Identification of hard-thin layers on the seabed or shallow sediments using geophysical data: A case study in the Liwan pipeline route, northern South China Sea

Li Jiagang; Huang Bigui; Liu Lejun; Li Xishuang; Zhou Qingjie; Gao Shan; Zhou Hang; Luan Kunxiang

doi:10.12284/hyxb2022111

Volume 44 Issue 9

Aug. 2022

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Article Navigation > Haiyang Xuebao > 2022 > 44(9): 100-108

Li Jiagang，Huang Bigui，Liu Lejun, et al. Identification of hard-thin layers on the seabed or shallow sediments using geophysical data: A case study in the Liwan pipeline route, northern South China Sea[J]. Haiyang Xuebao，2022, 44(9)：100–108 doi: 10.12284/hyxb2022111

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Identification of hard-thin layers on the seabed or shallow sediments using geophysical data: A case study in the Liwan pipeline route, northern South China Sea

doi: 10.12284/hyxb2022111

1.
Research Institute Co. Ltd., China National Offshore Oil Corporation, Beijing 100028, China
2.
Department of Marine Geology & Geophysics, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
3.
Laurel Marine Instruments Co. Ltd., Beijing 100020, China

Received Date: 2021-12-29
Rev Recd Date: 2022-04-05

Available Online: 2022-06-23

Publish Date: 2022-08-29

Abstract

Abstract

The hard-thin layers (HTLs) are usually composed of submerged coral reefs, various cemented sands, cemented coral stones or shell fragments and their locations are difficult to be determined by geological sampling due to their sporadic distribution. They bring great challenges and risks to the construction of submarine pipelines. In this paper, taking the northern shelf of the South China Sea as an example, we summarized the acoustic characteristics of the HTLs on the seabed and in the shallow sediments based on a variety of high-resolution geophysical data combined with forward simulation analysis. Twenty-three areas with HTLs in the study area were determined. Our study suggests that differences in the physical properties of HTLs and loose sediments help identify and locate them using high-resolution geophysical data. On the sub-bottom profiles, the HTLs are characterized by reflective interfaces with high-amplitude, beneath of which the low-amplitude reflections usually occur. These reflection features help to determine the HTLs, their depths and locations. The HTLs usually display the alternating light and dark zones with irregular boundaries on the side scan sonar and backscatter intensity images. When the HTLs are located on the seafloor, the comprehensive interpretation of the side-scan images, backscatter intensity images and the sub-bottom profiles is effective to identify and locate them. For those THLs several meters to ten meters below the seafloor, high-resolution sub-bottom profiles may be the only and most effective way to identify and locate them.
- hard-thin layers,
- seismic reflection face,
- side-scan sonar image,
- backscattering intensity,
- northern South China Sea

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References

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