Characterization of natural hydrocarbon seepage in the South Caspian Sea off Iran using satellite SAR and geological data |
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| Authors: | Andrei Yu Ivanov Hadi Gerivani Natalia V Evtushenko |
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| Institution: | 1. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia;2. ivanoff@ocean.ru;4. Iranian National Institute for Oceanography and Atmospheric Science, Tehran, Iran;5. SCANEX Group, Moscow, Russia |
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| Abstract: | AbstractTwo groups of oil slicks have been repeatedly detected in the Southern Caspian Sea, off Cape Sefidrud and close to the Iranian coast of the sea on the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images acquired by the Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B satellites in April–June 2018. Analysis of the SAR images together with bathymetry, geological and geophysical data in geographic information system showed that these manifestations (oil slicks) visible on the sea surface have natural origin, related to the bottom seepage phenomenon and are associated with existing hydrocarbon system. Oil slicks are concentrated over the continental slope and related to local geological formations of the sedimentary cover having oil deposits related to paleo-delta of Sefidrud River. Our evidence shows that two seeps in this area are active and repeating. It is concluded that the SAR is an excellent tool for monitoring of seepage phenomenon. Moreover, results indicate that the use of remote methods to identify offshore natural oil seeps related to existing active petroleum system can be considered as a well-accepted approach to support oil and gas exploration in frontier areas such as the South Caspian Basin. |
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| Keywords: | Cape Sefidrud Caspian Sea hydrocarbon seeps oil spill synthetic aperture radar (SAR) |
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