Abstract:

On the basis of predecessors’work and a series of drilling data obtained from the gas-hydrate drillholes carried out by Qinghai No-105 Coal Geological Exploration Team in Sanlutian of Muli, Qinghai together with the analysis of 3D-seismic, logging, geochemical and microbial data, the plane distribution of gas hydrates in this area was delineated with the use of hydrate-bearing intervals’ lithology, depth, thickness, gas-content anomaly and main faults. The gas-hydrate reserve in the study area was further estimated using the volume method, and the results show that the gas-hydrate reserve in prospects is about 2.138,5 million cubic meters and the inferred gas-hydrate reserve is about 4.526 million cubic meters. After the comprehensive analysis of the geological information, the gas-hydrate reserve in the study area and the production technics of gas hydrates, it comes to the conclusion that the gas-hydrate reservoir in Sanlutian is of no industrial exploitation value because of the complex occurrence situation, low reserve and immature mining technology at present.

Key words: natural gas hydrate, estimation method, resource/reserve, Sanlutian of Muli, Qinghai