Gas On Ice: The Exploration Geophysics Lab

April 23, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas—The Exploration Geophysics Laboratory (EGL), an industrial associates research program at the Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG), has been working for several years to demonstrate the value of multicomponent seismic in exploration applications. An area of intense interest currently is the use of imaging technologies to understand and map the distribution of marine methane hydrates in the deepwater areas of the Gulf of Mexico.

It’s an important subject. Estimates show that the energy content of methane hydrates stored in the world’s continental margins may be double that of all conventional fossil fuels. However, the details of the physical distribution of hydrates (for example, massive versus disseminated deposits) remain unknown.

The EGL staff will meet with their industry sponsors April 24 at the Bureau of Economic Geology. In these annual sponsor meetings, the EGL staff update sponsors on recent findings achieved in their multicomponent seismic research and seek sponsor advice about research direction and emphasis.

Bob Hardage and his colleagues in EGL have been interpreting 4-component ocean-bottom-cable seismic data acquired across several deep-water areas. The data helps the team understand the near-seafloor geologic setting, including sediment type, sediment strength, and structural features such as deep expulsion chimneys.

Comparison of contractor (left) and EGL (right) PP imaging of deep-water, near-seafloor strata using 4-component OBC seismic data.

The team has established several indirect seismic methods to map hydrate presence—significant because the U.S. Minerals Management Service is considering the possibility of requiring operators to assess the potential for commercial production of methane hydrates on leases taken in deep water for conventional oil and gas exploration.

For more information about the Jackson School, contact J.B. Bird at jbird@jsg.utexas.edu, 512-232-9623.