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Activities of Meiji University Gas Hydrate laboratory
1-1 Kanda-Surugadai Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 101-8301 Japan
Meiji University Global Front
Activities of Meiji University 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:
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)
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.
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.
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.
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 was held by Tottori Prefecture, and Tottori and Meiji Universities, on March 15 at Torigin Citizens' Culture Hall in Tottori City.
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 releaseNew 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 Shalow Methane Hydrate Forum was held on June 28th at Global Hall, Meiji University.
Poster and photo FY2015 Forum (in Japanese)ANRE Conducts FY 2015 Surveys in order to Ascertain Shallow Methane Hydrate Resources -Geological samples were recovered through seabed drilling-
FY2014 Shalow Methane Hydrate Forum was held on January 30th at Global Hall, Meiji University.
FY2014 Forum (in Japanese)A crab over the gas bubble stream, then ...
Movie Crab on gas seepThe FY2014 Survey was conducted by ANRE in order to Ascertain Shallow Methane Hydrate Resources
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)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)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 was held on January 23rd at Global Hall, Meiji University.
FY2013 Forum (Poster and program in Japanese)