Numerical evidence of gas hydrate detection by means of electroseismics

This work presents numerical evidence that methane hydrate-bearing sediments located below permafrost can be detected using electroseismics as a prospecting tool. The numerically solved equations are the ones developed by Pride; we modified them by using an extended Biot formulation to appropriately deal with a composite (rock-ice/rock-methane hydrate) solid matrix. We modeled the subsurface as a two dimensional medium, and we used electromagnetic sources to give rise to the so called SHTE and PSVTM modes. The obtained results show that the seismic response is sensitive to the methane hydrate concentration.

► We modify Pride's electroseismic equations using an extended Biot formulation. ► By means of the latter we approximately model composite solid matrices. ► We model a 2D Earth and consider both the SHTE and PSVTM modes. ► We use FEM algorithms to solve the modified electroseismic equations. ► We show that the seismic response is sensitive to the methane hydrate concentration.