南海北部陆坡东沙海域海底丘状体气体与水合物分布

海底丘状体在天然气水合物发育区是一种常见的微地貌,对丘状体的研究有助于理解海底流体渗漏模式以及水合物的赋存规律。本文研究南海北部陆坡东沙海域天然气水合物发育区海底丘状体的特征及其与水合物的关系。研究所用的数据包括准三维多道地震数据、多波束数据以及浅地层剖面数据。在多波束海底地形图上,丘状体表现为局部的正地形,直径大约为300 m,高出周围海底约50 m。浅地层剖面上存在明显的声空白以及同相轴下拉现象,指示了海底丘状体气体的分布以及流体运移的路径。丘状体周围明显的BSR表明局部区域可能发育有水合物,水合物钻探结果也证实了这一推测。三维多道地震剖面上,丘状体正下方存在空白反射区域,这与泥火山的地震反射特征类似。但空白反射区域内存在强振幅能量,而且丘状体正下方存在连续的反射层,这表明该丘状体并非泥火山成因。综合钻探结果以及三维地震成像结果,认为水合物形成过程引起的沉积物膨胀以及海底碳酸盐岩的沉淀是形成该丘状体的主要原因。     

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。     

地震属性在海洋天然气水合物识别中的应用

海洋拖缆主动源多道地震技术是应用于海洋天然气水合物资源调查的主要技术方法。不同于常规油气藏勘探,海底天然气水合物成藏机制复杂多样,海底似反射(Bottom Simulating Reflector,BSR)特征与水合物赋存并非完全对应。为提高海洋天然气水合物矿体识别的可靠性,地震属性技术在水合物资源调查中发挥着越来越重要的作用。本文对我国南海北部海域天然气水合物调查中的关键属性进行了对比、分析及筛选试验研究。试验针对海洋高分辨多道三维地震数据,采用三维地震层速度控制综合处理技术完成了BSR区域的成像,提取了与BSR相关的多种地震属性,并对BSR地震属性体的内部特性进行了分析,实现了BSR特征水合物矿体的识别,并提取了BSR上方和下部结合层带的地震属性。研究结果表明,在水合物赋存地层极其复杂的条件下,地震属性分析技术在海洋复杂浅地层水合物识别方面具有可行性和技术优势。     

地震多参数约束下的真假BSR识别

地震勘探是探测海底天然气水合物的重要手段,利用地震资料的诸多特征可以较好地识别海底天然气水合物,尤其是在识别似海底反射(BSR)方面发挥着重要作用.由于多次波等特征与BSR有很多相似之处,如果辨别不当就很容易被误认为是BSR,将会得出错误的结论.以我国某海域实际资料为例,从研究BSR的地震特征出发,指明多次波、气泡效应等多种假BSR现象,提出了利用精细速度分析、AVO特征分析、多次波压制等多种地震参数约束以识别真假BSR,进而提高海洋地震勘探精度,为寻找更多的海底天然气水合物提供技术保障.     

白云凹陷陆坡峡谷沉积与迁移特征及其对天然气水合物成藏的影响

利用高分辨率地震资料,研究了南海北部白云凹陷中新世以来的陆坡峡谷沉积和迁移特征及其对动态似海底反射(BSR)的影响。白云凹陷陆坡区浊流和底流共同作用形成了大型单向迁移峡谷沉积体系。峡谷的沉积过程包括侵蚀为主阶段、侵蚀-沉积共同作用阶段及沉积为主阶段。峡谷沉积相主要包括峡谷侵蚀基底、谷底沉积、谷内滑塌块体搬运沉积及侧向倾斜沉积层等4个单元。峡谷的迁移造成含天然气水合物脊部两侧不同的侵蚀-沉积环境,因此,脊部两侧BSR反射特征也不同。随着峡谷迁移的进行,在峡谷侵蚀侧翼处,沉积物被侵蚀,天然气水合物稳定带底界将发生下移,BSR反射特征为多轴较连续反射;而峡谷沉积侧翼处,沉积物增厚,天然气水合物稳定带将发生上移,BSR反射特征为单轴连续反射。     

南海北部揭阳凹陷天然气水合物的地震异常特征分析

大量研究表明南海北部珠江口盆地是天然气水合物发育区,但是该盆地东部揭阳凹陷水合物研究较少。本文利用揭阳凹陷新采集三维地震资料,对该三维地震资料进行成像道集优化和叠前时间偏移处理,得到针对水合物的新处理地震数据体,并通过高精度网格层析反演得到层速度数据体。利用该数据开展叠后约束稀疏脉冲反演,获得含天然气水合物地层波阻抗异常,综合分析反演与地震属性识别水合物。从新处理地震资料看,该区域似海底反射(bottom simulation reflection,BSR)反射呈连续、不连续与地层斜交等特征,BSR发育在一个继承性小型水道上,且下部断裂和气烟囱发育。通过分析BSR特征及BSR上下地层的速度、波阻抗、振幅、频率、相干等属性异常,结合水合物成藏条件,发现了南海北部新的天然气水合物有利富集区,为该区域水合物勘探提供基础。     

冲绳海槽天然气水合物与地质构造的关系

海底天然气水合物大多与通过切穿沉积盖层的断裂的上升烃类流体相关,这些高渗透带包括底辟和泥火山等侵入构造,所以海底断裂、底辟和泥火山等构造周围可能赋存天然气水合物;其次,高沉积速率和巨厚沉积层可使有机质迅速掩埋而保存起来,为天然气水合物的生成提供充足物源,因此,邻近陆坡河谷口的海底沉积扇也是天然气水合物赋存的有利地区;另外,由于陆坡区的水合物沉积层比海盆更容易受外界温压变化的影响发生失稳分解,诱发海底滑坡,所以滑坡与天然气水合物赋存之间的关系也非常密切。冲绳海槽邻近海域具有覆水深、沉积厚度大、沉积速率高和有机质丰富等有利赋存条件,目前的研究已经在该海域发现了天然气水合物赋存的地球物理证据BSR,因此,在现有研究基础上开展断裂、泥火山、海底扇、海底滑坡等与天然气水合物相关的构造研究,可以深入了解天然气水合物在不同地质构造中的分布特征与演化,为更精确地评估其资源潜力提供参考。     

南海中建海域麻坑发育特征及成因机制

海底麻坑在圈定潜在的天然气水合物发育区和指示海底地质灾害方面都具有重要意义。基于南海中建海域的高密度三维地震资料,采用自动追踪技术对研究区海底地貌特征进行了刻画,发现了众多形态各异、大小不一的麻坑,可分为圆形麻坑、椭圆形麻坑、拉长形麻坑、新月形麻坑和复合型麻坑等5类。中建海域的海底麻坑主要发育在海底地形坡折的位置,成群、成带分布,在地形平坦的位置麻坑不发育。影响中建海域麻坑形成的因素主要有火山活动、断裂活动、水合物分解、海底底流等。引起中建海域海底形成麻坑的流体主要有4种,分别是火山热液、天然气水合物分解的气体、沿断裂向上运移的深部油气及火山热液与天然气水合物分解气体的混合。     

海底气体水合物BSR的AVO模拟

在世界各地陆架外缘的地震剖面上，出现与海底近似平行的拟海底反射层BSR。BSR与气体水合物稳定域同时发生，并通常用作指示海底天然气水合物。尽管假设BSR标志含气体水合物的沉积物之底界，但位于BSR之下沉积物内低速游离气的产状及重要性仍是长期争论的课题。这篇论文通过对俄勒冈近海和波弗特海面两个地区BSR的反射系数模拟或AVO模拟，调查水合物丰度与BSR伴生的游离气。根据两地的多道地震剖面，地震速度资料和俄勒冈ODP第892站的钻井记录资料模拟，若BSR之上的气体水合物饱和度小于孔隙体积的30％，BSR的AVO研究能确定BSR之下是否存在游离气。根据AVO，能大致估算BSR之上气体水合物饱和度，但仅用地震资料，不能控制BSR之下的游离气饱和度。两个地区的AVO分析暗示出：BSR之下的游离气是导致强振幅BSR的主要原因。对两地区研究，计算BSR之上的水合物浓度不足孔隙体积的10％。     

南海北部陆坡神狐海域峡谷地貌形态特征与成因

利用多波束水深及高分辨率数字单道地震测量手段,对南海北部陆坡神狐海域进行了精细地形和浅部地层结构探测,认为研究区存在4条海底峡谷及3条槽谷。其外形呈喇叭型或直线型,规模不等,长度为8～25km,宽度为1.5～4km,下切深度最大可达175m。研究区浅地层自下而上可划分为U1和U2两套层序。地层总体上以高频、强振幅、中—高连续、平行—亚平行反射地震相为主,但在峡谷区层序U2则以杂乱或低连续反射为特征。在详细分析峡谷与槽谷地貌形态及浅地层地震反射特征的基础上,对其成因进行了初步分析,研究表明神狐海域浅地层发育与天然气水合物有关的BSR及滑塌体,水合物的分解导致地层滑塌并发生塌陷,在NW向构造以及底流冲刷共同作用下,最终形成本区形态各异的峡谷及槽谷地貌。其形成时间推测为第四纪,属幼年期阶段。     

南海东沙海域天然气水合物与地质构造的关系

构造作用和构造过程是控制天然气水合物发育和赋存的重要地质因素之一。陆坡区复杂的构造运动能够形成良好的气体运移通道以及欠压实、高孔隙的水合物储集空间。东沙群岛邻近海域具有水深变化大、沉积厚度大、沉积速率高和有机质丰富等天然气水合物有利赋存条件,最新的研究已经在该海域发现了天然气水合物赋存的地球物理证据BSR,针对东沙群岛海域广泛发育的断裂、底辟、海底滑坡等构造,开展了其与天然气水合物成藏的关系研究,可以进一步深入了解天然气水合物在东沙群岛不同地质构造中的分布特征与演化,为该区天然气远景评估提供参考。     

Gas hydrates and active mud volcanism on the South Shetland continental margin, Antarctic Peninsula

During the Antarctic summer of 2003–2004, new geophysical data were acquired from aboard the R/V OGS Explora in the BSR-rich area discovered in 1996–1997 along the South Shetland continental margin off the Antarctic Peninsula. The objective of the research program, supported by the Italian National Antarctic Program (PNRA), was to verify the existence of a potential gas hydrate reservoir and to reconstruct the tectonic setting of the margin, which probably controls the extent and character of the diffused and discontinuous bottom simulating reflections. The new dataset, i.e. multibeam bathymetry, seismic profiles (airgun and chirp), and two gravity cores analysed by computer-aided tomography as well as for gas composition and content, clearly shows active mud volcanism sustained by hydrocarbon venting in the region: several vents, located mainly close to mud volcanoes, were imaged during the cruise and their occurrence identified in the sediment samples. Mud volcanoes, vents and recent slides border the gas hydrate reservoir discovered in 1996–1997. The cores are composed of stiff silty mud. In core GC01, collected in the proximity of a mud volcano ridge, the following gases were identified (maximum contents in brackets): methane (46 μg/kg), pentane (45), ethane (35), propane (34), hexane (29) and butane (28). In core GC02, collected on the flank of the Vualt mud volcano, the corresponding data are methane (0 μg/kg), pentane (45), ethane (22), propane (0), hexane (27) and butane (25).     

Mud volcanoes and gas hydrates in the Anaximander mountains (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

Detailed multibeam, sedimentological, and geophysical surveys provide ample new data to confirm that the Anaximander Mountains (Eastern Mediterranean) are an important area for active mud volcanism and gas hydrate formation. More than 3000 km of multibeam track length was acquired during two recent missions and 80 gravity and box cores were recovered. Morphology and backscatter data of the study area have better resolution than previous surveys, and very detailed morphology maps have been made of the known targeted mud volcanoes (Amsterdam, Kazan and Kula), especially the Amsterdam “crater” and the related mud breccia flows. Gas hydrates collected repeatedly from a large area of Amsterdam mud volcano at a sub-bottom depth of around 0.3–1.5 m resemble compacted snow and have a rather flaky form. New gas hydrate sites were found at Amsterdam mud volcano, including the mud flow sloping off to the south. Gas hydrates sampled for the first time at Kazan mud volcano are dispersed throughout the core samples deeper than 0.3 m and display a ‘rice’-like appearance. Relative chronology and AMS dating of interbedded pelagic sediments (Late Holocene hemipelagic, sapropel layer S1 and ash layers) within the mud flows indicate that successive eruptions of Kula mud volcano have a periodicity of about 5–10 kyrs. New mud volcanoes identified on the basis of multibeam backscatter intensity were sampled, documented as active and named “Athina” and “Thessaloniki”. Gas hydrates were sampled also in Thessaloniki mud volcano, the shallowest (1264 m) among all the active Mediterranean sites, at the boundary of the gas hydrate stability zone. Biostratigraphical analyses of mud breccia clasts indicated that the source of the subsurface sedimentary sequences consists of Late Cretaceous limestones, Paleocene siliciclastic rocks, Eocene biogenic limestones and Miocene mudstones. Rough estimations of the total capacity of the Anaximander mud volcanoes in methane gas are 2.56–6.40 km³.     

Changes in seabed morphology, mud temperature and free gas venting at the Håkon Mosby mud volcano, offshore northern Norway, over the time period 2003–2006

The Håkon Mosby mud volcano is a 1.5-km-diameter geological structure located on the Southwest Barents Sea slope at a water depth of 1,270 m. High-definition seabed mapping of the mud volcano has been carried out in 2003 and 2006. A comparative analysis of the bathymetry and backscatter maps produced from the two surveys shows subtle morphological changes over the entire crater of the mud volcano, interpreted to be the consequence of mud eruption events. Mud temperature measurements point to a persistently warm mud at shallow depth in the crater. This is explained by upward fluid advection, rather than conductive cooling of mud flows. The small-scale spatial variability in the temperature distribution may be related to mud outflows or changes in the fluid flow regime. Furthermore, the locations of free gas venting observed in 2006 were found to differ from those of 2003. Our observations of overall similar topographic profiles across the mud volcano in 2003 and 2006 suggest that eruption events would have been modest. Nevertheless, the data bring evidence of significant change in activity even over short time intervals of only 3 years. This may be a characteristic shared by other submarine mud volcanoes, notably those considered to be in a quiescent stage.     

Fluid flow and methane occurrences in the Disko Bugt area offshore West Greenland: indications for gas hydrates?

The present study is the first to directly address the issue of gas hydrates offshore West Greenland, where numerous occurrences of shallow hydrocarbons have been documented in the vicinity of Disko Bugt (Bay). Furthermore, decomposing gas hydrate has been implied to explain seabed features in this climate-sensitive area. The study is based on archive data and new (2011, 2012) shallow seismic and sediment core data. Archive seismic records crossing an elongated depression (20×35 km large, 575 m deep) on the inner shelf west of Disko Bugt (Bay) show a bottom simulating reflector (BSR) within faulted Mesozoic strata, consistent with the occurrence of gas hydrates. Moreover, the more recently acquired shallow seismic data reveal gas/fluid-related features in the overlying sediments, and geochemical data point to methane migration from a deeper-lying petroleum system. By contrast, hydrocarbon signatures within faulted Mesozoic strata below the strait known as the Vaigat can be inferred on archive seismics, but no BSR was visible. New seismic data provide evidence of various gas/fluid-releasing features in the overlying sediments. Flares were detected by the echo-sounder in July 2012, and cores contained ikaite and showed gas-releasing cracks and bubbles, all pointing to ongoing methane seepage in the strait. Observed seabed mounds also sustain gas seepages. For areas where crystalline bedrock is covered only by Pleistocene–Holocene deposits, methane was found only in the Egedesminde Dyb (Trough). There was a strong increase in methane concentration with depth, but no free gas. This is likely due to the formation of gas hydrate and the limited thickness of the sediment infill. Seabed depressions off Ilulissat Isfjord (Icefjord) previously inferred to express ongoing gas release from decomposing gas hydrate show no evidence of gas seepage, and are more likely a result of neo-tectonism.     

A seismic study to investigate the prospect of gas hydrate in Mahanadi deep water basin,northeastern continental margin of India

The presence of gas hydrates, one of the new alternative energy resources for the future, along the Indian continental margins has been inferred mainly from bottom simulating reflectors (BSR) and the gas stability zone thickness mapping. Gas hydrate reserves in Krishna Godawari Basin have been established with the help of gas-hydrate related proxies inferred from multidisciplinary investigations. In the present study, an analysis of 3D seismic data of nearly 3,420 km² area of Mahanadi deep water basin was performed in search of seismic proxies related with the existence of natural gas hydrate in the region. Analysis depicts the presence of BSR-like features over a large areal extent of nearly 250 km² in the central western part of the basin, which exhibit all characteristics of a classical BSR associated with gas hydrate accumulation in a region. The observed BSR is present in a specific area restricted to a structural low at the Neogene level. The coherency inversion of pre-stack time migration (PSTM) gathers shows definite inversion of interval velocity across the BSR interface which indicates hydrate bearing sediments overlying the free gas bearing sediments. The amplitude versus offset analysis of PSTM gathers shows increase of amplitude with offset, a common trend as observed in BSR associated with gas hydrate accumulation. Results suggest the possibility of gas hydrate accumulation in the central part of the basin specifically in the area of structural low at the Neogene level. These results would serve as preliminary information for selecting prospective gas hydrate accumulation areas for further integrated or individual study from geophysical, geological, geochemical and microbiological perspectives for confirmation of gas hydrate reserves in the area. Further, on the basis of these results it is envisaged that biogenic gas might have been generated in the region which under suitable temperature and pressure conditions might have been transformed into the gas hydrates, and therefore, an integrated study comprising geophysical, geological, geochemical and microbiological data is suggested to establish the gas hydrate reserves in Mahanadi deep water basin.     

Gas hydrate stability zone modelling in areas of salt tectonics and pockmarks of the Barents Sea suggests an active hydrocarbon venting system

The Barents Sea seabed exhibits an area of major glacial erosion exposing parts of the old hydrocarbon basins. In this region, we modelled the gas hydrate stability field in a 3D perspective, including the effects of higher order hydrocarbon gases. We used 3D seismic data to analyse the linkage between fluid-flow expressions and hydrate occurrences above old sedimentary basin systems and vertical faults. Pockmarks showed a relation to fault systems where some of them are directly connected to hydrocarbon bearing sedimentary formations. The influence of bottom water temperature, pore water salinity and geothermal gradient variation on gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) thickness is critically analysed in relation to both geological formations and salt tectonics. Our analysis suggests a highly variable GHSZ in the Barents Sea region controlled by local variations in the parameters of stability conditions. Recovery of gas-hydrate sample from the region and presence of gas-enhanced reflections below estimated BSR depths may indicate a prevalent gas-hydrate stable condition.     

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.