Seismic quality factor observations for gas-hydrate-bearing sediments on the western margin of India

Any propagating wave undergoes attenuation, which is primarily governed by the physical properties of the medium, determined in terms of quality factor (Q). Research into the characteristics of both P- and S-wave Q with reference to gas-hydrates exploration remains in its infancy. Presence of gas-hydrates increases the Q, and this again depends on the nature of distribution and amount of hydrates within the sediments. Thus, estimation of Q provides useful input for both the detection and quantitative assessment of gas-hydrates. Here we propose a simple technique of deriving Q from prestack surface seismic reflection data based on the logarithm of spectral ratio (LSR), and apply the method to marine multi-channel seismic (MCS) data collected on the western margin of India where a bottom simulating reflector (BSR), which is a prime marker for gas-hydrates, has already been identified. The Q (256 ± 11) estimated over the region with a strong BSR is found to be more than double the Q (101 ± 9) derived for the region without any BSR or a weak BSR. The anomalously high Q with respect to the background can be used to detect gas-hydrates in areas where the BSR is not very clearly observed on seismic sections.