THE ORIGIN OF MUD VOLCANOES

• Main Author: V.N. Kholodov
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Publisher House Akademperiodyka 2019-12-01
• Series: Геология и полезные ископаемые мирового океана
• Subjects: mud volcanoes; eruptions; fluidogenesis; sedimentation

The article shows that the immersion of clay strata in the region of high temperatures and pressures creates two fluid dynamic zones. In the upper zone, clay porosity decreases, and sedimentation and diagenetic waters are released; these elision phenomena create abnormal reservoir pressure in reservoir layers and give rise to a complex system of fluid dynamics. It involves water and oil hydrocarbons penetrating. In the upper zone, hydrolysis of carbonates and cementation of sand formations take place. In the lower zone, compacted clays are developed, forming a closed physicochemical system. Background changes in water and organic matter give rise to ultrahigh fluid pressures. Crystallization waters, sybotaxic water vapor and gaseous hydrocarbons that arose at high temperatures are concentrated in different parts of the strata, and slowly migrate along cleavage cracks in the direction of areas with low pressure. The roots of vertical tectonic faults and non-cemented types are especially attractive for ultrahigh pressures. The formation of classical dikes, «horizons with inclusions» and mud volcanoes, as well as seismic phenomena accompanying eruptions of mud volcanoes, are associated with these sites.