Elastic parameters from constrained AVO inversion: Application to a BSR in the Mahanadi offshore, India

Abstract

We have estimated P-wave velocities (VP) and thicknesses from traveltimes data, and S-wave velocities (VS) and densities (ρ) from amplitudes versus offset (AVO) data by constraining the VP for a set of seismic reflection data including a bottom simulating reflector or BSR (marker for gas hydrates) in the Mahanadi offshore. The elastic parameters (VP, VS and ρ) of the whole-layered model have been derived simultaneously using the genetic algorithm global optimization technique that converges into a global minimum. The result shows a low velocity (1506 m/s) free-gas zone below the BSR that lies at 241 m below the sea floor. The presence of underlying free-gas is further corroborated by the observation of increasing negative reflection coefficients with angles. The VP and VS for gas hydrates bearing sediments above the BSR are estimated to be 1655 and 468 m/s respectively, and match reasonably with the sonic log at site NGHP-01-08A passing through the seismic line. Gas-hydrates and free-gas have been qualitatively estimated as 7.0% and 0.9% using three-phase weighted equation of Lee and Gassmann equation respectively. The combined usage of VP and VS corresponding to a Poisson ratio of 0.4565 provides a better estimation of gas hydrates, which shows comparable result that has been estimated using the Simandoux equation to the resistivity log data at site NGHP-01-08A.