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Activities of Meiji University Gas Hydrate laboratory
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IHS Kingdom Seismic Interpretation Software Awarded to the Gas Hydrate Laboratory,
The Gas Hydrate Laboratory has been awarded renewal of Educational Grant Program of Kingdom seismic interpretation software from IHS Global, Inc.
The Kingdom software package is a very powerful tool for the integrated analyses of geophysical and geological data in 3D space to investigate the subsurface structure and physical characterization.
Since the first grant in 2014, this software package has been intensively utilized in the interpretation of 3D seismic data and LWD log data acquired in the shallow gas hydrate bearing areas in the eastern margin of Japan Sea. Through the elaborate study, the shallow gas hydrate system in these areas has been precisely revealed.
The following is one of the outcomes of this study:
Image of Seismic Profile Interpreted on Kingdom Software,
Interpreted Seimic Profilein "Fire in the Ice" Vol.17, Issue 1, 2017
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Meiji University Research Forum "The environmental impact of methane hydrate and prehistoric human society" was held on August 6th. Thank you very much for participating the forum by many people on such a hot day!
Meiji University Research Forum was held at Meiji University Liberty Tower Building at Kanda Surugadai, Tokyo, on the afternoon of August 6 (Sunday). It was an attempt of outreach activity to return the Meiji University's output of researches to the society, on the environmental researches of methane hydrate and methane history and budget, and the archaeological researches under the global environmental change by the Resource Utilization History studies.
Flier of Meiji University Research Forum (in Japanese)Photos at the Meiji University Research Forum
Entrance of the Liberty Tower
Professor Tomoyuki Ogawa, Vice President of Meiji University
Professor Ryo Matsumoto, Representative of the Gas Hydrate Research Laboratory
Professor Hitoshi Tomaru Chiba University
Shinsuke Aoki, Graduate Student of Doctral Course, Faculty of Agliculture
Professor Kosuke Nobolio, Faculty of Agliculture
Professor Yoshiro Abe, Director of the Research Center of Obsidian Tools, Representative of the Research Cluster of Resource Utilization History
Professor Yuzuru Yoneda, Guest Researcher of the Research Cluster of Resource Utilization History, University Museum, Tokyo University
View of Poster area
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We conducted a gas hydrate survey cruise
We conducted a survey cruise with acoustic and chemical measurements, ocean floor observation with ROV and sampling by Piston corer and OKEAN grab at 18 sites in the Sea of Japan and around Hokkaido from July 7th to 17th. Participating members are 22 researchers of Gas Hydrate Research Laboratory (chief scientist: Matsumoto) and of Meiji University's Faculty of Agriculture, Chiba University, Tottori University, Kitasato University, Tokyo Kaseigakuin University, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.
In the survey so far, it has been confirmed that there are numerous gas chimney structures in the area concerned. Gas chimney is a subbottom structure where the gas hydrate is developed, and it is recognized as a columnar blanking in acoustic exploration, but it is sometimes difficult to distinguish from mud volcanoes using only acoustic tools. Where do mud volcanoes exist, where and how do they develop? This problem is one of the most important tasks of present survey. In addition, the distribution of living organisms around the methane seep areas (Habitat mapping), confirmation of the existence of gas hydrate in the remarkable hydrate mound of the pull-up structure, confirmation of the low acoustic velocity anomaly, which was suggested by velocity analyses of seismic survey, by the in situ sound velocity measurement, and whether there are Calyptogena populations in the methane seep area in the vicinity of Hokkaido were important research topics.
The survey was blessed with sunny weather and calm sea conditions, there was no safety issues, and all the survey items we had planned could be implemented. In the future, we will analyze samples and data. We are planning to hold a workshop within the year.
1K17 cruise shipboard researchers group photo
Survey Vessel "Kaiyomaru No.1" (Kaiyo Engineering Co. Ltd.) for 1K17 cruise
ROV "Seaeye Leopard" (Kaiyo Engineering Co. Ltd.) for 1K17 cruise
1K17 Build Corer
1K17 Corer Deployment
1K17 Core Extraction
1K17 Gas Hydrate sample in the core
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GHL members participated in ICGH9"
The 9th International Congress on Gas Hydrates (ICGH - 9), in which global hydrate researchers who announce and discuss the latest research results from June 26th to 30th, was conducted at Denver, Colorado, Unites States.
We gave seven oral presentations and four poster presentations by Gas Hydrate Research Laboratory, cooperating Chiba University, Akita University, Tottori University's researchers and graduate students.
Oral Presentation
Matsumoto et al. Occurrence and Origin of Thick Deposits of Massive Gas Hydrate, Eastern Margin of the Sea of Japan.
Oi et al. Types of Gas Chimney Structures in Southeastern Parts of the Sea of Japan.
Ohkawa et al. Characterization of Gas Chimney Systems in Joetsu Area, Eastern Margin of the Sea of Japan, Using High-Resolution 3-Dimensional (HR 3 D) Seismic Data Tanahashi et al. Physical Properties Obtained by LWD for Thick, Massive Gas Hydrate in the Offshore-Joetsu Area, Eastern Margin of Japan Sea.
Kakuwa et al. Occurrence of Methane Hydrate in Joetsu Area, the Eastern Margin of Japan Sea.
Tomaru et al. Relationship Between Pore Water Anomalies and Seafloor Topography Constrained by the Development of Shallow Gas Hydrates in the Japan Sea.
Snyder et al. Mineralization of Dolomite Associated with Gas Hydrate Formation in Sea of Japan Sediments.
Poster presentation
Hiruta et al. Recent Formation of Near-Seafloor Massive Gas Hydrates Estimated from Raman Spectroscopy.
Oi et al. Sedimentation Ages from the Hydrate-bearing Cores in Eastern Parts of the Sea of Japan.
Uchida et al. Sedimentary Environment and Early Diagenesis of Muddy and Sandy Sediments Hosting Massive Gas Hydrate Below Sea Floor in the Eastern Margin of Japan Sea.
Owari et al. High Resolution Time-Series Analysis of Interstitial Waters Using Osmosampler at Gas Venting Site in the Eastern Margin of the Japan Sea.
Among them, Matsumoto, representative of Gas Hydrate Research Laboratory, and others paper was talked at the plenary session on the first day. This means that the world's hydrate research community has a strong interest in the shallow gas hydrate of the Sea of Japan.
In ICGH-9, Matsumoto received the Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor of the hydrate conference. This is to raise many researchers through years of research on natural gas hydrate output, origin, environmental impact and resource potential and on-site research on marine surveys to enhance hydrate research in Japan and Asia. It is an honor for Meiji University Gas Hydrate Research Laboratory and the methane hydrate research community in Japan.
ICGH9 -
Article in "Fire in the Ice"
An article,“Recovery of Thick Deposits of Massive Gas Hydrartes from Gas Chimney Structures, Eastern margin of Japan Sea: Japan Sea Shallow Gas Hydrate Project” by Matsumoto et al. was published in the Methane Hydrate Newsletter, "Fire in the Ice" Vol. 17, Issue 1, issued by National Energy Technology Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy. The article pdf file can be download from MHNews-2017-Jan.pdf.
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Workshop with Tottori University
Workshop "Methane hydrarte-induces Environmental Perturbation and Geohazard" was held by Tottori and Meiji Universities, on March 16 at Tottori University.
Participant's Photo -
Tottori International Methane Hydrate Forum
Tottori International Methane Hydrate Forum was held by Tottori Prefecture, and Tottori and Meiji Universities, on March 15 at Torigin Citizens' Culture Hall in Tottori City.
Poster
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METI press release on the Shallow Methane Hydrate resource evaluation
METI ANRE released a document, "ANRE Estimation the Amount of Shallow Methane Hydrate Resources and Verified the Estimation Results" based on METI-AIST shallow methane hydrate project, in which Gas Hydrate Laboratory of Meiji University worked.
Press release -
Discovery of chemosynthetic Calyptogena in the Offshore Hokkaido
New discovery of dead shell connected (Calyptogena sp.) during UT16 survey cruise from the active methane seep area in 970 m water depth, Offshore Hidaka Area, Hokkaido.
Press release (in Japanese) -
FY2015 Shallow Methane Hydrate Forum
FY2015 Shalow Methane Hydrate Forum was held on June 28th at Global Hall, Meiji University.
Poster and photo FY2015 Forum (in Japanese) -
METI press release on th Shallow Methane Hydrate Survey in FY2015
ANRE Conducts FY 2015 Surveys in order to Ascertain Shallow Methane Hydrate Resources -Geological samples were recovered through seabed drilling-
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FY2014 Shallow Methane Hydrate Forum
FY2014 Shalow Methane Hydrate Forum was held on January 30th at Global Hall, Meiji University.
FY2014 Forum (in Japanese) -
A movie of the active gas seep site
A crab over the gas bubble stream, then ...
Movie Crab on gas seep -
METI press release on th Shallow Methane Hydrate Survey in FY2014
The FY2014 Survey was conducted by ANRE in order to Ascertain Shallow Methane Hydrate Resources
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Geological Field Trip in Niigata
GHL conducted a geological field trip from November 21 to 23 in Niigata Area, where we may observe some oil and gas showings on the outcrops. Mud diapir with active gas seepage and fossil seep carbonate were observed.
11.21 to 23 Field trip in Niigata (in Japanese) -
UT14 survey cruise of Umitaka-Maru
Meiji University Gas Hydrate laboratory conducted an academic survey cruise for shallow gas hydrate by Umitaka-Maru (Tokyo Marine University), from July 22nd to 28th offshore Oki Islands.
Umitaka Survey Cruise (in Japanese) -
Drilling Survey for Shallow Methane Hydrate Exploration Started with Hakurei and Ragini
Meiji University Gas Hydrate laboratory started two drilling survey cruises by Hakurei (HR14) and Ragini (GR14) in Offshore Joetsu and Mogami Trough Areas, eastern margin of Japan Sea, under the contract with AIST.
Drilling Survey (in Japanese) -
FY2013 Shalow Methane Hydrate Forum
FY2013 Shalow Methane Hydrate Forum was held on January 23rd at Global Hall, Meiji University.
FY2013 Forum (Poster and program in Japanese)
