Fluid reservoir in the Hyuga-nada accretionary prism near the
Kyushu-Palau ridge: insights from a passive seismic array
Abstract
Shear wave velocity (Vs) estimations of accretionary prisms can pose
unique constraints to the physical properties of rocks, which are hard
to obtain from compressional velocities (Vp) alone. Thus, it would help
better understand the fluid processes of the accretion system. This
study investigates the Vs structure of the Hyuga-nada accretionary prism
using an array of ocean-bottom seismometers (OBSs) with a 2 km radius.
Teleseismic Green’s functions and a surface wave dispersion curve are
inverted to one-dimensional Vs structures using transdimensional
inversion. The results indicate the presence of a low-velocity zone 3–4
km below the seafloor. The reduced Vs is consistent with a reduced Vp
feature obtained in a previous seismic refraction survey. From its high
Vp/Vs ratio, we conclude that the low velocities represent high pore
fluid pressure. In addition, the resolved lithological boundary exhibits
a sharp offset that extends laterally across the OBS array. We attribute
this offset to a blind fault below while acknowledging other
possibilities, such as due to mud diapirism. The predicted fault is
located at the Kyushu–Palau Ridge flank, oriented roughly parallel to
the ridge axis, and thus likely caused by ridge subduction. The fracture
caused by the ridge subduction may act as a fluid conduit, forming a
fluid reservoir beneath the well-compacted sediment layers.