Seismic Identification of Gas Hydrates in Shenhu Shoal Sea Area of South China Sea

Seismic method is one of important means for research of marine gas hydrate.Based on the measured high resolution multi-trace seismic data,the seismic identification characteristics of potential gas hydrates and the practical application in Shenhu Shoal sea area in northern South China Sea are discussed.The seismic reflection characteristics indicate there are several bottom simulating reflection(BSR) distribution areas with an area of totaling about 5 970 km2,which can be divided into three types of S-BSR,W-BSR and I-BSR,dominated by W-BSR.Furthermore,other features such as weak or blanking amplitude,polarity inversion and low velocity anormaly are found on some seismic profiles.It is estimated from the distribution of BSR and blanking zones that the gas hydrates zone in this sea area is about 10~264 m in thickness,being of good resource potentials of gas hydrates.