Feasibility analysis of the gas hydrate exploitation by time-lapse seismic monitoring

Time-lapse seismic monitoring has been proved an effective tool for enhanced oil recovery. But this technology requires certain reservoir conditions, so it's rather necessary to study its feasibility before application. In the process of extracting gas hydrate, the solid hydrate in sediments is transformed into gas and extracted mainly through the relevant measures (heating, decompression, injection of chemical materials, etc.). This can change the physical properties of the hydrate reservoir and its seismic reflection character, so it's possible to carry out time-lapse seismic monitoring in principle. In this paper, we found significant change of seismic signal in the process of extracting seeping type hydrates by the analysis of numerical simulation, so time-lapse seismic technology monitoring can be used in extracting this gas hydrate. For diffusing type hydrates, the feasibility of time-lapse seismic technology monitoring is influenced by its gas content. The hydrates of low gas content can be detected using time-lapse seismic, but for the hydrates of high gas content it depends on the actual situation.