Identification of interbedded gas hydrate and free gas using amplitude versus offset forward modelling

The complex contacts between gas hydrate and free gas have been confirmed by gas hydrate pilot production in the Pearl River Mouth Basin, South China Sea. The laminated clay silt reservoirs have high amplitude reflections which may be filled with different saturations of gas hydrates, free gas and the coexistence between gas hydrate and free gas. To distinguish the variations of amplitude reflections caused by different reservoirs properties below the bottom simulating reflection, we combine the forward modelling, pre-stack gathers with different incident angles and well log analysis to conduct the seismic responses. A number of geological models are established with variable saturations and different interfaces between gas hydrate and free gas. First, we analyse the seismic and well log responses at Sites W11, W01 and W17 near the production test area. Then, we perform the forward modelling to quantify the differences among seismic reflections with different saturations, thickness, incident angles and strata dips in free gas- or gas hydrate-bearing geological models. We extract the seismic amplitudes along the bottom simulating reflection and other layers to compare with the amplitudes generated from forward modelling. The results indicate that the inclined intervals below the bottom simulating reflection have high amplitude, continuous reflection and polarity reversal which may be caused by thin gas reservoir and the interlayered gas hydrate and free gas with different saturations. The top interfaces of the gas hydrate- and free gas-bearing layers show typical Class III amplitude versus offset and exhibit high amplitude reflections at seismic data with near, mid and far-incident angles, which are easy to distinguish. Seismic response of far-incident angle can be used to identify the coexistence of gas hydrate and free gas.