Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review
The bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) serves as an important seismic indicator for identifying gas hydrate-bearing sediments. This review synthesizes global BSR observations and demonstrates that spatial relationships among BSRs, free gas, and gas hydrates frequently deviate from one-to-one correspo...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/6/1137 |
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| author | Shiyuan Shi Linsen Zhan Wenjiu Cai Ran Yang Hailong Lu |
| author_facet | Shiyuan Shi Linsen Zhan Wenjiu Cai Ran Yang Hailong Lu |
| author_sort | Shiyuan Shi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) serves as an important seismic indicator for identifying gas hydrate-bearing sediments. This review synthesizes global BSR observations and demonstrates that spatial relationships among BSRs, free gas, and gas hydrates frequently deviate from one-to-one correspondence. Moreover, our analysis reveals that more than 35% of global BSRs occur shallower than the bases of gas hydrate stability zones, especially in deepwater regions, suggesting that the BSRs more accurately represent the interface between the gas hydrate occurrence zone and the underlying free gas zone. BSR morphology is influenced by geological settings, sediment properties, and seismic acquisition parameters. We find that ~70–80% of BSRs occur in fine-grained, grain-displacive sediments with hydrate lenses/nodules, while coarse-grained pore-filling sediments host <20%. BSR interpretation remains challenging due to limitations in traditional P-wave seismic profiles and conventional amplitude versus offset (AVO) analysis, which hinder accurate fluid identification. To address these gaps, future research should focus on frequency-dependent AVO inversion based on viscoelastic theory, multicomponent full-waveform inversion, improved anisotropy assessment, and quantitative links between rock microstructure and elastic properties. These innovations will shift BSR research from static feature mapping to dynamic process analysis, enhancing hydrate detection and our understanding of hydrate–environment interactions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ec7979a8aaca44bfbeb41d475c3ee8ab |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj-art-ec7979a8aaca44bfbeb41d475c3ee8ab2025-08-20T02:20:58ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122025-06-01136113710.3390/jmse13061137Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive ReviewShiyuan Shi0Linsen Zhan1Wenjiu Cai2Ran Yang3Hailong Lu4Beijing International Center for Gas Hydrate, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaBeijing International Center for Gas Hydrate, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaBeijing International Center for Gas Hydrate, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaBeijing International Center for Gas Hydrate, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaBeijing International Center for Gas Hydrate, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, ChinaThe bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) serves as an important seismic indicator for identifying gas hydrate-bearing sediments. This review synthesizes global BSR observations and demonstrates that spatial relationships among BSRs, free gas, and gas hydrates frequently deviate from one-to-one correspondence. Moreover, our analysis reveals that more than 35% of global BSRs occur shallower than the bases of gas hydrate stability zones, especially in deepwater regions, suggesting that the BSRs more accurately represent the interface between the gas hydrate occurrence zone and the underlying free gas zone. BSR morphology is influenced by geological settings, sediment properties, and seismic acquisition parameters. We find that ~70–80% of BSRs occur in fine-grained, grain-displacive sediments with hydrate lenses/nodules, while coarse-grained pore-filling sediments host <20%. BSR interpretation remains challenging due to limitations in traditional P-wave seismic profiles and conventional amplitude versus offset (AVO) analysis, which hinder accurate fluid identification. To address these gaps, future research should focus on frequency-dependent AVO inversion based on viscoelastic theory, multicomponent full-waveform inversion, improved anisotropy assessment, and quantitative links between rock microstructure and elastic properties. These innovations will shift BSR research from static feature mapping to dynamic process analysis, enhancing hydrate detection and our understanding of hydrate–environment interactions.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/6/1137bottom-simulating reflector (BSR)multiple BSRsgas hydrate stability zoneseismic identificationmorphology |
| spellingShingle | Shiyuan Shi Linsen Zhan Wenjiu Cai Ran Yang Hailong Lu Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review Journal of Marine Science and Engineering bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) multiple BSRs gas hydrate stability zone seismic identification morphology |
| title | Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full | Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_fullStr | Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_short | Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review |
| title_sort | bottom simulating reflectors bsrs in gas hydrate systems a comprehensive review |
| topic | bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) multiple BSRs gas hydrate stability zone seismic identification morphology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/6/1137 |
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