Building a three-dimensional geological model of the Pegasus Basin (offshore New Zealand) with the aim of improving our understanding of gas hydrate distribution

The Pegasus Basin, on the southern end of New Zealand’s Hikurangi margin, developed as a passive margin from the end of subduction along the Chatham Rise around 105 Ma to the initiation of the modern plate boundary around 25 Ma. Multi-channel seismic reflection data acquired by the New Zealand government in 2009 and 2010 show well-developed bottom-simulating reflections (BSRs) throughout the basin and also indications for deeply-sourced fluid migration.

We have used the seismic data, together with previously published age constraints, to identify and map key stratigraphic horizons from the ancient subduction margin (on the southeast), through the sedimentary basin, and up onto the modern subduction margin (on the northwest). We have also used BSRs to map the extent of the gas hydrate system throughout the basin. These interpretations are being used to construct a 3D geological model of the basin that will be converted to depth using seismic velocities from the available data. The geological model will provide the basis for modelling fluid flow processes through the basin and ultimately to simulate gas hydrate formation using Petromod. We will present the latest results of this project and outline the implications for gas hydrate formation in the Pegasus Basin.