CONTROLLING FACTORS OF NATURAL GAS HYDRATE IN THE NORTH OF SHENHU AREA, SOUTH CHINA SEA

Studies of high-resolution sequence stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Upper Miocene of the Shenhu Area, northern slope of the South China Sea have been carried out by integrating 3D seismic data, well log data and core data. The main controlling factors over the distribution of gas hydrate in the area were discussed from temperature and pressure, sedimentation, structure and other aspects. We came to the conclusions as follows. The temperature and pressure near BSR is in the range of gas hydrate stability zone; the coarse-grained sediments is conducive to the formation of gas hydrates; porosity and gas hydrate saturation is directly proportional; the slump deposits are in favor of the gas hydrate enrichment; and the fractures generated in the process of the formation of gas chimney provided the migration path for the methane-rich fluid moving upwards. It is concluded that the Shenhu area is a right target for exploration and development of gas hydrate because of its favorable conditions for gas hydrate accumulation.