Seabed leakage of liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon through focused fluid flow systems is a process recognized along most continental margins. Studying the abundance, distribution and drivers for fluid migration is crucial to understand their role on a variety of phenomena such as submarine slope stability, gas hydrate dynamics, the global carbon cycle, and climate change. In addition fluid migration is of significant economic importance as it controls the distribution of hydrocarbon resources.

This session aims to bring together a wide range of geoscientists addressing the dynamics of natural gas seepage and focused fluid flow in sedimentary basins and continental margins at different spatial and temporal scales. We seek contributions from geophysicists, geochemists, structural and petroleum geologists, on identification, descriptions, and distribution of leakage indicators worldwide, as well as geochemical evidences from sampling campaigns or laboratory measurements. Studies yielding constraints on the controlling mechanisms are also invited. We also encourage submissions on modelling of the deeper hydrocarbon systems that may feed these fluxes and quantifications and predictions of volumes expelled through time.

Invited speakers: Christophe Serie (Univ. of Manchester)