Seismic wave attenuation in a methane hydrate reservoir

Dvorkin, Jack; Uden, Richard

doi:10.1190/1.1786892

Cited by 71 publications

(51 citation statements)

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“…Our results represent a strong base to explain fundamental processes in GH-bearing sediments and support previous speculations (Guerin and Goldberg, 2002;Dvorkin and Uden, 2004;Priest et al, 2006) that squirt flow is an important attenuation mechanism in such media, even at frequencies as low as those in the seismic range. This strengthens the perception that P wave attenuation may be used as an indirect geophysical attribute to estimate GH saturation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

“…In other words, the bulk and shear moduli increase due to the GH matrix-supporting effect within the sedimentary frame (Ecker et al, 1998). Additionally, the presence of GH causes higher attenuation of the seismic waves (Bellefleur et al, 2007;Dewangan et al, 2014) which was in particularly observed for sediments containing dispersed GH in the pore space (Guerin and Goldberg, 2002;Dvorkin and Uden, 2004). This anomalous seismic behavior in terms of increased attenuation and velocities (Guerin and Goldberg, 2002;Dvorkin and Uden, 2004) cannot be fully explained, although wave-induced fluid flow at the microscopic and mesoscopic scales has been speculated to cause them (Priest et al, 2006;Gerner et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…Additionally, the presence of GH causes higher attenuation of the seismic waves (Bellefleur et al, 2007;Dewangan et al, 2014) which was in particularly observed for sediments containing dispersed GH in the pore space (Guerin and Goldberg, 2002;Dvorkin and Uden, 2004). This anomalous seismic behavior in terms of increased attenuation and velocities (Guerin and Goldberg, 2002;Dvorkin and Uden, 2004) cannot be fully explained, although wave-induced fluid flow at the microscopic and mesoscopic scales has been speculated to cause them (Priest et al, 2006;Gerner et al, 2007). Gerner et al (2007) conducted numerical P wave velocity simulations in highly permeable sedimentary layers, similar to hydrate-bearing sediments, and identified interlayer flow at the mesoscopic scale as a potential mechanism of attenuation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…the main source of attenuation in hydrate-bearing sediments (Dvorkin and Uden, 2004;Guerin and Goldberg, 2005;Priest et al, 2006;Waite et al, 2009;Marin-Moreno et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Squirt flow due to interfacial water films in hydrate bearing sediments

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Sediments containing gas hydrate dispersed in the pore space are known to show a characteristic seismic anomaly which is a high attenuation along with increasing seismic velocities. Currently, this observation cannot be fully explained albeit squirt-flow type mechanisms on the microscale have been speculated to be the cause. Recent major findings from in situ experiments, using the "gas in excess" and "water in excess" formation method, and coupled with high-resolution synchrotron-based X-ray micro-tomography, have revealed the systematic presence of thin water films between the quartz grains and the encrusting hydrate. The data obtained from these experiments underwent an image processing procedure to quantify the thicknesses and geometries of the aforementioned interfacial water films. Overall, the water films vary from sub-micrometer to a few micrometers in thickness. In addition, some of the water films interconnect through water bridges. This geometrical analysis is used to propose a new conceptual squirt flow model for hydrate bearing sediments. A series of numerical simulations is performed considering variations of the proposed model to study seismic attenuation caused by such thin water films. Our results support previous speculation that squirt flow can explain high attenuation at seismic frequencies in hydrate bearing sediments, but based on a conceptual squirt flow model which is geometrically different than those previously considered.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…the main source of attenuation in hydrate-bearing sediments (Dvorkin and Uden, 2004;Guerin and Goldberg, 2005;Priest et al, 2006;Waite et al, 2009;Marin-Moreno et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Squirt flow due to interfacial water films in hydrate bearing sediments

et al. 2018

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“…At the AT1 site, NE to SW and NNE to SSW paleocurrent directions were deduced from seismic attributes and the internal architectures of the channel complex (Noguchi et al, 2011). However, such seismic attributes as amplitude, velocity, and attenuation are enhanced by gas hydrates and associated free gas above and below BSRs (e.g., Baba and Yamada et al, 2004;Saeki et al, 2008;Dvorkin and Uden, 2004); consequently, these seismic anomalies cause difficulties in stratigraphical and geomorphological interpretations. For a better understanding, it is necessary to Figure 1.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleocurrent analysis of Pleistocene turbidite sediments in the forearc basin inferred from anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and paleomagnetic data at the gas hydrate production test site in the eastern Nankai Trough

Tamaki

Suzuki

Fujii

2015

Marine and Petroleum Geology

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Theoretical modeling insights into elastic wave attenuation mechanisms in marine sediments with pore‐filling methane hydrate

2017

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The majority of presently exploitable marine methane hydrate reservoirs are likely to host hydrate in disseminated form in coarse grain sediments. For hydrate concentrations below 25–40%, disseminated or pore‐filling hydrate does not increase elastic frame moduli, thus making impotent traditional seismic velocity‐based methods. Here, we present a theoretical model to calculate frequency‐dependent P and S wave velocity and attenuation of an effective porous medium composed of solid mineral grains, methane hydrate, methane gas, and water. The model considers elastic wave energy losses caused by local viscous flow both (i) between fluid inclusions in hydrate and pores and (ii) between different aspect ratio pores (created when hydrate grows); the inertial motion of the frame with respect to the pore fluid (Biot's type fluid flow); and gas bubble damping. The sole presence of pore‐filling hydrate in the sediment reduces the available porosity and intrinsic permeability of the sediment affecting Biot's type attenuation at high frequencies. Our model shows that attenuation maxima due to fluid inclusions in hydrate are possible over the entire frequency range of interest to exploration seismology (1–106 Hz), depending on the aspect ratio of the inclusions, whereas maxima due to different aspect ratio pores occur only at sonic to ultrasound frequencies (104–106 Hz). This frequency response imposes further constraints on possible hydrate saturations able to reproduce broadband elastic measurements of velocity and attenuation. Our results provide a physical basis for detecting the presence and amount of pore‐filling hydrate in seafloor sediments using conventional seismic surveys.

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Seismic wave attenuation in a methane hydrate reservoir

Cited by 71 publications

References 0 publications

Squirt flow due to interfacial water films in hydrate bearing sediments

Squirt flow due to interfacial water films in hydrate bearing sediments

Paleocurrent analysis of Pleistocene turbidite sediments in the forearc basin inferred from anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and paleomagnetic data at the gas hydrate production test site in the eastern Nankai Trough

Theoretical modeling insights into elastic wave attenuation mechanisms in marine sediments with pore‐filling methane hydrate

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