Gas migration and slope instability in the Danube Fan: insights from integrated OBS-MCS seismic analysis

Hilbert, Helene-Sophie; Dannowski, Anke; Bialas, Jörg; Gross, Felix; Hoffmann, Jasper; Klaeschen, Dirk; Berndt, Christian

doi:10.5194/se-17-923-2026

Articles | Volume 17, issue 8

https://doi.org/10.5194/se-17-923-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/se-17-923-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 17, issue 8

Research article

|

05 Aug 2026

Research article |

| 05 Aug 2026

Gas migration and slope instability in the Danube Fan: insights from integrated OBS-MCS seismic analysis

Helene-Sophie Hilbert, Anke Dannowski, Jörg Bialas, Felix Gross, Jasper Hoffmann, Dirk Klaeschen, and Christian Berndt

Supplement

https://doi.org/10.5194/se-17-923-2026-supplement

Data sets

2D multichannel seismic profiles during Maria S. Merian cruise MSM34, Black Sea J. Bialas and M. Riedel https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.921576

3D P-cable seismic data during Maria S. Merian cruise MSM34, Black Sea J. Bialas et al. https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.921631

FS MARIA S. MERIAN Fahrtbericht / Cruise Report MSM34/1 & 2 - SUGAR Site ; Varna – Varna, 06.12.13 – 16.01.14 J. Bialas et al. https://doi.org/10.3289/geomar_rep_ns_15_2014

Seismic processed data (Ocean Bottom Seismometer working area dataset, profiles p4102 and p4103) during RV MARIA S. MERIAN cruise MSM34/2, Black Sea A. Dannowski and J. Bialas https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.987011

Gridded bathymetry from multibeam echosounder EM122 data of the cruise MSM34/2 (2013) P. Wintersteller and J. Bialas https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.860486

The Generic Mapping Tools version 6 P. Wessel et al. https://doi.org/10.5281/ZENODO.3407866

Short summary

This study investigates gas hydrate distribution in the Danube Fan, NW Black Sea. Using seismic data and drilling results, we analysed the structure, composition, and gas content of underconsolidated sediments. Gas hydrates are present in low concentration and patchy distribution. Free gas is trapped beneath the hydrate stability zone. The area shows signs of past slope failures linked to weak sediments and gas accumulation. The study provides insights into how gas hydrate systems evolve.