Gassy sediments in the Ria de Arousa are preferentially distributed in areas of muddy seabed sediments. The close relationship between seabed sediment parameters and gas distribution is here studied in detail to establish better constraints on the presence of gas. Discriminant analysis was applied to the textural and compositional characteristics of 303 seabed sediment samples to classify gas-related and gas-free areas in the Ria de Arousa. The parameters considered in the classification were: particle size data (percentages of clay, silt, sand and gravel), the total inorganic carbon and the total organic carbon contents of the samples. The samples were initially classified in two groups according to the presence or absence of acoustic turbidity in the seismic profiles, shallower than 150 cm below seabed. Of the total known cases, 85.5% were correctly classified using these variables. Applying the Wilks’ lambda criterion, the most influential textural discriminating variables were the percentage of clay and the percentage of coarse fraction (gravel and sand) in the sediment sample. Discriminant analysis has achieved good differentiation between gas-related and gas-free sediments using near-seabed sediment information. The application of the discriminant method has enabled the estimation of the total area covered by gassy sediments in the Ria de Arousa. The area calculated based on the seismic data (30 km2) is a minimum estimate that is constrained by the limits of the existing seismic data. Based on the sediment information obtained from seabed samples, the statistical method estimates a total area of gassy sediments of 39 km2. The new gassy areas recognized are located around the gas field at the inner ria, and the gas field west of Arousa Island, which increase in area by 8.3 and 0.4 km2 respectively.

A guide to marine pollution: Edward D. Goldberg. Gordon and Breach, London, 1972, 168 pp., £4.15

Gas accumulations and their association with particle size distribution patterns in the Ría de Arousa seabed (Galicia, NW Spain): an application of discriminant analysis

This chapter introduces physical conditions for the formation of gas hydrate and their shapes, worldwide distribution, together with the pattern of solubility methane gas in water for given pressure-temperature regime It then explains the governing processes through chemical, physical reactions under different biological, geological conditions that act on the preserved organic matter in the sediments for the formation of methane in the subsurface earth By the end of the chapter depth of burial, nature of organic matter, physical, chemical and biological hierarchy that produce methane and have genetically different characteristic are explained The description of methane derived from decomposition of organic matter and methane that is formed by chemical processes is included A full discussion on the classification of kerogen that includes Type-I, Type-II, Type-III & Type-IV and formation of methane, coal and oil is included to understand the thermal processes, thermal degradation-cracking of sapropelic organic matter, and humic source

A guide to marine pollution: Edward D. Goldberg. Gordon and Breach, London, 1972, 168 pp., £4.15

Citations

Gas accumulations and their association with particle size distribution patterns in the Ría de Arousa seabed (Galicia, NW Spain): an application of discriminant analysis

Generation of Methane in Earth