Seismic and heat flow constraints from the gas hydrate system in the Krishna–Godavari Basin, India

High resolution multi-channel seismic reflection data acquired in the offshore domain of the Krishna–Godavari (KG) Basin, provide seismic indicators of gas hydrate including bottom-simulating reflectors (BSR), and high reflectivity zones below the BSR as an indication of free gas. The recent recovery of gas hydrate by drilling across various sites in the KG Basin, together with the seismic indicators, suggests overall widespread favourable gas hydrate stability conditions. The BSRs provide indirect estimates of geothermal gradients and heat flow. A simple conductive model is used to calculate heat flow from the depth of the BSR. BSR-derived heat flow values range from about 30 to 102 mW/m2 across the KG Basin. We also modeled the base of gas hydrate stability zone (BGHSZ) to analyse the linkage between gas hydrate occurrences in the basin and its relation to the fault systems in the basin. The influence of bottom water temperature, pore water salinity and geothermal gradient variation on gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) thickness is analysed in relation to both geological formations and tectonics. Our analysis suggests a highly variable GHSZ in the KG Basin controlled by local variations in the parameters of stability condition and faulting. The BSR-derived heat flow increases towards deeper water depths across the basin. Consistent local variations were also observed with low heat flow values over prominent topographic highs and high heat flow values over the flanks of the topographic highs. This variation may be due to focusing and defocusing effects of the topography. However, local BSR-depths patterns may also be due to dynamic effects, including the displacement of isotherms by thrust-faulting. Additionally, recent mass-wasting events and normal faulting resulted in the BGHSZ being too shallow relative to the predicted model (which assumed equilibrium conditions).