Permafrost, Gas Hydrates and Gas Seeps in the Central Part of the Laptev Sea

AbstractThe purpose of this work was to analyze the causes of intensive gas emission in the central part of the Laptev Sea. On the basis of a seismic survey of the JSC Marine Arctic Geological Expedition, the wave fields have been studied on 28 profiles with a total length of 5930 km. Zones with refracted waves from the high-velocity horizons, associated with frozen sediments and possible occurrence of gas hydrates, have been revealed. For the first time for the region, a cartographic scheme of change in the refracted wave propagation velocity and physical state of bottom sediments (frozen or thaw) has been created. The absence of permafrost and gas hydrates in the area of active gas emission was proved, and the deep origin of gas and its migration along tectonic faults were grounded.