Download or read book Seismic Characterization of Marin Gas Hydrates and Free Gas at Northern Hydrate Ridge Cascadia Margin written by Carl Jörg Petersen and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 101 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract ; Zs.-Fassung.

Download or read book Seismic Characterization of Marine Gas Hydrates and Free Gas at Northern Hydrate Ridge Cascadia Margin written by Carl Jörg Petersen and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 101 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Seismic Velocity Structure Associated with Gas Hydrate at the Frontal Ridge of Northern Cascadia Margin written by Caroll López and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At the frontal ridge near the base of the slope off Vancouver Island, wide-angle ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) data were acquired in summer 2005, in support of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 311. Marine gas hydrate is present beneath the ridge based on the observation of the 'Bottom Simulating Reflector' (BSR) that is interpreted to coincide with the base of the methane hydrate stability zone. Hydrate was also observed in downhole logs and drilling by IODP. The BSR has been identified on single-channel seismic data at -250-260 m depth beneath the ridge crest and on its seaward slope. The OBS data have been analyzed with the objective of determining the velocity structure in the upper portion of the accretionary wedge especially the hydrate stability zone and underlying free gas. As identified by a clear refracted phase, the velocity structure above the BSR shows anomalous high velocities of about 1.95 (?0.5) km/s at shallow depths of 80 - 110 m. On vertical incidence data, high amplitude reflectors are observed near this depth. Below the BSR, the velocities increase to -2.4 km/s at sub-seafloor depths of about 600 m. A strong refracted phase with a velocity of 4.0 km/s is generated at a depth of about 1700 mbsf. Velocities from traveltime inversion of OBS data are in general agreement with the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) X311 downhole sonic velocities. In particular, on the log data, a layer with low porosity and high velocities of 2.4 - 2.8 km/s was observed at depths of 50 - 75 m. This probably corresponds with the 1.95 km/s layer at depths of 80-110 m interpreted from the OBS data. The refraction data thus suggest that this high-velocity layer varies laterally through the frontal ridge region, out to distances of at least 4 km from the drillhole. BSR depths (250-280 m) estimated in the present work also agree with the IODP X311 depths. From the velocity structure, we can make estimates of hydrate concentration in a region close to the deformation front, where fluid flow velocities are expected to be large. The gas hydrates concentrations vary from -35% for the shallow phase to -22% for the layer above the BSR. The deep refracted phase with a velocity of 4.0 km/s at 1700 m depth indicates the presence of highly compacted accreted wedge sediments. On the SW side of the frontal ridge, a collapse structure is observed in newly acquired multi-beam bathymetry data from the University of Washington and in seismic reflection data. The BSR is present in the region surrounding the slump. There are only weak indications of its presence within the slide region. Since hydrates may prevent normal sediment compaction, their dissociation in sediment pores is thought to decrease seafloor strength, potentially facilitating submarine landslides on continental slopes. The head wall of the frontal ridge slide is -250 m high, extending close to the BSR depth, and the slump has eroded a -2.5 km long section into the ridge, along strike. Migrated seismic reflection data image a set of normal faults in the frontal ridge striking NE-SW, perpendicular to the strike of the ridge and the direction of plate convergence. These faults outcrop at the seafloor and can be traced from the surface through the sedimentary section to depths well below the BSR in some locations. Seafloors scarps show that fault seafloor displacements of -25 m to 75 m are generated. The two faults with the largest seafloor scarps bound the region of slope failure on the frontal ridge, suggesting that the lateral extent of slumping is fault-controlled. The triggering mechanism for the slope failure may have been a combination of various effects. The possible mechanisms explored include gas hydrate dissociation, high pore pressure fluid expulsion along the faults, and salinity elevation in faults which would inhibit the formation of gas hydrates along the faults. However, an earthquake may induce initial slope failure, which can not only start gas hydrate dissociation but also increase fluid expulsion and pore pressure.

Download or read book 3 D Seismic Investigations of Northern Cascadia Marine Gas Hydrates written by Michael Riedel and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This dissertation presents results from 3-D (parallel 2-D) high resolution seismic surveys and associated studies over an area with deep sea gas hydrate occurrence. The study area is located on the accretionary prism of the northern Cascadia subduction zone offshore Vancouver Island, Canada. The major objectives of this study were the imaging of a gas/fluid vent field found in the study area and detailed mapping of the tectonic setting and geological controls on fluid/gas venting. Secondary objectives were the characterization of the gas hydrate occurrence and constraints on the seismic nature of the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) and its spatial distribution. The main grid was 40 lines at 100 m spacing with eight perpendicular crossing lines of multichannel and single channel seismic reflection, and 3.5 kHz subbottom profiler data. In addition to the main 3-D seismic grid, two smaller single channel grids (25 m spacing) were collected over the vent field. The multichannel seismic data acquired with the Canadian Ocean Acoustic Measurement System (COAMS) streamer required correction for irregular towing depth and shot point spacing. A new array element localization (AEL) technique was developed to calculate receiver depth and offset. The individual receiver depths along the COAMS streamer varied between 10-40 m, which resulted in the occurrence of a prominent receiver ghost that could not be completely removed from the seismic data. The ghost resulted in limited vertical resolution and a coarse velocity depth function. The vent field is characterized by several blank zones that are related to near-surface deformation and faulting. These zones are 80-400 m wide and can be traced downward through the upper 100-200 m thick slope sediment section until they are lost in the accreted sediments that lack coherent layered reflectivity. The blank zones are also characterized by high amplitude rims that are concluded to result from the interference effect of diffractions. These diffractions result due to relatively sharp discontinuities in the sediment physical properties at the blank zone boundary. 2-D vertical incidence seismic modeling suggests an increase in P-wave velocity inside of the blank zone with only minor changes in density. Blanking is believed to be mainly the effect of increased hydrate formation within the fault planes. The faults are conduits for upward migrating fluids and methane gas that is converted into hydrate once it reaches the hydrate stability field. Carbonate formations at the seafloor can also contribute to blanking especially at higher frequencies. Free gas may be present in case of full hydrate saturation or strong fluid flow. Geochemical analyses of pore water and water-column samples carried out in cooperation with Scripps Institute of Oceanography indicate relatively low fluid fluxes of less than 1 mm/yr and there is no heat flow anomaly present over the vent field. Methane concentrations of 20 n-moles/L (about 8 times the ocean background concentration) were detected in water-column samples of the first 100-200 m above the main blank zone of the vent field. Venting is also believed to be strongly episodic with a recently more quiet time. However, the observed carbonate crusts indicate a long-term activity of the vents.

Download or read book Seismic Velocity Structure Associated with Gas Hydrate at the Frontal Ridge of Northern Cascadia Margin written by and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: At the frontal ridge near the base of the slope off Vancouver Island, wide-angle ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) data were acquired in summer 2005, in support of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 311. Marine gas hydrate is present beneath the ridge based on the observation of the 'Bottom Simulating Reflector' (BSR) that is interpreted to coincide with the base of the methane hydrate stability zone. Hydrate was also observed in downhole logs and drilling by IODP. The BSR has been identified on single-channel seismic data at -250-260 m depth beneath the ridge crest and on its seaward slope. The OBS data have been analyzed with the objective of determining the velocity structure in the upper portion of the accretionary wedge especially the hydrate stability zone and underlying free gas. As identified by a clear refracted phase, the velocity structure above the BSR shows anomalous high velocities of about 1.95 (0.5) km/s at shallow depths of 80 - 110 m. On vertical incidence data, high amplitude reflectors are observed near this depth. Below the BSR, the velocities increase to -2.4 km/s at sub-seafloor depths of about 600 m. A strong refracted phase with a velocity of 4.0 km/s is generated at a depth of about 1700 mbsf. Velocities from traveltime inversion of OBS data are in general agreement with the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) X311 downhole sonic velocities. In particular, on the log data, a layer with low porosity and high velocities of 2.4 - 2.8 km/s was observed at depths of 50 - 75 m. This probably corresponds with the 1.95 km/s layer at depths of 80-110 m interpreted from the OBS data. The refraction data thus suggest that this high-velocity layer varies laterally through the frontal ridge region, out to distances of at least 4 km from the drillhole. BSR depths (250-280 m) estimated in the present work also agree with the IODP X311 depths. From the velocity structure, we can make estimates of hydrate concentration in a region clo.

Download or read book World Atlas of Submarine Gas Hydrates in Continental Margins written by Jürgen Mienert and published by Springer. This book was released on 2021-12-17 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This world atlas presents a comprehensive overview of the gas-hydrate systems of our planet with contributions from esteemed international researchers from academia, governmental institutions and hydrocarbon industries. The book illustrates, describes and discusses gas hydrate systems, their geophysical evidence and their future prospects for climate change and continental margin geohazards from passive to active margins. This includes passive volcanic to non-volcanic margins including glaciated and non-glaciated margins from high to low latitudes. Shallow submarine gas hydrates allow a glimpse into the past from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to modern environmental conditions to predict potential changes in future stability conditions while deep submarine gas hydrates remained more stable. This demonstrates their potential for rapid reactions for some gas hydrate provinces to a warming world, as well as helping to identify future prospects for environmental research. Three-dimensional and high-resolution seismic imaging technologies provide new insights into fluid flow systems in continental margins, enabling the identification of gas and gas escape routes to the seabed within gas hydrate environments, where seabed habitats may flourish. The volume contains a method section detailing the seismic imaging and logging while drilling techniques used to characterize gas hydrates and related dynamic processes in the sub seabed. This book is unique, as it goes well beyond the geophysical monograph series of natural gas hydrates and textbooks on marine geophysics. It also emphasizes the potential for gas hydrate research across a variety of disciplines. Observations of bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) in 2D and 3D seismic reflection data combined with velocity analysis, electromagnetic investigations and gas-hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) modelling, provide the necessary insights for academic interests and hydrocarbon industries to understand the potential extent and volume of gas hydrates in a wide range of tectonic settings of continental margins. Gas hydrates control the largest and most dynamic reservoir of global carbon. Especially 4D, 3D seismic but also 2D seismic data provide compelling sub-seabed images of their dynamical behavior. Sub-seabed imaging techniques increase our understanding of the controlling mechanisms for the distribution and migration of gas before it enters the gas-hydrate stability zone. As methane hydrate stability depends mainly on pressure, temperature, gas composition and pore water chemistry, gas hydrates are usually found in ocean margin settings where water depth is more than 300 m and gas migrates upward from deeper geological formations. This highly dynamic environment may precondition the stability of continental slopes as evidenced by geohazards and gas expelled from the sea floor. This book provides new insights into variations in the character and existence of gas hydrates and BSRs in various geological environments, as well as their dynamics. The potentially dynamic behavior of this natural carbon system in a warming world, its current and future impacts on a variety of Earth environments can now be adequately evaluated by using the information provided in the world atlas. This book is relevant for students, researchers, governmental agencies and oil and gas professionals. Some familiarity with seismic data and some basic understanding of geology and tectonics are recommended.

Download or read book Dissertatio inauguralis medica de cutis exterioris morbis written by and published by . This book was released on 1753 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Seismic Characterisation of Hydrate and Shallow Gas Systems Associated with Active Margin Sediments and Structures in the Pegasus Basin Hikurangi Margin New Zealand written by Douglas Ross Allan Fraser and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Pegasus Basin off the east coast of New Zealand's North Island is a frontier basin that hosts a large gas hydrate province. The basin has a large amount of faulting, which has lead to the creation of many interesting and unique accumulations of gas hydrates. In 2009/2010, petroleum industry standard 2D seismic data were acquired across the basin by New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (a New Zealand government agency) to generate interest in exploration of this basin for conventional oil and gas. This seismic data set presents an unique opportunity to examine the basin's gas hydrate systems with the aim of determining the economic potential of the gas hydrates in the basin while improving our understanding of how observed gas hydrate features were formed. The seismic data were reprocessed to optimise the imaging of features related to gas hydrates. When the data were examined, there were numerous gas hydrate features found, so only a selection are presented in this thesis. With the assistance of seismic attributes, Bottom Simulating Reflections (BSRs) and blanking zones are examined. High-density velocity analysis is used to characterize areas of hydrate (higher velocity) and free gas (lower velocity). The high-density velocity analysis proved to be a very effective technique for examining the structure of gas migration chimneys. Two of the most interesting features identified in the data set include a blank dome shape with a gas chimney at its centre and a text book hydrate/free gas phase reversal that is examined in detail using amplitude vs offset (AVO) and inversion analysis techniques. The model for fluid flow and how the free gas from a chimney at the centre of the blanking zone is converted to hydrate is discussed. The hydrate and free gas phase reversal that is observed was formed by localised fluid flowing from depth into the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ). As the BSR becomes shallower, the sea floor deepens at this location. Without a localised fluid flow, the BSR would increase in depth with the increasing depth of the sea floor. Gas hydrate saturation and volumetric analyses were performed for one target. Concentrations were determined using empirical saturation formulae, confirming a potential target. The question of how much gas hydrate potentially is present in the basin, is discussed based both my work and that of others.

Download or read book Seismic Structure Gas Hydrate and Slumping Studies on the Northern Cascadia Margin Using Multiple Migration and Full Waveform Inversion of OBS and MCS Data written by Subbarao Yelisetti and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The primary focus of this thesis is to examine the detailed seismic structure of the northern Cascadia margin, including the Cascadia basin, the deformation front and the continental shelf. The results of this study are contributing towards understanding sediment deformation and tectonics on this margin. They also have important implications for exploration of hydrocarbons (oil and gas) and natural hazards (submarine landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, and climate change). The first part of this thesis focuses on the role of gas hydrate in slope failure observed from multibeam bathymetry data on a frontal ridge near the deformation front off Vancouver Island margin using active-source ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) data collected in 2010. Volume estimates (? 0.33 km^3) of the slides observed on this margin indicate that these are capable of generating large (? 1 ? 2 m) tsunamis. Velocity models from travel time inversion of wide angle reflections and refractions recorded on OBSs and vertical incidence single channel seismic (SCS) data were used to estimate gas hydrate concentrations using effective medium modeling. Results indicate a shallow high velocity hydrate layer with a velocity of 2.0 ? 2.1 km/s that corresponds to a hydrate concentration of 40% at a depth of 100 m, and a bottom simulating reflector (BSR) at a depth of 265 ? 275 m beneath the seafloor (mbsf).These are comparable to drilling results on an adjacent frontal ridge. Margin perpendicular normal faults that extend down to BSR depth were also observed on SCS and bathymetric data, two of which coincide with the sidewalls of the slump indicating that the lateral extent of the slump is controlled by these faults. Analysis of bathymetric data indicates, for the first time, that the glide plane occurs at the same depth as the shallow high velocity layer (100?10 mbsf). In contrast, the glide plane coincides with the depth of the BSR on an adjacent frontal ridge ... .

Download or read book Mound and Vent Structures Associated with Gas Hydrates Offshore Vancouver Island Analysis of Single channel and Deep towed Multichannel Seismic Data written by and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The study focuses mainly on two gas hydrate-related targets, located on the Northern Cascadia Margin, offshore Vancouver Island: (1) a recently identified 70-80-m high carbonate mound, Cucumber Ridge, located ~3.5-km west of Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 889 and Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Site U1327, and (2) a large cold vent, Bullseye vent, which is up to ~500 m in diameter and was drilled by IODP at Site U1328. The objective of this thesis is to analyze seismic data that provide indicators of locally focused fluid flow and characteristics of the gas hydrate occurrence associated with these two features. A grid of closely-spaced single channel seismic (SCS) data was collected at Cucumber Ridge in July/August 2001, and deep-towed multichannel seismic (MCS) lines were collected using Deep-towed Acoustics and Geophysics System (DTAGS) at the Bullseye vent area and at Cucumber Ridge in October 2002. The high-resolution SCS data, with a frequency bandpass of 40-150 Hz, recorded coherent reflectivity down to about 400 m beneath the seafloor, and provide excellent images of the subseafloor structure of Cucumber Ridge and of the gas hydrate bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) beneath it. Cucumber Ridge is interpreted to have developed as a structural topographic high in the hanging wall of a large reverse fault formed at the base of the current seaward slope. The fault zone provides pathways for fluids including gas to migrate to the seafloor where diagenetic carbonate forms and cements the near-surface sediments. Over the seismic grid, heat flow was derived from the depth of the BSR. A simple 2-D analytical correction for theoretical heat flow variations due to topography is applied to the data. Across the mound, most of the variability in heat flow is explained by topographic effects, including a local 6 mW/m2 negative anomaly over the central mound and a large 20 mW/m2 positive anomaly over the mound steep side slope. However, just south of the mound, th.

Download or read book The Sensitivity of Seismic Responses to Gas Hydrates written by and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 17 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The primary goal of this project was to determine the sensitivity of seismic responses to gas hydrate and associated free gas saturation within marine sediments. The development of a model to predict the physical properties of sediments containing hydrates was required. This model was used as the basis for predicting the sensitivity of P and S wave seismic velocities and waveform amplitudes to variations in hydrate and free gas saturation. Secondary goals of the project included: assessment of the usefulness of seismic shear waves in characterizing hydrate saturation and a review of potential complications in seismic modeling procedures.

Download or read book Three dimensional Gas Migration and Gas Hydrate Systems of South Hydrate Ridge Offshore Oregon written by Emily Megan Graham and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hydrate Ridge is a peanut shape bathymetric high located about 80 km west of Newport, Oregon on the Pacific continental margin, within the Cascadia subduction zone's accretionary wedge. The ridge's two topographic highs (S. and N. Hydrate Ridge) are characterized by gas vents and seeps that were observed with previous ODP initiatives. In 2008, we acquired a 3D seismic reflection data set using the P-Cable acquisition system to characterize the subsurface fluid migration pathways that feed the seafloor vent at S. Hydrate Ridge. The new high-resolution data reveal a complex 3D structure of localized faulting within the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ). We interpret two groups of fault-related migration pathways. The first group is defined by regularly- and widely-spaced (100-150 m) faults that extend greater than 300ms TWT (~ 250 m) below seafloor and coincide with the regional thrust fault orientations of the Oregon margin. The deep extent of these faults makes them potential conduits for deeply sourced methane and may include thermogenic methane, which was found with shallow drilling during ODP Leg 204. As a fluid pathway these faults may complement the previously identified sand-rich, gas-filled stratigraphic horizon, Horizon A, which is a major gas migration pathway to the summit of S. Hydrate Ridge. The second group of faults is characterized by irregularly but closely spaced (~ 50 m), shallow fractures (extending

Download or read book The Sensitivity of Seismic Responses to Gas Hydrates Final Report written by and published by . This book was released on 1992 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The sensitivity of seismic reflection coefficients and amplitudes, and their variations with changing incidence angles and offsets, was determined with respect to changes in the parameters which characterize marine sediments containing gas hydrates. Using the results of studies of ice saturation effects in permafrost soils, we have introduced rheological effects of hydrate saturation. The replacement of pore fluids in highly porous and unconsolidated marine sediments with crystalline gas hydrates, increases the rigidity of the sediments, and alters the ratio of compressional/shear strength ratio. This causes Vp/Vs ratio variations which have an effect on the amplitudes of P-wave and S-wave reflections. Analysis of reflection coefficient functions has revealed that amplitudes are very sensitive to porosity estimates, and errors in the assumed model porosity can effect the estimates of hydrate saturation. Additionally, we see that the level of free gas saturation is difficult to determine. A review of the effects of free gas and hydrate saturation on shear wave arrivals indicates that far-offset P to S wave converted arrivals may provide a means of characterizing hydrate saturations. Complications in reflection coefficient and amplitude modelling can arise from gradients in hydrate saturation levels and from rough sea floor topography. An increase in hydrate saturation with depth in marine sediments causes rays to bend towards horizontal and increases the reflection incidence angles and subsequent amplitudes. This effect is strongly accentuated when the vertical separation between the source and the hydrate reflection horizon is reduced. The effect on amplitude variations with offset due to a rough sea floor was determined through finite difference wavefield modelling. Strong diffractions in the waveforms add noise to the amplitude versus offset functions.

Download or read book Northern Cascadia Marine Gas Hydrate Constraints from Resistivity Velocity and AVO written by and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thesis presents estimates of marine gas hydrate distribution and concentration obtained from various geophysical methods. The study area is located in the accretionary prism of the Northern Cascadia subduction zone, offshore Vancouver Island. Canada. The primary objective of this study was to assess the applicability of a suite of geophysical methods in estimating marine gas hydrate distribution and concentration. The measurements tested are downhole log electrical resistivity and seismic velocity, multi-channel seismic (MCS) velocity, and seismic amplitude vs. offset (AVO) of a gas hydrate-related bottom-simulating reflection (BSR). The downhole log data are from Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 311, along a transect of four wells, and the seismic data are from a conventional 2-D MCS line along the well transect. Gas hydrate distribution and concentration estimates along the well transect exhibit high spatial variability, both from site to site, and within any given site. On average. estimates from electrical resistivity measurements give 5-15% gas hydrate pore space saturation. whereas velocity-based estimates are 15-25%. Some intervals in both cases show concentrations over 40%. Nonlinear Bayesian inversion of seismic AVO data yields a gas hydrate concentration estimate of 0-23% of the pore space. These results lead to the conclusion that resistivity and velocity data are effective tools for estimating marine gas hydrate concentration. The main uncertainty in the resistivity analysis is the in situ pore fluid salinity, whereas the main uncertainty in the velocity study is the magnitude of the bulk sediment velocity increase associated with gas hydrate occurrence (related to how gas hydrate forms). It is shown here that AVO of a gas hydrate BSR is not a useful method to estimate marine gas hydrate concentration. The method lacks the shear-wave velocity resolution necessary to add useful constraints to what is already known from compressional-wave.

Download or read book Geophysical Characterization of Gas Hydrates written by Michael Riedel and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Northern Cascadia Marine Gas Hydrate written by Marc-André Paul Chen and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thesis presents estimates of marine gas hydrate distribution and concentration obtained from various geophysical methods. The study area is located in the accretionary prism of the Northern Cascadia subduction zone, offshore Vancouver Island. Canada. The primary objective of this study was to assess the applicability of a suite of geophysical methods in estimating marine gas hydrate distribution and concentration. The measurements tested are downhole log electrical resistivity and seismic velocity, multi-channel seismic (MCS) velocity, and seismic amplitude vs. offset (AVO) of a gas hydrate-related bottom-simulating reflection (BSR). The downhole log data are from Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 311, along a transect of four wells, and the seismic data are from a conventional 2-D MCS line along the well transect.Gas hydrate distribution and concentration estimates along the well transect exhibit high spatial variability, both from site to site, and within any given site. On average. estimates from electrical resistivity measurements give 5-15% gas hydrate pore space saturation. whereas velocity-based estimates are 15-25%. Some intervals in both cases show concentrations over 40%. Nonlinear Bayesian inversion of seismic AVO data yields a gas hydrate concentration estimate of 0-23% of the pore space.These results lead to the conclusion that resistivity and velocity data are effective tools for estimating marine gas hydrate concentration. The main uncertainty in the resistivity analysis is the in situ pore fluid salinity, whereas the main uncertainty in the velocity study is the magnitude of the bulk sediment velocity increase associated with gas hydrate occurrence (related to how gas hydrate forms). It is shown here that AVO of a gas hydrate BSR is not a useful method to estimate marine gas hydrate concentration. The method lacks the shear-wave velocity resolution necessary to add useful constraints to what is already known from compressional-wave velocity information.

Download or read book Northern Cascadia Marine Gas Hydrate written by Marc-André Paul Chen and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This thesis presents estimates of marine gas hydrate distribution and concentration obtained from various geophysical methods. The study area is located in the accretionary prism of the Northern Cascadia subduction zone, offshore Vancouver Island. Canada. The primary objective of this study was to assess the applicability of a suite of geophysical methods in estimating marine gas hydrate distribution and concentration. The measurements tested are downhole log electrical resistivity and seismic velocity, multi-channel seismic (MCS) velocity, and seismic amplitude vs. offset (AVO) of a gas hydrate-related bottom-simulating reflection (BSR). The downhole log data are from Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 311, along a transect of four wells, and the seismic data are from a conventional 2-D MCS line along the well transect. Gas hydrate distribution and concentration estimates along the well transect exhibit high spatial variability, both from site to site, and within any given site. On average. estimates from electrical resistivity measurements give 5-15% gas hydrate pore space saturation. whereas velocity-based estimates are 15-25%. Some intervals in both cases show concentrations over 40%. Nonlinear Bayesian inversion of seismic AVO data yields a gas hydrate concentration estimate of 0-23% of the pore space. These results lead to the conclusion that resistivity and velocity data are effective tools for estimating marine gas hydrate concentration. The main uncertainty in the resistivity analysis is the in situ pore fluid salinity, whereas the main uncertainty in the velocity study is the magnitude of the bulk sediment velocity increase associated with gas hydrate occurrence (related to how gas hydrate forms). It is shown here that AVO of a gas hydrate BSR is not a useful method to estimate marine gas hydrate concentration. The method lacks the shear-wave velocity resolution necessary to add useful constraints to what is already known from compressional-wave velocity information.