Measurement of marine hydrocarbon seep flow through fractured rock and unconsolidated sediment

Three turbine seep-tents measured gas flux variations including an ejection at one tent. Several conceptual models of hydrocarbon migration were developed from the relationship between fluxes at the tents. (1) A resistor-capacitor network to model oil and gas flux in the seep system including an oil regulator model. (2) A fracture oil-deposition model where oil deposited on fracture walls progressively clogs and then blocks fractures. Also measured were bubble size distributions for minor and major vents that were narrow, and broad, respectively, and varied with time due to oil flux. Very oily bubbles with different trajectories were observed.