Sedimentary characteristics comparison and genesis analysis of the deepwater channel in the hydrate enrichment zones on the north slope of the South China Sea

Natural gas hydrate (NGH) is one of the important clean energy at present and even in the future. The study of its sedimentary environment and minerogenetic condition has long been a hot issue that has received much concern from geologists all over the world. China has successfully obtained the samples of NGH in Shenhu and Dongsha sea areas in 2007, 2013 and 2015, respectively. From this, the continental slope north of the South China Sea becomes an important test site for the study of NGH sedimentary genesis and minerogenetic condition. NGH has been found in Shenhu, Dongsha and Qiongdongnan areas within the continental slope north of South China Sea, at different depths of water, with different sedimentary characteristics, gas genesis, and minerogenetic conditions. Using a seismic sedimentology theory, combining seismic facies results of each facies, sedimentary facies and evolution of each area are documented in turn establishing a sedimentary model by considering palaeogeomorphology, sea level change and tectonic movement. The channel system and MTD (Mass Transport Deposition) system among these three areas were compared focusing on the developing position, appearance and controlling factors. Relative location among three areas is firstly defined that Dongsha area in a nearprovenance steep upper slope, Shenhu area in a normal gentle slope and Qiongdongnan area in an awayprovenance flat plain. Besides, their channel systems are classified into erosional, erosional-aggradational and aggradational channel, and MTD systems into headwall domain, translational domain and toe domain.