• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.7 no.1_2 s.8
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• pp.1-6
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• 1999

Natural gas hydrate, a solid compound of natural gas (mainly methane) and water in the low temperature and high pressure, is widely distributed in permafrost region and deep sea sediments. Gas hydrate stability field (GHSF), which corresponds to the conditions of a stable existence of solid gas hydrate without dissociation, depends on temperature, pressure, and composition of gas and interstitial water. Gas hydrate-saturated sediment are easily recognized by the bottom simulating reflector (BSR), a strong-amplitude sea bottom-mimic reflector in seismic profiles. It is known that BSR is associated with the basal boundary of the GHSF, The purpose of this study is to define the GHSF and its occurrence in the southwestern part of Ulleung Basin, East Sea. The hydrothermal gradient is measured using the expandable bathythermograph (XBT) and the geothermal gradient data are utilized from previous drilling results for the adjacent area. By the laboratory work using methane and NaCl $3.0 wt{\%}$ solution, it is shown that the equilibrium pressures of the gas hydrate reach to 2,920.2 kPa at 274.15 K and to 18,090 kPa at 289.95 K for the study area. Consequently, it is interpreted that the lower boundary of the GHSF is about 210 m beneath 400-m-deep sea bottom and about 480 m beneath 1,100-m-deep sea bottom. The resultant boundary is well matched with the depth of the BSR obtained from the seismic data analysis for the study area.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.10a
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• pp.208-212
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• 2008

Gas hydrate has been paid attention to study for because: 1) it can be considered as a new energy resources; 2) one of reasons causing the instability of sea floor slope and 3) a factor to the climate change. Bottom simulating reflector (BSR) defined as seismic boundary between the gas hydrate and free gas zone has been considered as the most common evidence in the seismic reflection data for the gas hydrate exploration. BSR has several characteristics such as parallel to the sea bottom, high amplitude, reducing interval velocity between above and below BSR and reversing phase to the sea bottom. Moreover, instantaneous attribute properties such as amplitude envelop, instantaneous frequency, phase and first derivative of amplitude of seismic data from the complex analysis could be used to analyze properties of BSR those would be added to the certain properties of BSR in order to effectively find out the existence of BSR of the gas hydrate stability zone. The output of conventional seismic data processing for gas hydrate data set in Ulleung basin in the East sea of Korea will be used for complex analyses to indicate better BSR in the seismic reflection data. This result of this analysis implies that the BSR of the analyzed seismic profile is clearly located at the two ways time (TWT) of around 3.1 seconds.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.39 no.6 s.181
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• pp.711-717
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• 2006

In order to study gas hydrate, potential future energy resources, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources has conducted seismic reflection survey in the East Sea since 1997. one of evidence for presence of gas hydrate in seismic reflection data is a bottom simulating reflector (BSR). The BSR occurs at the interface between overlaying higher velocity, hydrate-bearing sediment and underlying lower velocity, free gas-bearing sediment. That is often characterized by large reflection coefficient and reflection polarity reverse to that of seafloor reflection. In order to apply depth migration to seismic reflection data. we need high performance computers and a parallelizing technique because of huge data volume and computation. Phase shift plus interpolation (PSPI) is a useful method for migration due to less computing time and computational efficiency. PSPI is intrinsically parallelizing characteristic in the frequency domain. We conducted conventional data processing for the gas hydrate data of the Ease Sea and then applied prestack depth migration using message-passing-interface PSPI (MPI_PSPI) that was parallelized by MPI local-area-multi-computer (MPI_LAM). Velocity model was made using the stack velocities after we had picked horizons on the stack image with in-house processing tool, Geobit. We could find the BSRs on the migrated stack section were about at SP 3555-4162 and two way travel time around 2,950 ms in time domain. In depth domain such BSRs appear at 6-17 km distance and 2.1 km depth from the seafloor. Since energy concentrated subsurface was well imaged we have to choose acquisition parameters suited for transmitting seismic energy to target area.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.676-679
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• 2009

The bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) is the most commonly observed seismic indicator of gas hydrate in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea. We processed ten representative seismic reflection profiles, selected from a large data set, for amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis of the BSR to estimate gas-hydrate concentrations. First, BSRs were divided into five groups based on their seismic amplitudes and associated sediment types: (1) very high-amplitude BSRs in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments, (2) high-amplitude BSRs in debris-flow deposits, (3) moderate-amplitude BSRs in turbidite/hemipelagic sediments, (4) very low-amplitude BSRs in debris-flow deposits, and (5) very low-amplitude BSRs in seismic chimneys. The AVO responses of the group 1 and 3 BSRs are characterized by a rapid decrease and a relatively slow decrease in magnitude with offset, respectively. The AVO response of the group 2 BSR is characterized by a relatively slow increase in magnitude with offset. The AVO responses of the groups 4 and 5 BSRs are characterized by a flat AVO with very small zero-offset amplitude. Theoretical AVO curves, based on the three-phase Biot theory, suggest that the group 1 and 3 BSRs may be related to high (> 40%) concentrations of gas hydrate whereas the group 2 BSRs may indicate low (< 20%) concentrations of gas hydrate. The AVO responses of the group 4 and 5 BSRs cannot be compared with the theoretical models because of their very small zero-offset amplitudes. The comparison of the AVO response of the BSR at the UBGH-04 well with theoretical models suggests about 10% gas-hydrate concentration above the gas-hydrate stability zone.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.377-381
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• 2006

A seismic survey for gas hydrate have performed over the East sea by the KIGAM since 1997. General indicator of gas hydrate in seismic data is commonly inferred from the BSR(Bottom Simulating Reflector) that occurred parallel to the sea floor, amplitude decrease at the top of the BSR, amplitude blanking at the bottom of the BSR, decrease of the interval velocity and the reflection phase reversal at the BSR. In this paper we had analyzed optimum parameters of the field data to detect the 9as hydrate. Shot delay correction is applied 95ms, spherical divergence correction is applied velocity library 3, bandpass filter is applied 25-30-115-120Hz deconvolution operator length is applied 60ms, lag is 6ms and accurate velocity analysis NMO correction, stack is performed. Geobit 2.11.0 developed by the KIGAM was used for all data processing. Processing results say that the BSR occurred parallel to the sea floor were shown at 3,150m/s of two way travel time from the sea floor through shot point 5,000-5,610, and identified the interval velocity decrease around BSR and the reflection phase reversal corresponding to the reflection at the sea floor.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.148-152
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• 2008

Multichannel seismic profiles reveal a strong bottom simulating reflector (BSR) occurring below the seafloor in the plain of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea (Japan Sea). The essential characteristics of the BSR include its cross-cutting relationship to strata, strong amplitude, and reverse polarity with respect to the seafloor reflection, representing the base of the gas hydrate stability zone (BHSZ). The BSR reflection coefficient ranging from -0.23 to -0.26 is 1.5${\sim}$1.7 times that of the seafloor reflection and interval velocities decrease to less than 700 m/s below the BSR. These features indicate the existence of free gas beneath the GHSZ. Heat flow, estimated from the BSR depth as $95{\sim}98mW/m^2$, is in good agreement with measured values. Therefore, the BSR can be efficiently used to estimate regional distribution of heat flow in the Ulleung Basin.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.06a
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• pp.680-681
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• 2009

On the basis of seismic interpretation, seismic indicators of gas hydrate and associated gas such as bottom simulating reflector (BSR), acoustic blanking, column structure, gas seepage, enhanced reflection were identified in the Ulleung Basin. Fractures, faults, sandy layer could be the migration pathways transporting fluid and gas to stability zone. The formation of gas hydrate in the Ulleung Basin include: (1) nodules, veins, layers in muddy sediments and disseminated forms in sandy layer within localized column structure, (2) disseminated forms in sandy layer, and (3) disseminated forms in sandy layer just above BSR.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.638-642
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• 2005

For gas hydrate exploration, long offset multichannel seismic data acquired using by the 4km streamer length in Ulleung basin of the East Sea. The dataset was processed to define the BSRs (Bottom Simulating Reflectors) and to estimate the amount of gas hydrates. Confirmation of the presence of Bottom Simulating reflectors (BSR) and investigation of its physical properties from seismic section are important for gas hydrate detection. Specially, faster interval velocity overlying slower interval velocity indicates the likely presences of gas hydrate above BSR and free gas underneath BSR. In consequence, estimation of correct interval velocities and analysis of their spatial variations are critical processes for gas hydrate detection using seismic reflection data. Using Dix's equation, Root Mean Square (RMS) velocities can be converted into interval velocities. However, it is not a proper way to investigate interval velocities above and below BSR considering the fact that RMS velocities have poor resolution and correctness and the assumption that interval velocities increase along the depth. Therefore, we incorporated Migration Velocity Analysis (MVA) software produced by Landmark CO. to estimate correct interval velocities in detail. MVA is a process to yield velocities of sediments between layers using Common Mid Point (CMP) gathered seismic data. The CMP gathered data for MVA should be produced after basic processing steps to enhance the signal to noise ratio of the first reflections. Prestack depth migrated section is produced using interval velocities and interval velocities are key parameters governing qualities of prestack depth migration section. Correctness of interval velocities can be examined by the presence of Residual Move Out (RMO) on CMP gathered data. If there is no RMO, peaks of primary reflection events are flat in horizontal direction for all offsets of Common Reflection Point (CRP) gathers and it proves that prestack depth migration is done with correct velocity field. Used method in this study, Tomographic inversion needs two initial input data. One is the dataset obtained from the results of preprocessing by removing multiples and noise and stacked partially. The other is the depth domain velocity model build by smoothing and editing the interval velocity converted from RMS velocity. After the three times iteration of tomography inversion, Optimum interval velocity field can be fixed. The conclusion of this study as follow, the final Interval velocity around the BSR decreased to 1400 m/s from 2500 m/s abruptly. BSR is showed about 200m depth under the seabottom

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.18-30
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• 2023

Submarine mud volcanos are topographic features that resemble volcanoes, and are formed due to eruptions of fluidized or gasified sediment material. They have gained attention as a source of subsurface heat, sediment, or hydrocarbons supplied to the surface. In the continental slope of the Canadian Beaufort Sea, mud volcano exists at various water depths. The MV420, is an active mud volcano erupting at a water depth of 420 meters, and it has been the subject of extensive study. The Korea Polar Research Institute(KOPRI) collected high-resolution seismic data and heat flow data around the caldera of the mud volcano. By analyzing the multi-channel seismic data, we confirmed the reverse-polarity reflector assumed by a gas hydrate-related bottom simulating reflector(BSR). To further elucidate the relationship between the BSR and gas hydrates, as well as the thermal structure of the mud volcano, a numerical geothermal model was developed based on the steady-state heat equation. Using this model, we estimated the base of the gas hydrate stability zone and found that the BSR depth estimated by multi-channel seismic data and the bottom of the gas hydrate stability zone were in good agreement., This suggests the presence of gas hydrates, and it was determined that the depth of the gas hydrate was likely up to 50 m, depending on the distance from the mud conduit. Thus, this depth estimate slightly differs from previous studies.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.06a
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• pp.507-510
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• 2007

Piston cores retrieved from the western Ulleung Basin, East Sea were analyzed to examine the potential for hydrocarbon generation and to determine the hydrocarbon indicators. 2D multi-channel reflection seismic and Chirp data were also investigated for mapping and characterizing the geophysical hydrocarbon indicators such as BSR (bottom simulating reflector), blank zone, pock-mark etc. High organic carbon contents and sedimentation rates that suggest good condition for hydrocarbon generation. High pressure and low temperature condition, and high residual hydrocarbon concentrations are favor the formation of natural gas hydrate. In the piston cores, cracks generally oriented to bedding may indicate the gas expansion. The seismic data show several BSRs that are associated with natural gas hydrates and underlying free gas. A number of vertical to sub-vertical blank zones were well identified in the seismic sections. They often show the seismic pull-up structures, probably indicating the presence of high velocity hydrates. Numerous pockmarks were also observed in the Chirp profiles. They may indicate the presence of free gas below the hydrate stability zone as well.