Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

A natural laboratory for shallow gas: the Rías Baixas (NW Spain)

  • Original
  • Published:
Geo-Marine Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Interpretation of acoustic seismic records have allowed mapping of shallow gas accumulations and gas escape features in the Rías Baixas. X-ray photographs and voids of cores are semi-direct evidence of gassy sediments. Mapping of fluid-escape areas shows that these are related to the gas accumulations or at the intersections of faults. Analyses (GC-MS) of bubble samples collected in Simón Bay (Ría de Vigo) and across the whole ría confirm the presence of methane. The spatial distribution of gas escapes/accumulations and their vertical variations are interpreted as evidence of sedimentary facies control. The appearance of authigenic minerals (gypsum, pyrite and aragonite) and microbiological activity related to the seal facies are taken as evidence of the biogeochemical coupling processes. It is evident that these shallow-water coastal environments make significant contributions to the methane budget of the hydrosphere and atmosphere. It is also suggested that microbiological activity is favoured by gas escapes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig 10.a
Fig 11.a–d
Fig. 12
Fig. 13.a, b

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baraza J, Ercilla G, Nelson CH (1999) Potential geological hazards on the eastern gulf of Cádiz slope (SW Spain). Mar Geol 155:191–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berner RA (1975) Diagenetic models of dissolved species in the interstitial waters of compacting sediments. Am J Sci 275:88–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Bussman I, Suess E (1998) Groundwater seepage in Eckernforde Bay (Western Baltic Sea): effects on methane and salinity distribution in the water column. Continent Shelf Res 18:1795–1806

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chappell J, Shackelton NJ (1986) Oxygen isotopes and sea level. Nature 324:137–140

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chappell J, Omura A, Esat T, McCulloch M, Pandolfi J, Ota Y, Pillans B (1996) Reconciliation of late Quaternary sea levels derived from coral terraces at Huon Peninsula with deep sea oxygen isotope records. Earth Planet Sci Lett 141:227–236

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Claypool GE, Kaplan IR (1974) The origin and distribution of methane in marine sediments. In: Kaplan IR (ed) Natural gases in marine sediments. Plenum Press, London, pp 99–140

  • Dimitrov, LI (2002) Contribution to atmospheric methane by natural seepages on the Bulgarian continental shelf. Continent Shelf Res 25(16):2429–2442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ENIEPSA (1984) Sondeo Pontevedra Marino B-1. Dirección General de la Energía, Ministerio Industria, Comercio y Turismo, España

  • Ferrín A, Durán R, Diez R, García-Gil S, Vilas F (2003) Shallow gas features in the Galician Rías Baixas (NW Spain).Geo Mar Lett (23 3/4) (http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00367-003-0158-6)

  • Fleischer P, Orsi TH, Richardson MD, Anderson AL (2001) Distribution of free gas in marine sediments: a global overview. Geo Mar Lett 21:103–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Díez T (2001) Pautas de Organización Geoquímica entre Sedimentos Carbonatados y Siliciclásticos en la Ría de Vigo: Comportamiento Superficial y Diagenético. MSc Thesis, Dept Geociencias Marinas y O.T., Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Vigo

  • García-García A (1999) Estudio del Gas de los Sedimentos de la Ría de Vigo Mediante Técnicas Sísmico-Acústicas de Alta Resolución. MSc Thesis, Dept Geociencias Marinas y O.T., Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Vigo

  • García-Gil S, Vilas-Martín F, Muñoz A, Acosta J, Uchupi E (1999a) Quaternary sedimentation and thermal diapirism in he Ría de Pontevedra (Galicia), northwest Spain. J Coast Res 15(4):1083–1090

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Gil S, Vilas F, García-García A, Durán R (1999b) Holocene storm delta in incised-valley fill sediments of Ría de Pontevedra, NW Spain. Poster AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco. Eos Trans 80(46):559

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Gil S, García-García A, Vilas F (1999c) Identificación Sísmico-Acústica de las Diferentes Formas de Aparición de Gas en la Ría de Vigo (NO de España). Rev Soc Geol España 12(2):301–307

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Gil S, Vilas F, García-García A, Durán R, Vilas F (2000) High-resolution seismic stratigraphy of the Rías Baixas: Pontevedra and Vigo (NW Spain). J Iberian Geol 26:217–231

    Google Scholar 

  • García-Gil S, Croker P, Vilas F (2001) Seafloor mounds in the Muros and Arousa Rías of NW Spain. Poster-Abstracts Earth System Processes Global Meeting. Geological Society of America and Geological Society of London, Edinburgh

  • García-Gil S, Vilas F, García-García A (2002) Shallow gas features in incised-valley fills (Ría de Vigo, NW Spain): a case study. Continent Shelf Res 22(16):2303–2315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • García-Gil S, García-Díez T, Fernandez-Bastero, Gago-Duport, Vilas F (2003) Early diagenetic reaction pathways between shallow gas and sediments: the Ría de Vigo (NW of Spain). Geophys Res Abstr 5:13747

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagen RA, Vogt PR (1999) Seasonal variability of shallow biogenic gas in Chesapeake Bay. Mar Geol 158:75–88

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Haq BU (1991) Sequence stratigraphy, sea-level, and significance for the deep sea. In: Macdonald DIM (ed) Sedimentation, tectonics and eustasy. Int Assoc Sedimentol Spec Publ 12:3–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasiotis T, Papatheodorou G, Kastanos N, Ferentinos G (1996) A pockmark field in the Patras Gulf (Greece) and its activation during the 14/7/93 seismic event. Mar Geol 130:333–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hornafius JS, Quigley D, Luyendyk BP (1999) The world’s most spectacular marine hydrocarbon seeps (Coal oil point, Santa Barbara Channel, California): quantification of emissions. J Geophys Res 104(20):703–711

    Google Scholar 

  • Hovland M (1984) Gas-induced erosion features in the North Sea. Earth Surface Process Landforms 9:209–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Hovland M, Judd AG (1988): Seabed pockmarks and seepages: impact on geology, biology and the marine environment. Graham and Trotman, London

  • Hovland M, Judd AG (1992) The global production of methane from shallow submarine sources. Continent Shelf Res 12(10):1231–1238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hovland M, Thomsen E (1997) Cold water corals: are they hydrocarbon seep related?. Mar Geol 137(1/2):159–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Judd AG (2001) A review of pockmarks in the UK sector of the North Sea. Technical report produced for Strategic Environmental Assessment, TR_002, Department of Trade and Industry

  • Judd AG, Davies G, Wilson J, Holmes R, Baron G, Bryden I (1997) Contributions to atmospheric methane by natural seepages on the UK continental shelf. Mar Geol 140:427–455

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Judd AG, Hovland M, Dimitrov LI, García-Gil S, Jukes V (2002) The geological methane budget at continental margins and its influence on climate change. Geofluids 2:109–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kaluzza MJ, Doyle EH (1996) Detecting fluid migration in shallow sediments: continental slope environment, Gulf of México. Hydrocarbon migration and its near-surface expression. Am Assoc Petrol Geol Mem 66:15–26

    Google Scholar 

  • King LH, McLean B (1970) Pockmarks on the Scotian Shelf. Bull Geol Soc Am 81:3141–4148

    Google Scholar 

  • Malone MJ, Claypool G, Martin JB, Dickens GR (2002) Variable methane fluxes in shallow marine systems over geologic time. The composition and origin of pore waters and authigenic carbonates on the New Jersey shelf. Mar Geol 189:175–196

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martens CS, Berner RA (1974) Methane production in the interstitial waters of sulfate-depleted marine sediments. Science 185:1167–1169

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martens CS, Albert DB, Alperin MJ (1998) Biogeochemical processes controlling methane in gassy coastal sediments. Part 1: a model coupling organic matter flux to gas production, oxidation, and transport. Continent Shelf Res 18:1741–1770

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McQuaid J, Mercer A (1990) Air pressure and methane fluxes. Nature 351:528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mijón O (1998) Antozoos de la Ría de Vigo. MSc Thesis, Dept de Ecología y Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Vigo

  • Nonn H (1969) Évolution géomorphologique et types de relief en Galicia occidentale et septentrionale. Rev Geogr Phys Géol Dyn 9(2):31–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Pannekoek AJ (1966) The ría problem: Tijdschr. Kon Ned Aardr Gen 83:289–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Pannekoek AJ (1970) Pleistocene history of the Ría de Arousa. Leid Geol Meded 37:174–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Pazos O, Nombela M, Alejo I, García-Gil S, Rubio B, García-Gil E, Vilas F (1995) La costa de Rías: Reunión sobre el Cambio de la Costa: los sistemas de rías. Comisión de Estratigrafía de la Sociedad Geológica de España

  • Ramil F, Ansín-Agís J, Fernández-Pulpeiro E (1998) Soft-bottom hydroids (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa) collected in the Ría de Vigo (NW Spain) Commemorative volume for the 80th birth day of Willem Vervoot in 1997. Zool Verh Leiden 323:182–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Ríos AF, Pérez FF, Fraga F (1992) Water masses in upper and middle North Atlantic ocean east of Azores. Deep Sea Res 39:645–658

    Google Scholar 

  • Vilas F, Nombela MA, García-Gil E, García-Gil S, Alejo I, Rubio B, Pazos O (1995) Cartografía de sedimentos submarinos, Ría de Vigo. E: 1:5,000. Ed. Xunta de Galicia, Conselleria de Pesca, Marisqueo e Acuicultura, Santiago de Compostela

  • Vilas F, García-Gil E, García-Gil S, Nombela MA, Alejo I, Rubio B, Pazos O (1996) Cartografía de sedimentos submarinos, Ría de Pontevedra. E: 1:5,000. Ed. Xunta de Galicia, Conselleria de Pesca, Marisqueo e Acuicultura, Santiago de Compostela

  • Vilas F, Nombela MA, García-Gil E, García-Gil S, Alejo I, Rubio B, Pazos O (1999) Cartografía de sedimentos submarinos. La Ría de Arosa. Escala 1:50,000 (Memoria y Mapa). Ed. Xunta de Galicia, Conselleria de Pesca, Marisqueo e Acuicultura, Santiago de Compostela

    Google Scholar 

  • Wever TF, Abegg F, Fiedler HM, Fechner G, Stender IH (1998) Shallow gas in the muddy sediments of Eckernförde Bay, Germany. Continent Shelf Res 18(14–15):1715–1739

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This paper presents updated gas research for the project PGIDT00PXI30105PR. It is also a contribution to REN2000-1102 MAR and, partially, to PGIDT00MAR30103PR, BTE2000-0877 and 464 IGCP projects. Special thanks to José Nogueiras and Sandra Rellán, from the Dept. of Química Analítica y Alimentaria, for helping with the gas chromatography analysis. Thanks also to Jorge Iglesias, Montserrat Martínez and Sandra Rúa for assistance with gas sampling. Special thanks to Dr Bilal Haq, Alan Judd and Vanny Aloisi for their comments that have greatly improved this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Geociencias Marinas y Ordenación del Territorio, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Vigo, 36200-Vigo, Spain

    S. Garcia-Gil

Authors
  1. S. Garcia-Gil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Garcia-Gil.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Garcia-Gil, S. A natural laboratory for shallow gas: the Rías Baixas (NW Spain). Geo-Mar Lett 23, 215–229 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-003-0159-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-003-0159-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation