Analyses of bottom simulating reflections offshore Arauco and Coyhaique (Chile)

Two seismic sections offshore Arauco and Coyhaique, Chile, have been analysed to better define the seismic character of hydrate-bearing sediments. The velocity analysis was used to estimate the gas-phase concentration, which can serve to correlate hydrate presence to the geological features. The velocity model allowed us to recognise the hydrate layer above the bottom simulating reflector (BSR), and the free gas layer below it. The velocity field is affected by strong lateral variation, showing maximum (above the BSR) and minimum (below the BSR) values in the southern sector. Here, highest gas hydrate and free gas concentrations were calculated (15% and 2.7% of total volume respectively). The estimated geothermal gradient ranges from 35 to 95°C/km. In the northern sector, the highest gas hydrate and free gas concentrations are 15% and 0.2% of total volume respectively, and the geothermal gradient is uniform and equal to about 30°C/km.     

Geothermal modeling of the gas hydrate stability zone along the Krishna Godavari Basin

A wide-spread bottom simulating reflector (BSR), interpreted to mark the thermally controlled base of the gas hydrate stability zone, is observed over a close grid of multichannel seismic profiles in the Krishna Godavari Basin of the eastern continental margin of India. The seismic data reveal that gas hydrate occurs in the Krishna Godavari Basin at places where water depths exceed 850 m. The thickness of the gas hydrate stability zone inferred from the BSR ranges up to 250 m. A conductive model was used to determine geothermal gradients and heat flow. Ground truth for the assessment and constraints on the model were provided by downhole measurements obtained during the National Gas Hydrate Program Expedition 01 of India at various sites in the Krishna Godavari Basin. Measured downhole temperature gradients and seafloor-temperatures, sediment thermal conductivities, and seismic velocity are utilized to generate regression functions for these parameters as function of overall water depth. In the first approach the base of gas hydrate stability is predicted from seafloor bathymetry using these regression functions and heat flow and geothermal gradient are calculated. In a second approach the observed BSR depth from the seismic profiles (measured in two-way travel time) is converted into heat flow and geothermal gradient using the same ground-truth data. The geothermal gradient estimated from the BSR varies from 27 to 67°C/km. Corresponding heat flow values range from 24 to 60 mW/m². The geothermal modeling shows a close match of the predicted base of the gas hydrate stability zone with the observed BSR depths.     

Variability of the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) and its association with tectonic structures in the Chilean margin between Arauco Gulf (37°S) and Valdivia (40°S)

Multichannel seismic reflection data recorded between Arauco Gulf (37°S) and Valdivia (40°S), on the Chilean continental margin, were processed and modeled to obtain seismic images and sub-surface models, in order to characterize the variability of the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR), which is a geophysical marker for the presence of gas hydrates. The BSR is discontinuous and interrupted by submarine valleys, canyons, as well as by faults or fractures. The BSR occurrence is more common south of Mocha Island due to moderate slopes and greater organic matter contribution by rivers in that area. Tectonic uplift and structural instability change the stability gas hydrate zone and consequently the BSR position, creating in some cases missing or double BSRs. Our modeling supports the presence of gas hydrate above the BSR and free gas below it. Higher BSR amplitudes support higher hydrate or free gas concentrations. In the study area, gas hydrate concentration is low (an average of 3.5%) suggesting disseminated gas hydrate distribution within the sediments. Also higher BSR amplitudes are associated with thrust faults in the accretionary prism, which serve as conduits for gas flow from deeper levels. This extra gas supply produces a wider thickness of gas hydrates or free gas.     

Structural controls on the formation of BSR over a diapiric anticline from a dense MCS survey offshore southwestern Taiwan

A dense seismic reflection survey with up to 250-m line-spacing has been conducted in a 15 × 15 km wide area offshore southwestern Taiwan where Bottom Simulating Reflector is highly concentrated and geochemical signals for the presence of gas hydrate are strong. A complex interplay between north–south trending thrust faults and northwest–southeast oblique ramps exists in this region, leading to the formation of 3 plunging anticlines arranged in a relay pattern. Landward in the slope basin, a north–south trending diapiric fold, accompanied by bright reflections and numerous diffractions on the seismic profiles, extends across the entire survey area. This fold is bounded to the west by a minor east-verging back-thrust and assumes a symmetric shape, except at the northern and southern edges of this area, where it actively overrides the anticlines along a west-verging thrust, forming a duplex structure. A clear BSR is observed along 67% of the acquired profiles. The BSR is almost continuous in the slope basin but poorly imaged near the crest of the anticlines. Local geothermal gradient values estimated from BSR sub-bottom depths are low along the western limb and crest of the anticlines ranging from 40 to 50 °C/km, increase toward 50–60 °C/km in the slope basin and 55–65 °C/km along the diapiric fold, and reach maximum values of 70 °C/km at the southern tip of the Good Weather Ridge. Furthermore, the local dips of BSR and sedimentary strata that crosscut the BSR at intersections of any 2 seismic profiles have been computed. The stratigraphic dips indicated a dominant east–west shortening in the study area, but strata near the crest of the plunging anticlines generally strike to southwest almost perpendicular to the direction of plate convergence. The intensity of the estimated bedding-guided fluid and gas flux into the hydrate stability zone is weaker than 2 in the slope basin and the south-central half of the diapiric fold, increases to 7 in the northern half of the diapiric fold and plunging anticlines, and reaches a maximum of 16 at the western frontal thrust system. Rapid sedimentation, active tectonics and fluid migration paths with significant dissolved gas content impact on the mechanism for BSR formation and gas hydrate accumulation. As we begin to integrate the results from these studies, we are able to outline the regional variations, and discuss the importance of structural controls in the mechanisms leading to the gas hydrate emplacements.     

Probable gas hydrate/free gas model over western continental margin of India

Multi-channel seismic reflection data from the western continental margin of India (WCMI) have been analyzed to construct a plausible model for gas hydrate formation. A reflector at 2950 ms two way travel time (TWT) on one of the sections is interpreted to represent the base of the layer of the methane hydrate, identified by a bottom simulating reflector (BSR) that lies almost 500 ms beneath the sea floor. BSRs of similar origin are common world wide, where they are usually interpreted to mark the base of gas hydrate bearing clastic sediment, with or without underlying free gas. In this study we present a model with the contrasting physical properties that produce synthetic wavelets that match with the observed BSR amplitude and waveforms for varying source-receiver offsets of multi-channel seismic reflection data. The preliminary results presented here put important constraints on models that predict the distribution and formation of hydrate. Offset-dependent amplitude recovery also gives an appropriate response for hydrate characterization.     

Seismic character of gas hydrates on the Southeastern U.S. continental margin

Gas hydrates are stable at relatively low temperature and high pressure conditions; thus large amounts of hydrates can exist in sediments within the upper several hundred meters below the sea floor. The existence of gas hydrates has been recognized and mapped mostly on the basis of high amplitude Bottom Simulating Reflections (BSRs) which indicate only that an acoustic contrast exists at the lower boundary of the region of gas hydrate stability. Other factors such as amplitude blanking and change in reflection characteristics in sediments where a BSR would be expected, which have not been investigated in detail, are also associated with hydrated sediments and potentially disclose more information about the nature of hydratecemented sediments and the amount of hydrate present.Our research effort has focused on a detailed analysis of multichannel seismic profiles in terms of reflection character, inferred distribution of free gas underneath the BSR, estimation of elastic parameters, and spatial variation of blanking. This study indicates that continuous-looking BSRs in seismic profiles are highly segmented in detail and that the free gas underneath the hydrated sediment probably occurs as patches of gas-filled sediment having variable thickness. We also present an elastic model for various types of sediments based on seismic inversion results. The BSR from sediments of high ratio of shear to compressional velocity, estimated as about 0.52, encased in sediments whose ratios are less than 0.35 is consistent with the interpretation of gasfilled sediments underneath hydrated sediments. This model contrasts with recent results in which the BSR is explained by increased concentrations of hydrate near the base of the hydrate stability field and no underlying free gas is required.     

海底天然气水合物的地震资料处理与分析

介绍了利用多道反射地震资料，采用反射振幅随炮检距变化AVO（Ampltude versus Offset)技术和其他地震正、反演方法，通过研究地震剖面上的拟海底反射层（BSR）分布、地震弹性参数特征，来探讨BSR上、下方含天然气水合物沉积层和含游离气沉积层的内部结构和某些主要物理性质，如沉积物的空隙率、天然气水合物的饱和度等，由此来评估海底天然气水合物的资源前景并研究其成矿机制。     

Evidence of gas hydrate accumulation and its resource estimation in Andaman deep water basin from seismic and well log data

2D and 3D seismic reflection and well log data from Andaman deep water basin are analyzed to investigate geophysical evidence related to gas hydrate accumulation and saturation. Analysis of seismic data reveals the presence of a bottom simulating reflector (BSR) in the area showing all the characteristics of a classical BSR associated with gas hydrate accumulation. Double BSRs are also observed on some seismic sections of area (Area B) that suggest substantial changes in pressure–temperature (P–T) conditions in the past. The manifestation of changes in P–T conditions can also be marked by the varying gas hydrate stability zone thickness (200–650 m) in the area. The 3D seismic data of Area B located in the ponded fill, west of Alcock Rise has been pre-stack depth migrated. A significant velocity inversion across the BSR (1,950–1,650 m/s) has been observed on the velocity model obtained from pre-stack depth migration. The areas with low velocity of the order of 1,450 m/s below the BSR and high amplitudes indicate presence of dissociated or free gas beneath the hydrate layer. The amplitude variation with offset analysis of BSR depicts increase in amplitude with offset, a similar trend as observed for the BSR associated with the gas hydrate accumulations. The presence of gas hydrate shown by logging results from a drilled well for hydrocarbon exploration in Area B, where gas hydrate deposit was predicted from seismic evidence, validate our findings. The base of the hydrate layer derived from the resistivity and acoustic transit-time logs is in agreement with the depth of hydrate layer interpreted from the pre-stack depth migrated seismic section. The resistivity and acoustic transit-time logs indicate 30-m-thick hydrate layer at the depth interval of 1,865–1,895 m with 30 % hydrate saturation. The total hydrate bound gas in Area B is estimated to be 1.8 × 10¹⁰ m³, which is comparable (by volume) to the reserves in major conventional gas fields.     

Structural controls on the formation of BSR over a diapiric anticline from a dense MCS survey offshore southwestern Taiwan

A dense seismic reflection survey with up to 250-m line-spacing has been conducted in a 15 × 15 km wide area offshore southwestern Taiwan where Bottom Simulating Reflector is highly concentrated and geochemical signals for the presence of gas hydrate are strong. A complex interplay between north–south trending thrust faults and northwest–southeast oblique ramps exists in this region, leading to the formation of 3 plunging anticlines arranged in a relay pattern. Landward in the slope basin, a north–south trending diapiric fold, accompanied by bright reflections and numerous diffractions on the seismic profiles, extends across the entire survey area. This fold is bounded to the west by a minor east-verging back-thrust and assumes a symmetric shape, except at the northern and southern edges of this area, where it actively overrides the anticlines along a west-verging thrust, forming a duplex structure. A clear BSR is observed along 67% of the acquired profiles. The BSR is almost continuous in the slope basin but poorly imaged near the crest of the anticlines. Local geothermal gradient values estimated from BSR sub-bottom depths are low along the western limb and crest of the anticlines ranging from 40 to 50 °C/km, increase toward 50–60 °C/km in the slope basin and 55–65 °C/km along the diapiric fold, and reach maximum values of 70 °C/km at the southern tip of the Good Weather Ridge. Furthermore, the local dips of BSR and sedimentary strata that crosscut the BSR at intersections of any 2 seismic profiles have been computed. The stratigraphic dips indicated a dominant east–west shortening in the study area, but strata near the crest of the plunging anticlines generally strike to southwest almost perpendicular to the direction of plate convergence. The intensity of the estimated bedding-guided fluid and gas flux into the hydrate stability zone is weaker than 2 in the slope basin and the south-central half of the diapiric fold, increases to 7 in the northern half of the diapiric fold and plunging anticlines, and reaches a maximum of 16 at the western frontal thrust system. Rapid sedimentation, active tectonics and fluid migration paths with significant dissolved gas content impact on the mechanism for BSR formation and gas hydrate accumulation. As we begin to integrate the results from these studies, we are able to outline the regional variations, and discuss the importance of structural controls in the mechanisms leading to the gas hydrate emplacements.     

AVO analysis of BSR to assess free gas within fine-grained sediments in the Shenhu area,South China Sea

Gas hydrates have been identified from two-dimensional (2D) seismic data and logging data above bottom simulating reflector (BSR) during China’s first gas hydrate drilling expedition in 2007. The multichannel reflection seismic data were processed to be preserved amplitudes for quantitatively analyzing amplitude variation with offset (AVO) at BSRs. Low P-wave velocity anomaly below BSR, coinciding with high amplitude reflections in 2D seismic data, indicates the presence of free gas. The absolute values of reflection coefficient versus incidence angles for BSR range from 0 to 0.12 at different CMPs near Site SH2. According to logging data and gas hydrate saturations estimated from resistivity of Site SH2, P-wave velocities calculated from effective media theory (EMT) fit the measured sonic velocities well and we choose EMT to calculate elastic velocities for AVO. The rock-physics modeling and AVO analysis were combined to quantitatively assess free gas saturations and distribution by the reflection coefficients variation of the BSRs in Shenhu area, South China Sea. AVO estimation indicates that free gas saturations immediately beneath BSRs may be about 0.2 % (uniform distribution) and up to about 10 % (patchy distribution) at Site SH2.     

Amplitude-versus-offset modeling of the bottom simulating reflection associated with submarine gas hydrates

Velocity analysis of multi-channel seismic (MCS) data and amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) modeling provides an efficient way of identifying gas hydrate and free gas, and therefore the nature of the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR). Additionally, AVO modeling also yields estimates of the hydrate concentration and free gas saturation across the BSR in terms of velocity distribution. In the present study, we apply directivity correction in order to accentuate the AVO behavior. Modeling for AVO pattern of the observed BSR over the Kerala–Konkan Offshore Basin may provide the probable velocity distribution across the BSR and thereby infer whether hydrate or hydrate/free gas model governs the AVO observations. Initial results indicate the possible presence of free gas underlying the gas hydrates-saturated sediments in this region.     

Reservoir characterization of gas hydrate in the Northwestern part of the Ulleung Basin,East Sea

An analysis of 3D seismic data from the northwestern part of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, revealed that the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) consists of five seismic units separated by regional reflectors. An anticline is present that documents activity of many faults. The seismic indicators of gas hydrate occurrence included bottom simulating reflector (BSR) and acoustic blanking in the gas hydrate occurrence zone (GHOZ). By the analysis of the seismic characteristics and the gradient of the sedimentary strata, the GHOZ was divided into four classes: (1) dipping strata upon strong BSR, (2) dipping strata below strong BSR, (3) parallel strata with acoustic blanking, and (4) parallel strata below weak BSR. Seismic attributes such as reflection strength and instantaneous frequency were computed along the GHOZ. Low reflection strength and high instantaneous frequency were identified above the BSR, indicating the occurrence of gas hydrate. A remarkably high reflection strength and low instantaneous frequency indicated the presence of free gas below the BSR. Considering the distribution of the gas hydrate and free gas, two gas migration processes are suggested: (1) stratigraphic migration through the dipping, permeable strata and (2) structural migration from below the GHSZ along faults.     

High-resolution seismic studies of gas hydrates west of Svalbard

 A strong bottom-simulating reflection (BSR) with high-amplitude variations is detectable in high- resolution reflection seismic profiles west of Svalbard. Above the BSR, anomalously high velocities up to 1840 m/s, calculated from high-frequency ocean-bottom hydrophone (HF-OBH) data, indicate the existence of gas-hydrated sediments. Below the BSR, a low-velocity layer, interpreted as gas-bearing sediments, shows thickness variations from 12 to 25 m. In addition, two other low-velocity layers clearly containing free gas are detected within the classic hydrate stability zone (HSZ) where, a theoretical viewpoint, free gas cannot exist. Received: 6 August 1997 / Revision received: 26 January 1998     

Characterizing the thermal regime of cold vents at the northern Cascadia margin from bottom-simulating reflector distributions, heat-probe measurements and borehole temperature data

Several cold vents are observed at the northern Cascadia margin offshore Vancouver Island in a 10 km² region around Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 311 Site U1328. All vents are linked to fault systems that provide pathways for upward migrating fluids and at three vents methane plumes were detected acoustically in the water column. Downhole temperature measurements at Site U1328 revealed a geothermal gradient of 0.056 ± 0.004°C/m. With the measured in situ pore-water salinities the base of methane hydrate stability is predicted at 218–245 meters below seafloor. Heat-probe measurements conducted across Site U1328 and other nearby vents showed an average thermal gradient of 0.054 ± 0.004°C/m. Assuming that the bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) marks the base of the gas hydrate stability zone variations in BSR depths were used to investigate the linkages between the base of the gas hydrate stability zone and fluid migration. Variations in BSR depth can be attributed to lithology-related velocity changes or variations of in situ pore-fluid compositions. Prominent BSR depressions and reduced heat flow are seen below topographic highs, but only a portion of the heat flow reduction can be due to topography-linked cooling. More than half of the reduction may be due to thrust faulting or to pore-water freshening. Distinct changes in BSR depth below seafloor are observed at all cold vents studied and some portion of the observed decrease in the BSR depth was attributed to fault-related upwelling of warmer fluids. The observed decrease in BSR depth below seafloor underneath the vents ranges between 7 and 24 m (equivalent to temperature shifts of 0.07–0.15°C).     

Seismic velocities on the Nova Scotian margin to estimate gas hydrate and free gas concentrations

This article provides new constraints on gas hydrate and free gas concentrations in the sediments at the margin off Nova Scotia. Two-dimensional (2-D) velocity models were constructed through simultaneous travel-time inversion of ocean-bottom seismometer (OBS) data and 2-D single-channel seismic (SCS) data acquired in two surveys, in 2004 and 2006. The surveys, separated by ∼5 km, were carried out in regions where the bottom-simulating reflection (BSR) was identified in seismic reflection datasets from earlier studies and address the question of whether the BSR is a good indicator of significant gas hydrate on the Scotian margin. For both datasets, velocity increases by 200–300 m/s at a depth of approximately 220 m below seafloor (mbsf), but the results of the 2006 survey show a smaller velocity decrease (50–80 m/s) at the base of this high-velocity layer (310–330 mbsf) than the results of the 2004 survey (130 m/s). When converted to gas hydrate concentrations using effective medium theory, the 2-D velocity models for both datasets show a gas hydrate layer of ∼100 m thickness above the identified BSR. Gas hydrate concentrations are estimated at approximately 2–10% for the 2006 data and 8–18% for the 2004 survey. The reduction in gas hydrate concentration relative to the distance from the Mohican Channel structure is most likely related to the low porosity within the mud-dominant sediment at the depth of the BSR. Free gas concentrations were calculated to be 1–2% of the sediment pore space for both datasets.     

Characteristics of Gas Hydrate and Free Gas Offshore Southwestern Taiwan from a Combined MCS/OBS Data Analysis

In this study, we present the results of the combined analyses of ocean bottom seismometer and multi-channel seismic reflection data collection offshore southwestern Taiwan, with respect to the presence of gas hydrates and free gas within the accretionary wedge sediments. Estimates of the compressional velocities along EW9509-33 seismic reflection profile are obtained by a series of pre-stack depth migrations in a layer stripping streamlined Deregowski loop. Strong BSR is imaged over most of the reflection profile while low velocity zones are imaged below BSR at several locations. Amplitude versus angle analysis that are performed within the pre-stack depth migration processes reveal strong negative P-impedance near the bottom of the hydrate stability zone, commonly underlain by sharp positive P impedance layers associated with negative pseudo-Poisson attribute areas, indicating the presence of free gas below the BSR. Ray tracing of the acoustic arrivals with a model derived from the migration velocities generally fits the vertical and hydrophone records of the four ocean-bottom seismographs (OBS). In order to estimate the Poisson’s ratios in the shallow sediments at the vicinity of the OBSs, we analyze the mode-converted arrivals in the wide-angle horizontal component. P-S mode converted reflections are dominant, while upward P-S transmissions are observed at large offsets. We observe significant compressional velocity and Poisson’s ratio pull-down in the sediment below the BSR likely to bear free gas. When compared to Poisson’s ratio predicted by mechanical models, the values proposed for the OBSs yield rough estimates of gas hydrate saturation in the range of 0–10% in the layers above the BSR and of free gas saturation in the range of 0–2% just below the BSR.     

基于深水区宽频地震的天然气水合物识别方法

仅利用地震似海底反射（BSR）识别琼东南盆地深水区天然气水合物存在一定的局限性,从而影响天然气水合物的勘探成效。笔者利用天然气水合物已钻井数据,分析该盆地深水区天然气水合物岩石弹性参数特征,用以查明天然气水合物的岩石物理规律;同时,利用地震正演模拟,明确了研究区发育的孔隙型、烟囱型水合物的地震反射特征。在此基础上,利用AVO正演判识真假BSR：天然气水合物底界面反射具有Ⅲ类AVO且存在AVO异常,此为真BSR反射;而块体流（MTD）底界面虽类似BSR反射,但其AVO为Ⅳ类且AVO无异常特征。利用宽频地震数据和三维地震速度体进行速度模型下的宽频确定性反演,并通过高速异常、高阻抗异常描述天然气水合物发育情况。总之,利用地震反射特征、AVO特征、无井宽频地震反演等手段,实现了琼东南盆地深水区多种类型天然气水合物的地震识别,判识圈定了水合物矿藏。     

Fault system and thermal regime in the vicinity of site NGHP-01-10, Krishna–Godavari basin, Bay of Bengal

Drilling/coring activities onboard JOIDES Resolution for hydrate resource estimation have confirmed gas hydrate in the continental slope of Krishna-Godavari (KG) basin, Bay of Bengal and the expedition recovered fracture filled gas hydrate at the site NGHP-01-10. In this paper we analyze high resolution multi-channel seismic (MCS), high resolution sparker (HRS), bathymetry, and sub-bottom profiler data in the vicinity of site NGHP-01-10 to understand the fault system and thermal regime. We interpreted the large-scale fault system (>5 km) predominantly oriented in NNW-SSE direction near NGHP-01-10 site, which plays an important role in gas hydrate formation and its distribution. The increase in interval velocity from the baseline velocity of 1600 m/s to 1750–1800 m/s within the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) is considered as a proxy for the gas hydrate occurrence, whereas the drop in interval velocity to 1400 m/s suggest the presence of free gas below the GHSZ. The analysis of interval velocity suggests that the high concentration of gas hydrate occurs close to the large-scale fault system. We conclude that the gas hydrate concentration near site NGHP-01-10, and likely in the entire KG Basin, is controlled primarily by the faults and therefore has high spatial variability.We also estimated the heat flow and geothermal gradient (GTG) in the vicinity of NGHP-01-10 site using depth and temperature of the seafloor and the BSR. We observed an abnormal GTG increase from 38 °C/km to 45 °C/km at the top of the mound, which remarkably agrees with the measured temperature gradient at the mound (NGHP-01-10) and away from the mound (NGHP-01-03). We analyze various geological scenarios such as topography, salinity, thermal non-equilibrium of BSR and fluid/gas advection along the fault system to explain the observed increase in GTG. The geophysical data along with the coring results suggest that the fluid advection along the fault system is the primary mechanism that explains the increase in GTG. The approximate advective fluid flux estimated based on the thermal measurement is of the order of few tenths of mm/yr (0.37–0.6 mm/yr).     

神狐海域气烟囱构造分布及其对天然气水合物成藏的影响

对神狐海域多道地震数据进行分析发现了很多天然气水合物及游离气的地震响应特征,包括BSR(似海底反射)、BSR下伏强反射以及烟囱体构造等。该区域气烟囱构造的分布与BSR的分布比较一致,气烟囱构造是深部热解气垂直运移的主要通道,深部烃源岩产生的热解气通过气烟囱等垂直裂隙向上运移至水合物稳定带,产生大量聚集,有利于水合物形成。因此,搞清楚研究区的气烟囱构造分布对于该区域天然气水合物成藏及分布研究具有重要意义。传统识别气烟囱的方法只能通过地震剖面上的弱反射柱状构造或相关属性分析,研究利用基于MLP算法的神经网络结合多属性特征,综合高效的分析了该区域气烟囱构造带的分布,并根据该区域地质构造分布与BSR分布特点分析了该区域气烟囱对天然气水合物成藏的影响。     

Multi-frequency seismic study of gas hydrate-bearing sediments in Lake Baikal,Siberia

In this paper we present and discuss the frequency-dependent behaviour of the acoustic characteristics of methane hydrate-bearing sediments in Lake Baikal, Siberia. Five different types of seismic sources (airgun-array, two types of single airguns, watergun and sparker) are used, encompassing a frequency bandwidth from 10 up to 1000 Hz. On low-frequency airgun-array data, the base of the hydrate stability zone (HSZ) is observed as a high-amplitude bottom-simulating reflection (BSR) with reversed polarity. The amplitude and continuity of the BSR decrease or even disappear on medium- to high-frequency data, a feature explained in terms of vertical and horizontal resolution. The increasing reflection amplitude of the BSR with increasing offset, the calculated reflection coefficient of the BSR and the occurrence of enhanced reflections below the BSR suggest the presence of free gas below the HSZ. The observation of some enhanced reflections extending above the BSR may be interpreted as an indication for free gas co-existing with hydrates within the HSZ. Amplitude blanking above the BSR is highly variable while the BSR itself appears to act as a low-pass frequency filter for medium- to high-frequency data.New single-channel airgun profiles provide the first seismic information across the Baikal Drilling Project (BDP-97) deep drilling site, at which hydrate-bearing sediments were retrieved at about 200 m above the base of the local HSZ. At the drilling site there are no seismic characteristics indicative of the presence of hydrates. Combination of the drilling and seismic information has allowed us to make a rough estimation of the volume of hydrates and carbon stored in the sediments of Lake Baikal, which lead us to conclude that the Lake Baikal gas hydrate reservoirs do not form a prospective energy resource.