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Predicting saturation of gas hydrates using pre-stack seismic data, Gulf of Mexico

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Abstract

A promising method for gas hydrates exploration incorporates pre-stack seismic inversion data, elastic properties modeling, and seismic interpretation to predict saturation of gas hydrates (Sgh). The technology can be modified slightly and used for predicting hydrate concentrations in shallow arctic locations as well. Examples from Gulf of Mexico Walker Ridge (WR) and Green Canyon (GC) protraction areas illustrate how Sgh was derived and used to support the selection of well locations to be drilled for gas hydrates in sand reservoirs by the Chevron-led Joint Industry Project (JIP) Leg II cruise in 2009. Concentrations of hydrates were estimated through the integration of seismic inversion of carefully conditioned pre-stack data, seismic stratigraphic interpretation, and shallow rock property modeling. Rock property trends were established by applying principles of rock physics and shallow sediment compaction, constrained by regional geological knowledge. No nearby sonic or density logs were available to define the elastic property trends in the zone of interest. Sgh volumes were generated by inverting pre-stack data to acoustic and shear impedance (PI and SI) volumes, and then analyzing deviations from modeled impedance trends. In order to enhance the quality of the inversion, we stress the importance of maximizing the signal to noise ratio of the offset data by conditioning seismic angle gathers prior to inversion. Seismic interpretation further plays an important role by identifying false anomalies such as hard, compact strata, which can produce apparent high Sgh values, and by identifying the more promising strata and structures for containing the hydrates. This integrated workflow presents a highly promising methodology, appropriate for the exploration of gas hydrates.

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Abbreviations

ϕ :

Porosity

3D:

Three-dimensional

ATR:

Seismic attributes

AVO:

Amplitude versus offset

BGHS:

Base of gas hydrate stability zone

BML:

Below mudline

BSR:

Bottom simulating reflector

CMP:

Common midpoint

EMT:

Effective medium theory

ESRI:

Environmental Systems Research Institute

GC:

Green canyon

GOM:

Gulf of Mexico

GR:

Gamma ray

JIP:

Joint industry project

MMS:

Minerals and management services

m:

Meter

ms:

Millisecond

NMO:

Normal moveout

P :

Probability

PDF:

Probability density function

PI:

Acoustic impedance or P-wave impedance

PR:

Poisson’s ratio

PSTM:

Prestack time migration

PSWI:

Prestack waveform inversion

RMS:

Root mean square

Sgh :

Gas hydrate saturation

SI:

Shear impedance or S-wave impedance

US:

United States

V p :

Compressional velocity

V S :

Shear velocity

wb:

Water bottom

WR:

Walker Ridge

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Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the JIP (led by Emrys Jones, Chevron) for encouraging the gas hydrates research and making this project possible, and to Ray Boswell for all his contributions and insight. The contributions of Mohamed Eissa are greatly appreciated. Also, much appreciation is extended to WesternGeco for providing the seismic data for this study and to Schlumberger for permission to publish this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Schlumberger, 10001 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX, 77042, USA

    Dianna Shelander, Jianchun Dai & George Bunge

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  1. Dianna Shelander
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  2. Jianchun Dai
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  3. George Bunge
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Correspondence to Dianna Shelander.

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Shelander, D., Dai, J. & Bunge, G. Predicting saturation of gas hydrates using pre-stack seismic data, Gulf of Mexico. Mar Geophys Res 31, 39–57 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-010-9087-8

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