Attenuation tomography: An application to gas-hydrate and free-gas detection

We estimate the quality factor (Q) from seismic reflections by using a tomographic inversion algorithm based on the frequency‐shift method. The algorithm is verified with a synthetic case and is applied to offshore data, acquired at western Svalbard, to detect the presence of bottom‐simulating reflectors (BSR) and gas hydrates. An array of 20 ocean‐bottom seismographs has been used. The combined use of traveltime and attenuation tomography provides a 3D velocity–Q cube, which can be used to map the spatial distribution of the gas‐hydrate concentration and free‐gas saturation. In general, high P‐wave velocity and quality factor indicate the presence of solid hydrates and low P‐wave velocity and quality factor correspond to free‐gas bearing sediments. The Q‐values vary between 200 and 25, with higher values (150–200) above the BSR and lower values below the BSR (25–40). These results seem to confirm that hydrates cement the grains, and attenuation decreases with increasing hydrate concentration.     

Micro X‐Ray computed tomography imaging and ultrasonic velocity measurements in tetrahydrofuran‐hydrate‐bearing sediments

Naturally occurring gas hydrates contain significant amounts of natural gas that might be produced as an energy resource in the foreseeable future. Thus, it is necessary to understand the pore‐space characteristics of hydrate reservoirs, particularly the pore‐scale distribution of the hydrate and its interaction with the sediment. Four end‐member models for hydrate distribution in the pore space are pore filling, sediment‐frame component, envelope cementing, and contact cementing. The goal of this study is to compare the models with pore‐scale hydrate distributions obtained in laboratory‐formed hydrates. Our results verify hydrate pore‐scale distributions by direct, visual observations that were previously implied by indirect, elastic property measurements. Laboratory measurements were conducted using tetrahydrofuran as a guest molecule since tetrahydrofuran hydrate can be used as a proxy for naturally occurring hydrates. We performed micro X‐ray computed tomography to obtain information about the distribution of hydrate in the pore space of synthetic sediment (glass beads). We also made ultrasonic velocity measurements on the same samples. Micro X‐ray computed tomography images and ultrasonic velocity measurements both indicate that the tetrahydrofuran hydrate forms in the pore space with a part of the hydrate bridging the grains without touching the grain surfaces. These hydrate‐bearing sediments appear to follow a pore‐filling model with a portion of the hydrate becoming a load‐bearing part of the sediment frame.     

Influence of foraminifera on formation and occurrence characteristics of natural gas hydrates in fine-grained sediments from Shenhu area,South China Sea

Marine gas hydrates accumulate primarily in coarse-grained, high-permeability layers; however, highly saturated natural gas hydrates have been discovered in the fine-grained sediments of Shenhu area, South China Sea (SCS). This may be explained by key factors, such as the great abundance of foraminifera shells. In this paper, by analyzing the SCS foraminifera structure and performing hydrate formation experiments in the foraminifera shells, the contribution of foraminifera to hydrate accumulation in the SCS was investigated from a microscopic point of view. Simulations of hydrate formation were carried out in both pure SCS foraminifera shells and the host sediments. Pore structures in typical foraminifera were studied by use of micro-focus X-ray computed tomography (CT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hydrate growth and occurrence characteristics in the foraminifera shells were observed in-situ. The results showed that the presence of foraminifera significantly enhanced the effective porosity of the SCS sediments. Moreover, while the hydrates grew preferentially in the chambers of the coarse-grained foraminifera by adhering to the inner walls of the foraminifera shells, no apparent hydrate accumulation was observed in the fine-grained or argillaceous matrix. These findings provide a basis for further studies on the accumulation mechanism of hydrates and physical properties of hydrate reservoir in the South China Sea.     

基于弯曲元技术的含水合物松散沉积物声学特性研究

含水合物松散沉积物的声学特性对海上天然气水合物地球物理勘探和资源评价具有重要意义.研制了适用于高压条件下含水合物沉积物声学特性探测的纵横波一体化新型弯曲元换能器,提出利用频谱分析(FFT)和小波分析(WT)相结合的方法获取纵横波速度,并进行了多个轮次的水合物声学特性模拟实验研究.结果表明,新型弯曲元技术可以灵敏探测松散沉积物中水合物的生成和分解,随着水合物饱和度(Sh)的增大,纵横波速度呈规律性增长:当Sh<25%时,纵横波速度增长较快,水合物可能胶结沉积物颗粒生成;25%~60%之间,声速增长较为缓慢,水合物可能与沉积物颗粒呈接触关系;在Sh>60%时声速随着水合物饱和度增加又快速增长,表明水合物可能重新胶结沉积物颗粒生成.     

井震联合分析预测神狐海域天然气水合物可能的垂向分布

已有的地质与地球物理信息表明南中国海北部陆坡神狐海域存在天然气水合物,2007年钻井和取样结果证实其以细颗粒均匀存在于水合物稳定带内,但区域分布范围极不规则.由于测井记录长度和取样深度的范围有限,天然气水合物垂向分布特征难以确定.为了深入了解此区域天然气水合物深度上的分布规律,对SH7井的多种测井数据进行综合分析并与地震反射特征建立联系,得到三个主要的沉积物性变化层位并以此为基础进行叠后数据的伪井约束反演,结果表明在已证实的含水合物层之下还存在高速层.而AVO叠前正演模拟分析结果与实际地震数据对比表明,研究区的天然气水合物稳定带可能由含水合物沉积物与饱水沉积物的薄互层组成,这就意味着在取样获得天然气水合物样品的深度之下,很可能存在另一个含水合物层.     

海洋天然气水合物的地球物理研究(III):似海底反射

对天然气水合物研究中与似海底反射有关的一些观点进行讨论 ,以推动天然气水合物地震研究的认识 .30年的似海底反射研究表明 ,似海底反射仍然是指示天然气水合物沉积存在的最好手段之一 .有似海底反射 ,是可以认为存在天然气水合物的 .虽然存在“游离气带速度模型”与“水合物楔速度模型” ,但似海底反射主要由天然气水合物稳定带底界下方的游离气引起 .BSR上方的天然气水合物、下方的游离气与天然气再循环和含甲烷的流体流有关 .由于天然气水合物稳定带计算控制因素难以准确确定等因素 ,似海底反射与天然气水合物稳定带底界只是近似的对应关系 .需从动态的观点考虑天然气水合物 天然气体系及其与似海底反射的关系 .     

三维地震与OBS联合勘探揭示的神狐海域含水合物地层声波速度特征

以三维高分辨地震与海底高频地震仪（OBS）联合勘探数据为基础,获得海底之下沉积层的地震反射成像剖面及多波信息,并以此确定研究区含天然气水合物沉积层的纵、横波速度的变化特征.根据走时反演获得的横波速度与纵波速度对比分析发现,研究区海底之下500 m深度范围内的某些沉积层具有较高的纵横波速度,这一纵波速度升高区域与水合物稳定带对应,而纵波速度下降并且横波速度变化较小的区域,可能与游离气的存在相关.游离气的可能存在与基于这一区域2007年钻探测井结果的普遍认识不完全相符.     

Numerical simulation of accumulation of gas hydrates during sedimentation and compaction of sediments under subaqueous conditions

The mutual influence of compaction of depositing sediments and formation of gas hydrates in a porous medium is examined. Within the framework of the general mathematical model developed in this study, these interrelated processes are described by a nonlinear system of eight partial differential equations and are analyzed using numerical simulation in terms of the model including compaction of depositing sediments, movement of pore fluids, and formation of gas hydrates from dissolved methane accumulated during sedimentation. On the basis of model examples calculated with the use of representative parameters of the system, it is shown that the hydrate formation rate depends on the sedimentation rate and thermal conditions. Gas hydrate formation is shown to influence the pore fluid velocity in the near-surface zone of sediments.     

海洋天然气水合物的地球物理研究(Ⅰ)：岩石物性

本文综述了含水合物沉积物的岩石物性模型，讨论水合物饱和度与岩石物性的关系，关于纵波速度与水合物饱和度的关系，有一些简单模型，如孔隙度降低模型，时间平均方程、时间平均－Wood加权方程，也有复杂模型，如根据弹性模量计算的模型、根据等效介质中地震波传播理论的模型，本文还介绍了含水合物沉积物的电阻率、电导率模型与含注重气沉积物的岩石物性。     

天然气水合物体系动态演化研究(Ⅱ):海底滑坡

天然气水合物被认为是大陆边缘沉积物强度变弱的一个因子，从而能解释大陆边缘海底滑坡的一些观测现象。天然气水合物的形成使沉积物强度增加，而其分解则使沉积物强度变弱。虽然无法直接观测沉积物中天然气水合物的活动过程与相应的海底滑坡，大量的背景资料表明，天然气水合物崩解常常有助于触发海底沉积物块体的运动。此外，大型滑塌可以释放大量的固态天然气水合物，水合物在水柱中上浮。大块天然气水合物可以在分解前到达海洋的上部层，一些甲烷可以直接进入大气中。本文综述与天然气水合物体系演化有关的海底滑坡的研究现状。     

墨西哥湾GC955H井天然气水合物储层声波衰减特征

墨西哥湾GC955H井钻遇两种不同的水合物储层,浅层裂隙充填型水合物和深层砂岩型水合物.浅层水合物充填在细粒泥质沉积物的裂隙中,由电阻率测井计算的饱和度平均值为25%.深层水合物充填在砂岩孔隙中,由电阻率计算的饱和度平均为65%.基于声波全波形数据,本文计算了GC955H井储层的声波衰减大小,结果发现两种水合物层对声波衰减的影响不同.泥岩水合物层中的声波衰减与上覆背景泥岩沉积层基本相当.砂岩水合物层的声波衰减大于0.1,最大0.15,远高于上覆和下伏的背景砂岩层.对声波频率的分析发现,GC955H井泥岩层中水合物对声波频率的影响不大,砂岩水合物层的声波频谱与上下背景砂岩层相比发生变化,主频增大.通过对比两种水合物储层的特征,本文初步定性分析了造成水合物对储层声波传播影响不同的原因,包括岩性、水合物饱和度、水合物赋存方式等;但对此的定量描述需要未来更详尽地讨论和研究水合物的声波衰减机制.     

海底天然气水合物层界面反射AVO数值模拟

本文采用AVO数值模拟方法，共选取水合物系统分层结构6个模型，对水合物、游离气和饱水沉积物接触界面的反射特征进行了数值模拟，研究了BSR及双BSR的存在条件与水合物体系垂向分布的关系，对一些现象从理论上进行了阐明.主要结论是：（1）强的似海底反射界面BSR与游离气体的存在密不可分，实际地震剖面中的“BSR”可能不对应水合物而只对应气体，无明显BSR的地方可能有水合物.（2）水合物顶部有可能存在游离气体，它可以在正常BSR（BSR1）之上形成另一个具有正极性的似海底反射界面BSR2.（3）正常BSR之下的双BSR（BSR0）其弹性机理有两种可能，一是水合物之下游离气上升迁移遇到某种阻隔层或不同气体组分的自然分层所造成的气体垂向分布的梯度性差异；二是当水合物之下的游离气体中存在残存的水合物时，同样会形成一定强度的似海底反射，在这种情形下BSR0的极性比较难以判断，取决于残存水合物上下游离气的饱和度和残存水合物的厚度.     

南海北部神狐海域天然气水合物成藏模式研究

南海北部陆坡神狐海域是我国海洋天然气水合物勘探开发研究的重点靶区,独特的水合物成藏特征,难以利用当前观测到的沉积速率和流体流动条件对其成藏机理进行解释和量化说明,对其形成演化模式和控制因素尚不明确.本文构建了海洋天然气水合物形成演化过程的动力学模型,模型的主控参量为海底沉积速率和水流速率,以此计算了神狐海域天然气水合物聚集演化过程,并与饱和度的盐度测试值进行对比.最后,在研究神狐海域地质构造活动和水合物成藏动力学基础上建立了神狐天然气水合物形成演化模式.认为神狐海域当前的天然气水合物是在上新世末—更新世早期断裂体系水合物基础上继承演化而来的,神狐海域天然气水合物形成演化具有典型的二元模式.第一阶段水合物形成发生在距今1.5 Ma之前构造活动形成的断裂体系中,高达50 m/ka的孔隙水流动携带了大量的甲烷进入水合物稳定带,导致了水合物的快速生成,在4万年内形成了饱和度达20%的甲烷水合物;第二阶段发生在1.5 Ma以来,泥质粉砂沉积使沉积体渗透率骤减,0.7 m/ka的低速率水流使甲烷供给不足,在海底浅层新沉积体中无法生成水合物,仅在水合物稳定带底部有缓慢的水合物继承增长,并因此形成了神狐海域当前观测到的水合物产出特征,而且水合物资源量仍在减少.     

南海含天然气水合物地层地震反射特征及可能分布研究

天然气水合物是当前能源与环境领域的研究热点之一,南中国海是天然气水合物赋存的有利区域。天然气水合物的存在改变了沉积地层的声学特征,这一性质使多道地震勘探成为发现海洋天然气水合物的主要手段。本文首先根据地震成像结果定性分析南海可能含天然气水合物沉积地层的地震反射特征,初步确定天然气水合物存在的可能性并指出地震成像关键技术。在无井条件下,构建虚拟井进行波阻抗反演得到定量的地层速度参数进一步证实这一可能性,最后将反演获得的速度场与ODP184 航次在此区域获得的地球物理、地球化学信息综合分析,可以确定此区域天然气水合物的存在及其空间展布。     

钻井液侵入海洋含水合物地层的一维数值模拟研究

本文以墨西哥湾水合物区域为背景,利用数值模拟方法研究了过平衡钻井条件下,当钻井液温度高于地层中水合物稳定温度时,水基钻井液侵入海洋含水合物地层的动态过程及其一般性规律.与侵入常规油气地层相比,耦合水合物分解和再形成是钻井液侵入海洋含水合物地层的主要特征.模拟结果表明,钻井液密度、温度和盐度都对侵入过程有影响.在一定条件下,钻井液密度越大,温度和含盐量越高,则钻井液侵入程度越深,热量传递越远,水合物分解程度越大.分解的水气在合适条件下又会重新形成水合物,影响了钻井液进一步侵入.而重新形成的水合物的饱和度甚至可能高于原位水合物饱和度,在井周形成一个"高饱水合物"环带.这一现象归因于钻井液侵入的驱替推挤、水合物分解的吸热以及地层传热的滞后等因素共同作用.在地层物性一定的条件下,高饱水合物环带的出现与否主要受钻井液温度和盐度控制.水合物分解以及高饱水合物环带的出现对井壁稳定和电阻率测井解释有很大影响.因此,为维护井壁稳定、确保测井准确和减少水合物储层伤害,就必须对钻井液密度、温度和滤失量进行严格控制,防止地层中的水合物大量分解.最好采用控制压力钻井(MPD)和深侧向测井方式,同时尽量选用低矿化度的含水合物动力学抑制剂的钻井液体系,采取低温快速循环方式.     

Acoustic properties of sediments saturated with gas hydrate, free gas and water

We obtain the wave velocities and quality factors of gas‐hydrate‐bearing sediments as a function of pore pressure, temperature, frequency and partial saturation. The model is based on a Biot‐type three‐phase theory that considers the existence of two solids (grains and gas hydrate) and a fluid mixture. Attenuation is described with the constant‐Q model and viscodynamic functions to model the high‐frequency behaviour. We apply a uniform gas/water mixing law that satisfies Wood's and Voigt's averages at low and high frequencies, respectively. The acoustic model is calibrated to agree with the patchy‐saturation theory at high frequencies (White's model). Pressure effects are accounted by using an effective stress law for the dry‐rock moduli and permeabilities. The dry‐rock moduli of the sediment are calibrated with data from the Cascadia margin. Moreover, we calculate the depth of the bottom simulating reflector (BSR) below the sea floor as a function of sea‐floor depth, geothermal gradient below the sea floor, and temperature at the sea floor.     

AVO study of a gas-hydrate deposit, offshore Costa Rica

Amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis and waveform inversion are techniques used to determine qualitative or quantitative information on gas hydrates and free gas in sediments. However, the quantitative contribution of gas hydrates to the acoustic impedance contrast observed at the bottom‐simulating reflector and the reliability of quantitative AVO analyses are still topics of discussion. In this study, common‐midpoint gathers from multichannel wide‐angle reflection seismic data, acquired offshore Costa Rica, have been processed to preserve true amplitude information at the bottom‐simulating reflector for a quantitative AVO analysis incorporating angles of incidence of up to 60°. Corrections were applied for effects that significantly alter the observed amplitudes, such as the source directivity. AVO and rock‐physics modelling indicate that free gas immediately beneath the gas‐hydrate stability zone can be detected and low concentrations can be quantified from AVO analysis, whereas the offset‐dependent reflectivity is not sensitive to gas‐hydrate concentrations of less than about 10% at the base of the gas‐hydrate stability zone. Bulk free‐gas saturations up to 5% have been determined from the reflection seismic data assuming a homogeneous distribution of free gas in the sediment. Assuming a patchy distribution of free gas increases the estimated concentrations up to 14%. There is a patchy occurrence of bottom‐simulating reflectors south‐east of the Nicoya Peninsula on the continental margin, offshore Costa Rica. AVO analysis indicates that this phenomenon is related to the local presence of free gas beneath the gas‐hydrate stability zone, probably related to a focused vertical fluid flow. In areas without bottom‐simulating reflectors, the results indicate that no free gas is present.     

青藏高原冻土带天然气水合物的形成条件与分布预测

冻土带是天然气水合物发育的两个重要地质环境之一.青藏高原平均海拔在4000m以上,多年冻土面积约1.4×106km2.本文根据青藏高原冻土层厚度和地温梯度特征,运用天然气水合物的热力学稳定域预测方法,确定中低纬度高海拔区冻土带天然气水合物的产出特征.青藏高原多年冻土带热成因天然气水合物形成的热力学相平衡反映,水合物顶界埋深约27~560m,底界埋深约77~2070m.初步计算表明,青藏高原冻土带水合物天然气资源约1.2×1011~2.4×1014m3.在冻土层越厚、冻土层及冻土层之下沉积层的地温梯度越小的地区,最有利于天然气水合物的发育.气温的季节性变化对天然气水合物影响不大.在全球气温快速上升的背景下,青藏高原天然气水合物将处于失稳状态,天然气水合物顶界下降、底界上升,与冻土带的退化相似,分布区逐渐缩小,最终将完全消失.     

基于双相介质理论的AVO属性交汇图识别天然气水合物

天然气水合物(gas hydrates)作为一种新的潜在能源 是目前世界范围内研究的热点和难点之一。目前 普遍认为拟海底反射(简称BSR)是天然气水合物存 在的重要标志之一,但有关水合物的识别仍有很 多问题需要解决。例如世界各地已发现水合物的 例证表明在没有BSR的情况下仍然存在水合物,在 没有BSR的情况下如何识别水合物仍是没有解决 的研究课题。本文以天然气水合物的识别为研究 目的,以AVO属性交汇图为研究手段,通过双相介 质正演理论模型研究了当地层含有天然气水合物 或游离气时的AVO属性特征,并与由双相介质的 交错网格有限差分法得到的合成地震记录所反演 得出的AVO交汇图进行了对比,得到高度一致的 对比结果,表明利用AVO属性交汇图是识别天然 气水合物和游离气并能估测其含量的有效技术。