International Workshop Varna 2009:

Phenomena related to hydrocarbon migration and gas/fluid seepage have been recognized and studied worldwide in both recent active settings and fossil seep sites in various sedimentological and geodynamic settings. These locations have a unique potential to study the interaction between the geosphere and (micro)biosphere and investigate the fingerprinting and preservation of biogeological processes.
Moreover, they can provide a window into the (paleo) fluid flow of hydrocarbon-bearing fluids in different geological contexts. Research of modern cold seeps reveals valuable information on near-seabed processes, often studied with highly advanced analytical techniques. On the contrary, paleoseeps are logistically easily accessible spots, allowing a detailed study of the subsurface seep plumbing system and of the heterogeneity of complex seep processes in 4D (space and time).

The goal of this workshop is to bring together geologists, geochemists, microbiologists, biologists, geophysicists and scientists from other disciplines, both from academy and industry to:

  (1) define the key research directions, and
  (2) highlight the new emerging concepts and approaches

in the study of cold seep systems through geological time.