Detection and estimation of gas hydrates using rock physics and seismic inversion: Examples from the northern deepwater Gulf of Mexico

Natural gas hydrates, composed primarily of water and methane, are solid, crystalline, ice-like substances found in permafrost areas and deepwater basins around the world. As the search for oil and gas extends into ever-deeper waters, particularly within the northern Gulf of Mexico, gas hydrates are becoming more of a focus in terms of both safety and as a potential energy resource.