Effects of Depositional Processes in Submarine Canyons and Distribution of Gas Chimneys on Gas Hydrate Accumulation in the Shenhu Sea Area, Northern South China Sea

Previous gas hydrate production tests conducted by the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey (GSGM) in 2017 and 2020 indicated great potential of hydrates Shenhu Sea area Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB), China. In this study, effects deposition processes submarine canyons distribution chimneys on accumulation were investigated using high-resolution two- dimensional (2D) three-dimensional (3D) seismic data. Four intact identified study area. Five deepwater depositional elements are closely related to canyons: lateral accretion packages (LAPs), basal lags, slides, mass transport deposits (MTDs), turbidity lobes. MTDs lobes with multiple stages outside distal canyon mouth reveal that sedimentary evolution was accompanied frequent sediment gravity flows. Gas originating from Eocene strata generally up 3 km wide distributed a lumpy or banded pattern. The analysis attributes confirmed fluid activity these chimneys. mainly ridges among different canyons. Based sources canyons, flows significantly affect hydrates. findings, establishes conceptional model for hydrate, which can provide guidance prediction favorable zones nearby.