Development and Testing of a High-Resolution Three-Dimensional Seismic Detection System for Gas Hydrate

As a novel type of mineral resource, gas hydrate has received a considerable amount of attention worldwide. This seismic detection method can detect abnormal phenomena such as the BSR, blank zones, velocity anomalies and polarity inversion of gas hydrate and become an important method of gas hydrate detection. The occurrence area of gas hydrate in the South China Sea is usually buried deep beneath the seabed. The current method cannot meet the needs of the shape and structure detection of gas hydrate deposits. With the support of the National Key R&D Program of China, some key technologies have led to developmental breakthroughs, such as ultra-high-energy plasma sources, small-group-interval high-resolution seismic streamers, and distributed three-dimensional seismic acquisition. The seismic profile obtained north of the South China Sea shows that the stratum penetration depth reaches nearly 1000 m at a depth of 1500 m, and the vertical resolution is better than 1.5 m. This system can serve the needs of high-resolution exploration of gas hydrate resources.

Automated summary

As a new type of mineral resource, gas hydrate has attracted significant global attention. This seismic detection method is an important means of identifying gas hydrate by detecting abnormal phenomena such as BSR, blank zones, velocity anomalies, and polarity inversion. The current methods cannot meet the needs of shape and structure detection of gas hydrate deposits buried deep beneath the seabed in the South China Sea. With support from China's National Key R&D Program, breakthroughs in key technologies, such as ultra-high-energy plasma sources, small-group-interval high-resolution seismic streamers, and distributed three-dimensional seismic acquisition have been achieved. The seismic profile obtained in the north of the South China Sea demonstrates deep penetration with a depth of nearly 1000 m at 1500 m depth and vertical resolution better than 1.5 m, thus fulfilling the requirements for high-resolution exploration of gas hydrate resources.