Possible link between weak bottom simulating reflections and gas hydrate systems in fractures and macropores of fine-grained sediments: Results from the Hikurangi Margin,New Zealand |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Environment, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand;2. GNS Science, 1 Fairway Drive, PO Box 30368, Lower Hutt 5010, New Zealand;1. Geology Department, Faculty of Applied Science, Taiz University, 6803 Taiz, Yemen;2. Department of Geology, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;3. Department of Geology, School of Science, University of Sulaimani, Kurdistan, Iraq;1. Methane Hydrate Research Center (MHRC), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-17-2-1 Tsukisamu-Higashi, Toyohira-Ku, Sapporo 062-8517, Japan;2. MHRC, AIST, 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan;3. Methane Hydrate Research & Development Division, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), 1-2-2 Hamada, Mihama-ku, Chiba-city, Chiba 261-0025, Japan;1. Methane Hydrate Geo-mechanics Research Group, Research Institute of Energy Frontier, Department of Energy and Environment, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Japan;2. Methane Hydrate Production Technology Research Group, Research Institute of Energy Frontier, Department of Energy and Environment, AIST, Sapporo, Japan;1. College of Construction Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, 130026, China;2. Key Laboratory of Drilling and Exploitation Technology in Complex Conditions, Ministry of Natural Resources, Changchun, 130026, China |
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| Abstract: | Small amounts of free gas in interstitial sediment pores are known to significantly lower compressional (P-) wave velocity (Vp). This effect, combined with moderately elevated Vp from the presence of gas hydrates, is usually thought to be the cause for the often observed strong negative reflection coefficients of bottom simulating reflections (BSRs) at the base of gas hydrate stability (BGHS). At several locations however, weak BSRs have been observed, which are difficult to reconcile with a presence of gas in sediment pores. We here present a rock physics model for weak BSRs on the Hikurangi Margin east of New Zealand. Thin sections of a fine-grained mudstone sample from a submarine outcrop in the vicinity of a weak BSR show macroscopic porosity in the form of fractures and intrafossil macropores. We apply the Kuster-Toksöz theory to predict seismic velocities for a rock with water-saturated interstitial micropores and gas or hydrates in macroscopic pore space simulating fractures or compliant macropores. We match field observations of a weak BSR with a reflection coefficient of ?0.016 with two end-member models; (1) rocks with gas hydrate-filled voids with a concentration of <4% of bulk sediment overlying water-filled voids, or (2) fully gas-saturated voids at a concentration of <2% beneath water-filled voids. A natural system is likely to consist of a combination of these end-members and of macroporosity filled with a mixture of water and gas or hydrate. Our results suggest weak BSRs may be caused by gas hydrate systems in fractures and macropores of fine-grained sediments with fully water-saturated interstitial pore space. Gas may be supplied into the macroscopic pore space by diffusion-driven short-range migration of methane generated within the gas hydrate stability field or, our favoured model based on additional geologic considerations, long-range advective migration from deeper sources along fractures. |
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| Keywords: | Gas hydrates Bottom simulating reflections Rock physics Lithology Macroporosity |
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