Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Early History Of The Atlantic Ocean And Gas Hydrates On The Blake Outer Ridge: Results Of The Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 76, Robert E. Sheridan, Felix M. Gradstein, Leo A. Barnard, Deborah M. Bliefnick, Dan Habib, Peter D. Jenden, Hideo Kagami, Everly M. Keenan, John Kostecki, Keith A. Kvenvolden, Michel Moullade, James Ogg, Alastair H.F. Robertson, Peter H. Roth, Thomas H. Shipley, Larry Wells, Jay L. Bowdler, Pierre H. Cotillon, Robert B. Halley, Hajimu Kinoshita, James W. Patton, Kenneth A. Pisciotto, Isabella Premoli-Silva, Margaret M. Testarmata, Richard V. Tyson, David K. Watkins

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Leg 76 of the Deep Sea Drilling Project achieved two major scientific objectives. The first objective was met at Site 533, where on the Blake Outer Ridge, gas hydrates were identified by geophysical, geochemical, and geological studies. Gas-hydrate decomposition produced a volumetric expansion of 20:1 of gas volume to pore-fluid volume; this expansion exceeded by about a factor of four the volume of gas that could be released from solution in pore water under similar conditions. The gas hydrate includes methane, ethane, propane, and isobutane but apparently excluded normal butane and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons as predicted from gas hydrate …