Sedimentary evolution since Quaternary in the Shenhu hydrate drilling area, northern South China Sea

Abstract

The marine gas hydrate samples in China were for the first time acquired in the Shenhu area, northern continental slope of the South China Sea. However, due to erosion by the submarine canyons, the stratigraphic comparison and identification of sedimentary facies were difficult, leading to the lack of description of seismic-sedimentary facies, analysis of forming mechanisms and distribution of the sedimentary units. Moreover, few researches focused on the sedimentary evolution since Quaternary, and the crucial controlling factors on the heterogeneous distribution of gas hydrate are not clearly understood. Using high-resolution 2D/3D seismic data, this study attempts to classify the seismic facies and discuss the sedimentary evolution in this area since Quaternary.