Geological and geophysical conditions for potential natural gas hydrate resources in southern South China Sea waters

The water depth in Nansha (aiuae(2)(TM)) waters, which is located in the southern South China Sea, varies from 200 to 2 500 m, with a deep-water (> 500 m) area of 500 000 km2. In this region, there are many depositional basins with various structural features, prone to the accumulation of organic material. The temperature and pressure conditions in the deep-water environment are suitable for the preservation of gas hydrate. At several sites, we have recognized bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs) from seismic data. Regional geology analyses show that the Nansha waters may have abundant gas hydrate prospects, especially in localities such as the Nansha trough and other deep-water basins of the central Nansha waters.