Characterization of Thin Gas Hydrate Reservoir in Ulleung Basin with Stepwise Seismic Inversion

Abstract

Natural gas hydrates (GHs) filling sand layer pores are the most promising GHs that can be produced via conventional mechanisms in deep-sea environments. However, the seismic tracking of such thin GH-bearing sand layers is subject to certain limitations. For example, because most GH-bearing sand layers are thin and sparsely interbedded with mud layers, conventional seismic data with a maximum resolution of ~10 m are of limited use for describing their spatial distribution. The 2010 Ulleung Basin drilling expedition identified a relatively good GH reservoir at the UBGH2-6 site. However, the individual GH-bearing sand layers at this site are thin and cannot therefore be reliably tracked using conventional seismic techniques. This study presents a new thin layer tracking method using stepwise seismic inversion and 3D seismic datasets with two different resolutions. The high-resolution acoustic impedance volume obtained is then used to trace thin layers that cannot be harnessed with conventional methods. Moreover, we estimate the high-resolution regional GH distribution based on GH saturation derived from acoustic impedance at UBGH2-6. The thin GH layers, previously viewed as a single layer because of limited resolution, are further subdivided, traced, and characterized in terms of lateral variation.

Key Areas of Gas Hydrates Study: Review

“…There are currently several methods of detecting gas hydrate deposits: seismic surveys [115][116][117], measurements of thermal and diffusion flows under a deposit, and electromagnetic field dynamics investigation in the region under study [43].…”

“…A multichannel seismic survey [116] was carried out using the high-resolution deeptowed acoustics/geophysics system (DTAGS) to image the structure of deep-sea gas hydrates and to determine the velocity profile of the hydrated sediments. Currently, a new gas hydrate tracking method is being used with a stepwise seismic inversion and 3D seismic datasets with two different resolutions [117]. Then, the obtained high-resolution acoustic impedance is used to trace thin layers that cannot be harnessed with conventional methods [117].…”

“…Currently, a new gas hydrate tracking method is being used with a stepwise seismic inversion and 3D seismic datasets with two different resolutions [117]. Then, the obtained high-resolution acoustic impedance is used to trace thin layers that cannot be harnessed with conventional methods [117].…”