Researchers from the University of the Philippines Diliman College of Science National Institute of Geological Sciences (UPD-CS NIGS) have discovered a potentially abundant presence of gas hydrates in the Manila Trench.
Covering an area approximately the size of Palawan, these hydrates are located to the west of Luzon and 200 to 500 meters below the seafloor. This marks the first time such substances have been identified in Philippine trenches through the researcher’s pioneering gas hydrate study.
The researchers relied on analyzing seismic data for bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs). These are sound waves reflected by the hydrates, thereby revealing their possible location without the need for direct drilling. But as the researchers note, this method is not definitive. Future offshore drilling is necessary to confirm the presence of methane hydrates.
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Gas hydrates are ice-like substances containing large amounts of methane. They typically form under specific conditions beneath the seafloor, where the pressure is high, and the temperature is below freezing.
While the methane in them could be used as an alternative energy resource for the country, the gas hydrates also pose geological and environmental risks. The Manila Trench is within an active earthquake zone, and seismic activities could lead to the dissociation and melting of the gas hydrates due to their instability as a solid. Methane is also a powerful greenhouse gas that could be a major concern for global warming if released into the atmosphere.
The research team is continuing their investigations to enhance the geophysical dataset of the Philippines and to advance the country’s marine geophysics capabilities.
Source: UP College of Science