Abstract

Studies of geologic and geophysical data from offshore India have revealed geologically distinct areas with seismically inferred gas hydrate occurrences along the passive continental margins of the Indian Peninsula. The Bottom Simulating Reflector (BSR) mapping alone is inadequate to infer gas hydrates as suggested by drilling results elsewhere. Therefore, to understand the subsurface distribution of gas hydrates along the continental margins of India, multi-disciplinary investigations have to be undertaken. The observed geophysical and geological anomalies such as pockmarks, gas upthrust zones, vents, blanking zones, diapirs, faulting etc., in addition to BSR favour the presence of gas hydrates in some of the Indian offshore regions.