Short communication possible gas hydrates in the Northland and northern Taranaki Basins: Indirect evidence from seismic data

We present indirect evidence from seismic data for gas hydrates in the deepwater Northland and northern Taranaki Basins west of New Zealand's North Island. We observe high-amplitude reflections in the regional gas-hydrate stability zone that we interpret as gas pockets and infer that the gas is likely to be surrounded by gas hydrate. We also observe a reflection that mimics the shape of the base of gas-hydrate stability and is possibly a bottom simulating reflection. These preliminary findings, which need to be corroborated by further analyses, may constitute the first evidence for gas hydrates in these basins close to New Zealand's primary petroleum province. © 2010 The Royal Society of New Zealand.