Estimation of Q from Zero-offset VSP data in Gas Hydrate-bearing Zone

Abstract

Q-factor (or Q) that quantifies the attenuation, the intrinsic property of the material, is a very important required factor in extracting useful subsurface material properties such as lithological information, porosity, permeability, viscosity,and the degree of the saturation from the seismic data. When seismic energy propagates through the gas hydrate-bearing zone and a free gas layer below it, the considerable attenuation occurs and affects the amplitude and wavelet shape of recorded seismic data. Thus Q- factor extracted from seismic data can be used to locate the gas hydrate bearing zone and estimate its reserves. The spectral-ratio method has been widely used in computing the frequency-independent Q’s from the zero-offset VSP data because of its ease and fastness. We developed a module of the spectral ratio method, and applied it to the synthetic zero-offset VSP data set and field zero-offset VSP data set. The field data were acquired at Mallik 3L-38 gas hydrate research well in Canada. The Q-factors calculated from the synthetic zero-offset VSP data using the spectral ratio method approached closer to the true values for the medium with low Q-factor than high Q-factor. The changes in the Q-factors extracted from the Mallik zero-offset data using the spectral ratio method agreed well with the boundaries of the layers, including gas hydrate zone, depicted in a reflection image.