Mr. Nguyen Bieu, Vietnam Geology Federation, said that in the process of implementing the state-level theme KC/18/06-10, recaroling the 2D deep terrain, while conducting the study of the seabed topography seismic reveals that  anomalous form of geomorphology and seismic structure relating to hydrate has been detected. The prospect of gas hydrate resources in the continental slope, southwest of the East Sea, is forecasted to be very great.

The research also shows that, regions with existence of gas hydrate are of rather special forms of terrain. They are cutting slots bearing the forms of beams, plumes, nest, line and leakage. Gas or solution leakage through the layer of sediment at the seabed creating the diversity of terrain can possibly be related to the burst and escape of gas associated with specific phenomena, such as bubbles coming from the seabed; dissemination of a small proportion of micro-bubbles or hydrocarbon mixtures in solution. These forms of geomorphology are commonly found in Vietnam’s continental margin. The gas pockets are usually in the form of sphere, cones, and particularly in some areas, the up-going gas lifts up the terrain from several metres to 70 metres above sea level.

Based on results of the research, it has been divided into four types of potential areas, in A, B, C, D order. The areas of great potential reserves include the Tri Ton and Phu Khanh islands, the south western part of the East Sea and Dinh Trung and Vung May areas. The most potential reserves in 27 A-grade regions spread over a total area of 269.26sq.km. According to the forecast for these regions, there is gas leakage phenomenon with seabed simulated reflex and best white reflex area. These finds have opened up a new direction in marine environment research with large economic potential, which should be further invested and exploited.

Data of measurements of sea temperature in the East Sea show that the seabed temperature depends on the depth (at the depth of 300-500 metres, the temperature varies from 10.5 to 7.5 degrees Celcius, and at the depth of 1,000-3,000 metres, it varies from 5 to 2.5 degrees Celcius). In deeper areas of the East Sea basin, the temperature drops below 2 degrees Celcius. In the area of the continental slope, the high temperature change is of high variation, from 60-94 degrees Celcius per kilometre. Therefore, waters of more than 300 metres deep in the East Sea favourably meet the temperature conditions to form gas hydrate.

According to scientists, most of seabed terrain of Vietnam’s sea has latitude orientation in coincidence with the orientation of the East Sea’s rift. It is there where appears a number of volcanoes, a terrain that is favorable for the formation of submarine plateau and uplifting zones. In the continental slope in Central Vietnam and in the Southeast, the seabed topography changes dramatically from a few hundred metres down to 1,500-2,500 metres, forming steep cliffs. There appear young volcanoes, and such terrain is favorable for the formation of conical sediment structures. These structures are suitable for the formation of gas hydrate in submarine plateau, uplifting zones, seabed sedimentary cones, volcanic turbidity... In particular, in the southern part of the Truong Sa archipelago, there exists the form of "growing wedge” structure, one of topographic structures favorable for the existence of gas hydrates.

Gas hydrate is a crystalline substance, including water and methane molecules often found beneath the permafrost and geological layers deep under the ocean floor, which is the substitute for oil and coal. Gas hydrate has been ranked by the world's scientists as one of nine clean energy sources for the future./.