METHOD OF SEARCHING FOR GAS HYDRATES (VERSIONS) Russian patent published in 2009 - IPC G01V1/00 

FIELD: physics; measurement.

SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to geophysical methods of searching for minerals at the bottom of the sea and can be used in searching for deposits of gas hydrates in the near-surface layer. According to the invention, an acoustic signal is transmitted towards the bottom of the sea. The three-dimensional backward scattered sound signal is received and processed. Regions with high and low scattering in the near-surface layer of the sea bed are determined. The ratio K₁, of integral amplitude levels of the three-dimensional backward scattered sound signal of regions with high and low scattering in the near-surface layer of the sea bed is calculated. Gas hydrates are present if the obtained value of K₁ is greater than a predetermined threshold value. The method of searching for gas hydrates in the near-surface layer of the sea bed can also be realised through emission of an acoustic signal towards the bottom of the sea, reception and processing of the three-dimensional backward scattered sound signal, calculation of the time taken K₂ by the three-dimensional backward scattered sound signal from the bottom of the sea and/or the number K₃, of sound-scattering layers in the near-surface layer of the sea bed. Gas hydrates are present if the obtained values of K₂ and/or K₃ are less than the corresponding values of predetermined threshold values.

EFFECT: more efficient and reliable detection of gas hydrates.

4 cl, 3 dwg