EVOLUTION AND GENESIS OF SEABED POCKMARKS IN GABON COASTAL BASIN

Seabed pockmarks are the records of escaping gas or liquid through the sediment.They could be the direct indication of hydrocarbons.A lot of seabed pockmarks have been found in the Gabon Coastal Basin. The seabed pockmarks appear as pulling-down seismic reflection characters in seismic profiles with anomaly attributes.The distribution of seabed pockmarks in this area is closely related with the activity of salt.Fault and gas chimney can be the channel for gas escape.The evolution and genesis of seabed pockmarks in the basin are researched with 3Dseismics and it is proved that the information is useful for petroleum exploration in the basin.