Oil & Gas Geology ›› 2019, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (6): 1295-1307.doi: 10.11743/ogg20190613

• Petroleum Geology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Distribution pattern of paleo and present BSRs in the toe-thrust belt of Niger Delta front

Yang Jinxiu1, Song Penglin1, He Weiwei2, Wang Hongliang3, Wang Min1, Xiao Dianshi1   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Deep Oil and Gas, China University of Petroleum(East China), Qingdao, Shandong 266580, China;
    2. Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration & Development-Northwest, PetroChina, Lanzhou, Gansu 730020, China;
    3. School of Energy Resources, China University of Geosciences(Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
  • Received:2018-12-10 Revised:2019-07-31 Online:2019-12-28 Published:2019-10-15

Abstract: Interpretation of 3D seismic data from the compression domain of Niger Delta,related seismic attribute extraction and BSR numerical modelling are carried out in this paper to study the seismic characteristics of the present and paleo-bottom simulating reflections (BSRs),and the controlling factors of BSR vertical migration.In the study area,the present and paleo-BSRs,representing present previous and locations of the base of gas hydrate stability zones (GHSZ),are scattered and mainly located in areas with well-developed fluid pathways including folding faults,gas chimneys,and diapire structures.This indicates that fluid migration conditions control the occurrence of BSR.Compared with the present BSR,the paleo-BSRs are of weaker amplitude,and distributed in much more limited areas.The amplitude of the paleo-BSRs is interpreted to represent petrophysical interfaces caused by diagenesis driven by previous gas hydrate.The depth of the present BSR deepens as the seabed water depth increases,but the thickness of GHSZ is relatively stable,about 425 m.The upward resetting of the BSR is a result jointly contributed by various factors in the geological history.The toe-thrust belt of the Niger delta is characterized by intense tectonic activities,high sedimentary rate,and well developed fluid migration pathways,including fault and diapire,for heat flows from deep to shallow.Besides,the underlying oceanic and transitional crusts allow higher heat flows,and marine mudstones have higher heat sealing capacity.All these are driving the upward resetting of the BSR.In addition,higher gas hydrate saturation formations in the study area feature higher amplitude anomalies on the present,upper BSR with positive polarity,mainly on top of anticlines and gas chimneys,indicating the effective control of fluid migration pathways on gas hydrate accumulation.The occurrence of free gas zones (FGZs) underlying the present BSR is limited,and only thin FGZs occurred in fold belts with well-developed fluid migration pathways.

Key words: bottom simulating reflection (BSR), seismic interpretation, fluid migration, gas hydrate, Niger Delta

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