High concentrated gas hydrate zone imaged in seismic data

Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), as a member of MH21 Research Consortium, takes charge of a study of the Research for Resources Assessment, and is pursuing a possibility that gas hydrate, which is presumed to be distributed around ocean area of Japan, will be energy resources. As part of the study, 3D seismic survey was conducted from Tokai-oki to Kumano-nada in the eastern Nankai Trough by METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) in 2002 under the national program of assessment for gas hydrates as energy resources. As well as 3D seismic survey, drilling program was conducted in this area and information of physical property was acquired. Additionally, velocity analysis and seismic attribute analysis were conducted. It is revealed that gas hydrate zone is correlated with high resistivity and high velocity, and a lot of gas hydrates are found in turbidite sand with much porosity. JOGMEC is conducting analysis of seismic data and is doing resources assessment of gas hydrate compiling information of physical property which was acquired by drilling, result of velocity analysis, and result of seismic attribute analysis. This time, we introduce some seismic images of high concentrated gas hydrate zone appears in Tokai-oki area.