Natural Gas Resource from Gas Hydrates Offshore the East Coast of Trinidad

The global shift toward environmentally friendly fuels has led to an increase in the usage of natural gas as an energy source. Natural gas is currently being produced from conventional gas reservoirs; however, there has been increased interest in the large repositories of highly compressed natural gas sequestered in gas hydrates. Well logs, as well as 3D seismic surveys, aid in the identification of geophysical features which support the presence of natural gas hydrates. Geophysical features include bottom-simulating reflectors (BSRs), amplitude blanking, and enhanced reflections. Previous studies of the deepwater blocks offshore the eastern coast of Trinidad provided conflicting conclusions regarding the existence of gas hydrate-bearing sediments in Blocks 25A, 25B, 26, and 27. This study investigated not only the presence, but additionally the location, depth of the BSRs, and associated natural gas hydrate-bearing sediments, as well as the volumetric estimation of the hydrate-bound gas in these blocks, as well as Block 4B. Six gas hydrate-related BSRs were identified; one each in Blocks 4B, 25A, and 26, and three in Block 27. No BSRs were observed in Block 25B. Closer inspection revealed that the BSR in Block 26 is an extension of one of the BSRs in Block 27. A total gas resource in place is estimated to be 4 19 Tcf, which indicates that the eastern coast of Trinidad has the potential to provide additional natural gas reserves.