Velocity analysis of vertical seismic profile (VSP) survey at JAPEX/JNOC/GSC Mallik 2L-38 gas hydrate research well, and related problems for estimating gas hydrate concentration

Abstract

A VSP survey was conducted at the JAPEX/JNOC/GSC Mallik 2L-38 gas hydrate research well to determine elastic-wave velocities that were estimated by traveltime inversion of zero-offset VSP and wavefield inversion of offset VSP data. Shear-wave velocity is estimated to be slower from VSP data than from wireline DSI measurements in the depth interval from 677 m to 889 m. The compressional-wave velocity difference between the VSP- and DSI-derived velocities are comparatively small. Synthetic seismograms from the drift-corrected DSI velocity log correlate well with VSP sections, especially for compressional waves. Azimuthal anisotropy is suggested in VSP shear-source data and the mode of anisotropy appears to change around the base of permafrost. By comparing computed elastic velocities with drift-corrected DSI velocity logs, two opposing gas hydrate saturation models are examined. Shear wave velocity proved to be the key data to select the correct model. The observed elastic velocity fits the computed elastic velocity for the model of gas hydrate disseminated in pore-space with little cementation at the grain boundaries.