THE SUBSURFACE FLUID-FLOW SYSTEMS AND THEIR GENETIC MECHANISM IN THE SOUTHWESTERN BARENTS SEA

The southwestern Barents Sea is a large hydrocarbon-prone epi-continental sea of the Eurasian Arctic region. Based on the large number of literatures on the hydrocarbon gas-flow in the southwestern Barents Sea, we summarized features of the gas-flow and discussed its genetic mechanism in this paper. The gas-flow features occurred in the area include pockmarks, gas chimneys, high amplitude anomalies (BSR), fluid leakage along faults and other fractures. And the occurrence of fluid-flow features suggests the direct relationship to the major deep-seated faults and their connection with hydrocarbon-bearing formations. The fluid flow is controlled by faults and matured source rocks. The close relation between fluid-flow features and structural elements indicates that extensional tectonics, uplift and glaciations could have played major roles in the formation of fluid leakage, although erosion might add some weight on it.