Gas hydrates (GH) are well known to have an influential effect on the velocity and attenuation of gas hydrate-bearing sediments (GHBS). Based on rock physics modeling, sediment velocity has been extensively used to characterize the distribution of gas hydrate. However, the results obtained from different models show a significant variation. In this study, we firstly review and compare the existing rock physics modeling for velocity and attenuation. The assumption, characteristics, theoretical basis, and workflow of the modeling are briefly introduced. The feasibility and limitations of the published models are then discussed and compared. This study provides insight into how to select a suitable rock physics model and how to conduct modeling in the application of the rock physics model to field data. Then, we introduce how to predict hydrate saturation, hydrate morphology, the dip angle of fracture, sediment permeability, and attenuation mechanisms from the comparison between the modeled and measured acoustic properties. The most important application of rock physics modeling is predicting the hydrate saturation and we discuss the uncertainties of the predicted saturation caused by the errors related to the velocity measurements or rock physics modeling. Finally, we discuss the current challenges in rock physics modeling related to optimizing the input parameters, choice of a suitable model, and upscaling problems from ultrasonic to seismic and well log frequencies.

《地球科学》(ISSN 1000-2383;CN42-1874/P) (原刊名《地球科学——中国地质大学学报》ISSN 1000-2383;CN42-1233/P)，创刊于1957年，是由教育部主管、中国地质大学主办的综合性地学学术理论期刊，月刊，2015年改名为《地球科学》,她以反映中国地质大学教学与科研最新的、高水平的基础地质、应用地质、资源与环境地质及地学工程技术研究成果为主要任务。

Oil sands drilling frequently contaminates water-based xanthan gels with highly viscous asphaltenes, collapsing their three-dimensional network and causing barite sag, high fluid loss and poor cuttings transport. Nitrogen-functionalized carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were hydrothermally synthesised from citric acid and 1-hexadecylamine and characterised by means of FT-IR, TEM and TGA. The concentration-dependent influence of N-CQDs (0–1.2 wt%) on gel viscoelasticity, microstructure and filtration properties was evaluated through rheometry, API and fluid-loss tests. At 0.01 wt% N-CQDs, the viscosity of the adsorbed oil phase dropped by 50% and the mean droplet diameter decreased from 247.7 µm to <100 µm. Consequently, the xanthan gel exhibited a significant enhancement in its mechanical strength and fluid loss performance. Wax-crystal growth was simultaneously inhibited, lowering the pour point by 6 °C. N-CQDs act as nanospacers that disrupt π-stacking of asphaltenes and hydrogen-bond to the polymer backbone, thereby restoring gel strength and sealing capacity. The work provides a sustainable, low-toxicity route to rejuvenate gel-based drilling fluids contaminated by heavy oil and facilitates their reuse in oil sands reservoirs.