GASEOUS HYDROCARBONS IN BOTTOM SEDIMENTS OF THE SEA OF JAPAN

Abstract

This paper gives the results of gas-logging surveys run on the 35th cruise of the R/V Dmitriy Mendeleyev in July 1985 in the Sea of Japan. During geologic investigations on the northwest slope of the North Yamato Ridge, sediment cores were recovered along a meridional profile from the summit to the foot of this ridge. Sixty-five sediment samples were taken from cores to determine their gaseous hydrocarbon content. Gas was extracted from them by the method of establishing phase equilibrium. Analysis of the samples revealed a broad spectrum of gaseous hydrocarbons - methane, ethane, propane, propylene and, less commonly, butane. Methane is the prevalent hydrocarbon. Additional study results are discussed.