimeter.The design features of the new system are discussed and the research survey data in the South China Sea are shown.Numerical simulations are applied to model the magnetic and mechanical characteristics of the system using finite element analysis and to evaluate the force distribution and the resulting damping effects.The performance characteristics of the system were tested on a motion simulator in laboratory,and the gravimeter was subjected to vertical accelerations of up to 100 Gal in 1-1000 s.It was found that the amplitude reduction of vertical accelerations in 3-15 s is 30-45 dB,with a time lag of 2-5 s,while the effect on gravity in period greater than 600 s is less than 0.5 dB,with a time lag of less than 100 s.The accelerations cause discrepancies of approximately only 1 mGal between the static value and the mean dynamic value.The sea tests were conducted in September 2020.Gravity measurements were taken with a JMGrav marine gravimeter onboard the R/V Dongfanghong 3,and the effective survey line exceeded 2000 km.Completely irregular accelerations with peaks up to 100 Gal yielded a reduction of approximately 40 dB in amplitude.The survey data were evaluated using ocean gravity field models and grid line tests.The results show that the accuracy of the gravity measurements is better than 2 mGal.

Assessment of acoustic backscatter intensity surveying on deep-sea ferromanganese crust: Constraints from Weijia Guyot, western Pacific Ocean

Near-bottom observation data from the manned deep submersible Jiaolong with high-precision underwater positioning data from Weijia Guyot,Magellan Seamounts in the Western Pacific Ocean are reported.Three substrate types were identified:Sediment,ferromanganese crust,and ferromanganese crust with a thin cover of sediment.The ferromanganese crusts show clear zoning and their continuity is usually disturbed by sediments on areas of the mountainside with relatively gentle slope gradients.The identified substrate spatial distributions correspond to acoustic backscatter intensity data,with regions of high intensity always including crust development and regions of low intensity always having sediment.Therefore,acoustic backscatter intensity surveying appears useful in the delineation and evaluation of crust resources,although further more work is needed to develop a practicable methodology.

Formation and evolution of the South China Sea since the Late Mesozoic:A review

The existing genetic models of the South China Sea(SCS)include an extrusion model of the Indochina Peninsula,a back-arc extension model,and a subduction and dragging model of the Proto-South China Sea(PSCS).However,none of these models has been universally accepted because they do not fully match a large number of geological phenomena and facts.By examining the regional tectonics and integrating them with measured data for the SCS,in this study,a back-arc spreading-sinistral shear model is proposed.It is suggested that the SCS is a back-arc basin formed by northward subduction of the PSCS and its formation was triggered by left-lateral strike-slip motion due to the northward drift of the Philippine Sea Plate.The left-lateral strike-slip fault on the western margin caused by the Indo-Eurasian collision changed the direction of the Southwest Sub-basin's spreading axis from nearly E–W to NE–SW,and subduction retreat caused the spreading ridge to jump southward.This study summarizes the evolution of the SCS and adjacent regions since the Late Mesozoic.

Quantitative relationship between surface sedimentary diatoms and water depth in North-Central Bohai Bay,China

To study the quantitative relationship between surface sedimentary diatoms and water depth,67 surface samples were collected for diatom analysis on eight profiles with water depth variation from the muddy intertidal zone to the shallow sea area in North-Central Bohai Bay,China.The results showed that the distribution of diatoms changed significantly in response to the change in water depth.Furthermore,the quantitative relationship between the distribution of dominant diatom species,their assemblages,and the water depth was established.The water depth optima for seven dominant species such as Cyclotella striata/stylorum,Paralia sulcata,and Coscinodiscus perforatus and the water depth indication range of seven diatom assemblages were obtained in the study area above the water depth(elevation)of-10 m.The quantitative relationship between surface sedimentary diatoms and water depth provides a proxy index for diatom-paleo-water depth reconstruction in the strata in Bohai Bay,China.

Tectonic-thermal history and hydrocarbon potential of the Pearl River Mouth Basin,northern South China Sea:Insights from borehole apatite fission-track thermochronology

The Pearl River Mouth Basin(PRMB)is one of the most petroliferous basins on the northern margin of the South China Sea.Knowledge of the thermal history of the PRMB is significant for understanding its tectonic evolution and for unraveling its poorly studied source-rock maturation history.Our investigations in this study are based on apatite fission-track(AFT)thermochronology analysis of 12 cutting samples from 4 boreholes.Both AFT ages and length data suggested that the PRMB has experienced quite complicated thermal evolution.Thermal history modeling results unraveled four successive events of heating separated by three stages of cooling since the early Middle Eocene.The cooling events occurred approximately in the Late Eocene,early Oligocene,and the Late Miocene,possibly attributed to the Zhuqiong II Event,Nanhai Event,and Dongsha Event,respectively.The erosion amount during the first cooling stage is roughly estimated to be about 455-712 m,with an erosion rate of 0.08-0.12 mm/a.The second erosion-driven cooling is stronger than the first one,with an erosion amount of about 747-814 m and an erosion rate between about 0.13-0.21 mm/a.The erosion amount calculated related to the third cooling event varies from 800 m to 3419 m,which is speculative due to the possible influence of the magmatic activity.

Pre-rig mobilization hazard evaluation in offshore oil and gas prospect drilling:A case study of TM field,offshore Niger Delta

TM Field,located offshore Niger Delta in the Gulf of Guinea(Nigeria),has been evaluated for potential drilling hazards prior to the drilling of a proposed oil well.This is in a region where potential hazards that could inhibit successful drilling exercise have not been adequately studied.The study adopted the modern technique of offshore geohazard evaluation that relies mainly on suites of geophysical and shallow geological investigations which include ocean bathymetry using multi-beam echo sounder,sidescan sonar,sub-bottom profiler,magnetic,and 2D-high resolution seismic reflection surveys.The results were integrated to draw inferences about the risk potential of the field.From the bathymetric survey,water depths were found to range from 345 m to 650 m LAT,with seabed relief being 305 m.Water depth at the proposed well location was found to be approximately 450 m and the seabed was found to slope in the northwestern direction.Seafloor gradient was computed as 0.05 across the whole area.Two shallow sub-surface stratigraphic units,labelled A and B,were delineated.Unit A was directly beneath the seafloor and seemed to be composed mainly of clayey/silty sand.Its thickness ranged from 6 m to 70 m across the study area.Unit B appeared to be a layer of sand and its total thickness was not fully delineated.Observable kinks and displacements at the flanks of seabed undulations/depressions on subbottom profiler sections suggested that the depressions may be fault-controlled.On the map generated from the marine magnetic data,a magnetic fault was delineated and this appeared to be coincident with the shallower of the two buried faults on the cross-line seismic section cutting through the proposed well-head location.Interpreted seismic reflection data presented this fault as being inactive.Most of the faults mapped,especially the buried ones,appeared to be inactive except a few.Regions with mapped amplitude anomalies are to be avoided during rig-mobilization operations.Though engineering conditions are expected to vary vertically since layers occur as intercalation,significant lateral variation is not expected within uniform layers of bed.Risk of punch-through associated with clayey formation is expected to be low because the geologic layers are not uniformly and entirely clay.The proposed wellhead location was found to be free of potential hazard sources.

Topographic and geomorphological features and tectogenesis of the southern section of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge(KPR)and its adjacent areas

The Philippine Sea is the largest marginal sea in the Western Pacific Ocean and is divided into two parts by the Kyushu-Palau Ridge(KPR).The western part is the West Philippine Basin,and the eastern part consists of the Shikoku and Parece Vela basins.Based on surveyed data of massive high-resolution multibeam bathymetric data and sub-bottom profiles data collected from the southern section of the KPR from 2018 to 2021,this paper analyzes the topographic and geomorphological features,shallow sedimentary features,and tectonic genesis of the southern section of the KPR,obtaining the following conclusions.The southern section of the KPR has complex and rugged topography,with positive and negative topography alternatingly distributed and a maximum height difference of 4086 m.The slope of seamounts in this section generally exceeds 10°and is up to a maximum of 59°.All these contribute noticeably discontinuous topography.There are primarily nine geomorphological types in the southern section of the KPR,including seamounts,ridges,and intermontane valleys,etc.Among them,seven independent seamount groups are divided by five large troughs,forming an overall geomorphological pattern of seven abyssal seamount groups and five troughs.This reflects the geomorphological features of a deep oceanic ridge.Intramontane basins and intermontane valleys in the southern section of the KPR are covered by evenly thick sediments.In contrast,sediments in ridges and seamounts in this section are thin or even missing,with slumps developing locally.Therefore,the sediments are discontinuous and unevenly developed.The KPR formed under the control of tectonism such as volcanic activities and plate movements.In addition,exogenic forces such as underflow scouring and sedimentation also play a certain role in shaping seafloor landforms in the KPR.

Structural characteristics of the KPR-CBR triple-junction inferred from gravity and magnetic interpretations,Philippine Sea Plate

The intersection of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge(KPR)and the Central Basin Rift(CBR)of the West Philippine Basin(WPB)is a relic of a trench-trench-rift(TTR)type triple-junction,which preserves some pivotal information on the cessation of the seafloor spreading of the WPB,the emplacement and disintegration of the proto-Izu-Bonin-Mariana(IBM)Arc,and the transition from initial rifting to steady-state spreading of the Parece Vela Basin(PVB).However,the structural characteristics of this triple-junction have not been thoroughly understood.In this paper,using the newly acquired multi-beam bathymetric,gravity,and magnetic data obtained by the Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology,China Geological Survey,the authors depict the topographic,gravity,and magnetic characteristics of the triple-junction and adjacent region.Calculations including the upward continuations and total horizontal derivatives of gravity anomaly are also performed to highlight the major structural features and discontinuities.Based on these works,the morphological and structural features and their formation mechanisms are analyzed.The results show that the last episode amagmatic extension along the CBR led to the formation of a deep rift valley,which extends eastward and incised the KPR.The morphological and structural fabrics of the KPR near and to the south of the triple-junction are consistent with those of the western PVB,manifesting as a series of NNE-SSW-and N-S-trending ridges and troughs,which were produced by the extensional faults associated with the initial rifting of the PVB.The superposition of the above two reasons induced the prominent discontinuity of the KPR in deep and shallow crustal structures between 15°N‒15°30′N and 13°30′N‒14°N.Combined with previous authors’results,we propose that the stress produced by the early spreading of the PVB transmitted westward and promoted the final stage amagmatic extension of the CBR.The eastward propagation of the CBR destroyed the KPR,of which the magmatism had decayed or ceased at that time.The destruction mechanism of the KPR associated with the rifting of the PVB varies along strike the KPR.Adjacent to the triple-junction,the KPR was destroyed mainly due to the oblique intersection of the PVB rifting center.Whereas south of the triple-junction,the KPR was destroyed by the E-W-directional extensional faulting on its whole width.

New high-resolution 2D seismic imaging of fluid escape structures in the Makran subduction zone,Arabian Sea

Seabed fluid escape is active in the Makran subduction zone,Arabian Sea.Based on the new highresolution 2D seismic data,acoustic blanking zones and seafloor mounds are identified.Acoustic blanking zones include three kinds of geometries:Bell-shaped,vertically columnar and tilted zones.The bellshaped blanking zone is characterized by weak and discontinuous reflections in the interior and upbending reflections on the top,interpreted as gas chimneys.Vertically columnar blanking zone is interpreted as side-imaged gas chimneys associated with focused fluid flow and topped by a seafloor anomaly expressed as a localized reflection discontinuity,which may together serve as a vent structure.Tilted acoustic blanking zone could be induced by accretionary thrust activity and rapid sedimentation surrounding slope.Seafloor mounds occur at the sites of bell-shaped acoustic blanking zone and may be associated with the material intrusion.Bottom simulating refectors(BSRs)are widely distributed and exhibit a series of characteristics including diminished amplitude,low continuity as well as local shoaling overlapping with these acoustic blanking zones.The large amount of gases dissociated from the gas hydrates migrated upwards and then arrived at the near-seafloor sediments,followed by the formation of the gas hydrates and hence the seafloor mound.

Diapir structure and its constraint on gas hydrate accumulation in the Makran accretionary prism, offshore Pakistan

The Makran accretionary prism is located at the junction of the Eurasian Plate,Arabian Plate and Indian Plate and is rich in natural gas hydrate(NGH)resources.It consists of a narrow continental shelf,a broad continental slope,and a deformation front.The continental slope can be further divided into the upper slope,middle slope,and lower slope.There are three types of diapir structure in the accretionary prism,namely mud diapir,mud volcano,and gas chimney.(1)The mud diapirs can be grouped into two types,namely the ones with low arching amplitude and weak-medium activity energy and the ones with high arching amplitude and medium-strong activity energy.The mud diapirs increase from offshore areas towards onshore areas in general,while the ones favorable for the formation of NGH are mainly distributed on the middle slope in the central and western parts of the accretionary prism.(2)The mud volcanoes are mainly concentrated along the anticline ridges in the southern part of the lower slope and the deformation front.(3)The gas chimneys can be grouped into three types,which are located in piggyback basins,active anticline ridges,and inactive anticline ridges,respectively.They are mainly distributed on the middle slope in the central and western parts of the accretionary prism and most of them are accompanied with thrust faults.The gas chimneys located at different tectonic locations started to be active at different time and pierced different horizons.The mud diapirs,mud volcanoes,and gas chimneys and thrust faults serve as the main pathways of gas migration,and thus are the important factors that control the formation,accumulation,and distribution of NGH in the Makran accretionary prism.Mud diapir/gas chimney type hydrate develop in the middle slope,mud volcano type hydrate develop in the southern lower slope and the deformation front,and stepped accretionary prism type hydrate develop on the central and northern lower slope.The middle slope,lower slope and deformation front in the central and western parts of the Makran accretionary prism jointly constitute the NGH prospect area.

Identification and evolution of tectonic units in the Philippine Sea Plate

The Philippine Sea Plate is located at the convergence zone of the Eurasian Plate,the Pacific Plate,and the Indo-Australian Plate.This paper divides the Philippine Sea Plate into two second-order tectonic units and eight third-order tectonic units by summarizing the marine geological,geophysical,and submarine geomorphological data of the Philippine Sea Plate collected for years and referring to the seafloor spreading theory and the trench-arc-basin system.The two second-order tectonic units are the West Philippine Sea block and the Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc-basin system.The former includes the West Philippine Basin,the Huatung Basin,the Daito Basin,and the Palau Basin,while the latter consists of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge,the Shikoku-Parece Vela Basin,the Izu-Bonin Arc,and the Mariana Arc.Furthermore,this study concludes that the Philippine Sea Plate has undergone three stages of tectonic evolution,namely the early stage of the evolution of marginal basins with Cretaceous basement(Early Cretaceous),the middle stage of the spreading of the West Philippine Basin(Eocene),and the late stage of the subduction of the Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc-basin system(Oligocene-present).The Kyushu-Palau Ridge is a window to discover the tectonic evolution of the Philippine Sea Plate due to its unique geographical location.

Characteristics of gravity and magnetic fields and deep structural responses in the southern part of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge

The southern part of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge(KPR)is located at the conjunction of the West Philippine Basin,the Parece Vela Basin,the Palau Basin,and the Caroline Basin.This area has extremely complex structures and is critical for the research on the tectonic evolution of marginal seas in the Western Pacific Ocean.However,only few studies have been completed on the southern part,and the geophysical fields and deep structures in this part are not well understood.Given this,this study finely depicts the characteristics of the gravity and magnetic anomalies and extracts information on deep structures in the southern part of the KPR based on the gravity and magnetic data obtained from the 11th expedition of the deep-sea geological survey of the Western Pacific Ocean conducted by the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey,China Geological Survey using the R/V Haiyangdizhi 6.Furthermore,with the data collected on the water depth,sediment thickness,and multichannel seismic transects as constraints,a 3D density model and Moho depths of the study area were obtained using 3D density inversion.The results are as follows.(1)The gravity and magnetic anomalies in the study area show distinct zoning and segmentation.In detail,the gravity and magnetic anomalies to the south of 11°N of the KPR transition from high-amplitude continuous linear positive anomalies into low-amplitude intermittent linear positive anomalies.In contrast,the gravity and magnetic anomalies to the north of 11°N of the KPR are discontinuous and show alternating positive and negative anomalies.These anomalies can be divided into four sections,of which the separation points correspond well to the locations of deep faults,thus,revealing different field-source attributes and tectonic genesis of the KPR.(2)The Moho depth in the basins in the study area is 6-12 km.The Moho depth in the southern part of KPR show segmentation.Specifically,the depth is 10‒12 km to the north of 11°N,12‒14 km from 9.5°N to 11°N,14-16 km from 8.5°N to 9.5°N,and 16‒25 km in the Palau Islands.(3)The KPR is a remnant intra-oceanic arc with the oceanic-crust basement.which shows noticeably discontinuous from north to south in geological structure and is intersected by NEE-trending lithospheric-scale deep faults.With large and deep faults F3 and F1(the Mindanao fault)as boundaries overall,the southern part of the KPR can be divided into three zones.In detail,the portion to the south of 8.5°N(F3)is a tectonically active zone,the KPR portion between 8.5°N and 11°N is a tectonically active transition zone,and the portion to the north of 11°N is a tectonically inactive zone.(4)The oceanic crust in the KPR is slightly thicker than that in the basins on both sides of the ridge,and it is inferred that the KPR formed from the thickening of the oceanic crust induced by the upwelling of deep magma in the process of rifting of remnant arcs during the Middle Oligocene.In addition,it is inferred that the thick oceanic crust under the Palau Islands is related to the constant upwelling of deep magma induced by the continuous northwestward subduction of the Caroline Plate toward the Palau Trench since the Late Oligocene.This study provides a scientific basis for systematically understanding the crustal attributes,deep structures,and evolution of the KPR.