Application of AVO attribute inversion technology to gas hydrate identification in the Shenhu Area, South China Sea

Abstract

AVO (Amplitude Versus Offset) is a seismic exploration technology applied to recognize lithology and detect oil and gas through analyzing the feature of amplitude variation versus offset. Gas hydrate and free gas can cause obvious AVO anomaly. To find geophysical evidence of gas hydrate and free gas in Shenhu Area, South China Sea, AVO attribute inversion method is applied. By using the method, the multiple seismic attribute profiles and AVO intercept versus gradient (I-G) cross plot are obtained. Bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) is observed beneath the seafloor, and the AVO abnormal responses reveal various seismic indicators of gas hydrate and free gas. The final AVO analysis results indicate the existence of gas hydrate and free gas in the upper and lower layers of BSR in the study area.