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Review

Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review

1
Beijing International Center for Gas Hydrate, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
2
School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13(6), 1137; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061137
Submission received: 13 May 2025 / Revised: 1 June 2025 / Accepted: 4 June 2025 / Published: 6 June 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Marine Gas Hydrates)

Abstract

The bottom-simulating reflector (BSR) serves as an important seismic indicator for identifying gas hydrate-bearing sediments. This review synthesizes global BSR observations and demonstrates that spatial relationships among BSRs, free gas, and gas hydrates frequently deviate from one-to-one correspondence. Moreover, our analysis reveals that more than 35% of global BSRs occur shallower than the bases of gas hydrate stability zones, especially in deepwater regions, suggesting that the BSRs more accurately represent the interface between the gas hydrate occurrence zone and the underlying free gas zone. BSR morphology is influenced by geological settings, sediment properties, and seismic acquisition parameters. We find that ~70–80% of BSRs occur in fine-grained, grain-displacive sediments with hydrate lenses/nodules, while coarse-grained pore-filling sediments host <20%. BSR interpretation remains challenging due to limitations in traditional P-wave seismic profiles and conventional amplitude versus offset (AVO) analysis, which hinder accurate fluid identification. To address these gaps, future research should focus on frequency-dependent AVO inversion based on viscoelastic theory, multicomponent full-waveform inversion, improved anisotropy assessment, and quantitative links between rock microstructure and elastic properties. These innovations will shift BSR research from static feature mapping to dynamic process analysis, enhancing hydrate detection and our understanding of hydrate–environment interactions.
Keywords: bottom-simulating reflector (BSR); multiple BSRs; gas hydrate stability zone; seismic identification; morphology bottom-simulating reflector (BSR); multiple BSRs; gas hydrate stability zone; seismic identification; morphology

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MDPI and ACS Style

Shi, S.; Zhan, L.; Cai, W.; Yang, R.; Lu, H. Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review. J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2025, 13, 1137. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061137

AMA Style

Shi S, Zhan L, Cai W, Yang R, Lu H. Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2025; 13(6):1137. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061137

Chicago/Turabian Style

Shi, Shiyuan, Linsen Zhan, Wenjiu Cai, Ran Yang, and Hailong Lu. 2025. "Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review" Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 13, no. 6: 1137. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061137

APA Style

Shi, S., Zhan, L., Cai, W., Yang, R., & Lu, H. (2025). Bottom-Simulating Reflectors (BSRs) in Gas Hydrate Systems: A Comprehensive Review. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 13(6), 1137. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse13061137

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