Geographic information system for the forecast mapping of gas hydrate-bearing areas

GIS technologies are an efficient tool for mapping gas hydrate bearing water areas and calculating the acreage and volume of the gas hydrate stability zone. These calculations are useful in resource assessment of methane amount in gas hydrates and prediction of engineering-geological hazards responding to hydrate decomposition into gas and water in the course of offshore well construction. This predictive mapping requires processing of large datasets, a regular grid, and mathematical computing. State-of-the-art technologies allow successful meeting these challenges and optimising cumbersome calculations and labour-intensive mapping. By the example of the Arctic Ocean water area, the authors present the results of the successful use of the ArcGIS software package in data preparation, hydrate-bearing water areas mapping, and calculation of acreage and volume of gas hydrate stability zone.