Gas hydrate versus geological features: The South Shetland case study

A gas hydrate reservoir is hosted in marine sediments of an accretionary prism, located offshore the South Shetland Islands (Antarctic Peninsula), and affected by widespread deformations. To analyse gas hydrate distribution and fluid circulation inside sediments, available velocity models were used. Seismic velocities are translated in terms of hydrate porosity, which is the difference between the reference porosity (i.e., the porosity without gas hydrate) and the effective porosity (i.e., the porosity reduced by the gas hydrate presence). The pre-stack depth migration sections underlined the presence of several geological features, such as gentle and open folds, fractures and faults. In this paper, we observed a relationship between syncline–anticline structures and hydrate presence. In particular, a relationship is underlined between the hydrate porosity values and the distance from the hinge of the anticline: the hydrate porosity increases toward the limbs of anticline. The micro-fracturing model supports the idea that the syncline favours the hydrate formation, while the anticline favours the free gas accumulation below the bottom simulating reflector.