The character and amplitude of ‘discontinuous’ bottom-simulating reflections in marine seismic data

Hillman, Jess I. T.; Cook, Ann E.; Sawyer, Derek E.; Kucuk, H. Mert; Goldberg, David S.

doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2016.10.058

The character and amplitude of ‘discontinuous’ bottom-simulating reflections in marine seismic data

Journal Article · Tue Nov 22 04:00:00 EST 2016 · Earth and Planetary Science Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2016.10.058· OSTI ID:1373262

Hillman, Jess I. T. ^[1]; ^[2]; Sawyer, Derek E. ^[2]; ^[3]; Goldberg, David S. ^[4]

The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States); GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research
The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States)
Dokuz Eylul Univ., Izmir (Turkey); Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY (United States)
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY (United States)

Bottom-simulating reflections (BSRs) identified in seismic data are well documented; and are commonly interpreted to indicate the presence of gas hydrates along continental margins, as well as to estimate regional volumes of gas hydrate. A BSR is defined as a reflection that sub-parallels the seafloor but is opposite in polarity and cross-cuts dipping sedimentary strata. BSRs form as a result of a strong negative acoustic impedance contrast. BSRs, however, are a diverse seismic phenomena that manifest in strikingly contrasting ways in different geological settings, and in different seismic data types. We investigate the characteristics of BSRs, using conventional and high resolution, 2D and 3D seismic data sets in three locations: the Terrebonne and Orca Basins in the Gulf of Mexico, and Blake Ridge on the US Atlantic Margin. The acquisition geometry and frequency content of the seismic data significantly impact the resultant character of BSRs, as observed with depth and amplitude maps of the BSRs. Furthermore, our amplitude maps reinforce the concept that the BSR represents a zone, over which the transition from hydrate to free gas occurs, as opposed to the conventional model of the BSR occurring at a single interface. Our results show that a BSR can be mapped in three dimensions but it is not spatially continuous, at least not at the basin scale. Rather, a BSR manifests itself as a discontinuous, or patchy, reflection and only at local scales is it continuous. We suggest the discontinuous nature of BSRs is the result of variable saturation and distribution of free gas and hydrate, acquisition geometry and frequency content of the recorded seismic data. Lastly, the commonly accepted definition of a BSR should be broadened with careful consideration of these factors, to represent the uppermost extent of enhanced amplitude at the shallowest occurrence of free gas trapped by overlying hydrate-bearing sediments.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: The Ohio State Univ., Columbus, OH (United States); Univ. of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX (United States); Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, NY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0023919

OSTI ID:: 1373262

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1398697

Journal Information:: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Journal Name: Earth and Planetary Science Letters Journal Issue: C Vol. 459; ISSN 0012-821X

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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