Refraction tomography over a buried waste disposal site

Geophysics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1414-1433 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Lanz ◽  
Hansruedi Maurer ◽  
Alan G. Green
Keyword(s):  
Effective Means ◽  
Lower Boundary ◽  
Disposal Site ◽  
Time Range ◽  
Inversion Method ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Refraction Tomography ◽  
Resultant Velocity

Determining the depth and geometry of a landfill’s lower boundary is a difficult task. Potential field methods generally lack the necessary depth resolution, and seismic reflection data are usually contaminated by source‐generated noise in the time range of interest (<50 ms). To address this problem, we have developed a surface 2-D tomographic refraction scheme that is based on a fast finite‐difference eikonal solver and an inversion method that incorporates appropriate damping and smoothing constraints. This new scheme has been applied to a first‐arrival traveltime data set collected across adjacent landfills in northern Switzerland. High‐quality seismic data were collected along five profiles that crossed the landfills and two that sampled undisturbed natural sediments. Seismic waves generated from multiple shots were recorded on large numbers of closely spaced receivers during quiet evening periods. Reliability of the resultant velocity tomograms was estimated on the basis of (1) ray diagrams, (2) plots of synthetic and observed traveltimes, (3) traveltime residual analyses, (4) comparisons of coincident velocity‐depth profiles computed from intersecting profiles, (5) inversions with diverse input models, and (6) quantitative error analyses using a bootstrap technique. At our study site, the base of the near‐surface natural layer and the lower boundaries of the landfills were defined by rapid increases in velocity from <1000 m/s to >1500 m/s, with velocities in the upper parts of the models determined to within about ±100 m/s. The thickness of the near‐surface natural layer varied between 2 and 6 m, with occasional thickening to ∼7 m. In contrast, low velocities associated with the landfills could be traced to 9 to 11 m depth. Although our results have demonstrated that the tomographic refraction scheme may be an efficient and cost‐effective means of studying the very shallow subsurface (<20 m depth), complementary geological and other geophysical data were required to discriminate between velocity anomalies attributed to the landfills and those attributed to natural variations in the near‐surface geology.

Nonlinear velocity inversion by a two‐step Monte Carlo method.

Geophysics ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Side Jin ◽  
Raul Madariaga
Keyword(s):  
Monte Carlo ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Inversion Method ◽  
Nonlinear Inversion ◽  
Ray Theory ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Reference Velocity

Seismic reflection data contain information on small‐scale impedance variations and a smooth reference velocity model. Given a reference velocity model, the reflectors can be obtained by linearized migration‐inversion. If the reference velocity is incorrect, the reflectors obtained by inverting different subsets of the data will be incoherent. We propose to use the coherency of these images to invert for the background velocity distribution. We have developed a two‐step iterative inversion method in which we separate the retrieval of small‐scale variations of the seismic velocity from the longer‐period reference velocity model. Given an initial background velocity model, we use a waveform misfit‐functional for the inversion of small‐scale velocity variations. For this linear step we use the linearized migration‐inversion method based on ray theory that we have recently developed with Lambaré and Virieux. The reference velocity model is then updated by a Monte Carlo inversion method. For the nonlinear inversion of the velocity background, we introduce an objective functional that measures the coherency of the short wavelength components obtained by inverting different common shot gathers at the same locations. The nonlinear functional is calculated directly in migrated data space to avoid expensive numerical forward modeling by finite differences or ray theory. Our method is somewhat similar to an iterative migration velocity analysis, but we do an automatic search for relatively large‐scale 1-D reference velocity models. We apply the nonlinear inversion method to a marine data set from the North Sea and also show that nonlinear inversion can be applied to realistic scale data sets to obtain a laterally heterogeneous velocity model with a reasonable amount of computer time.

Shallow 3D seismic-reflection imaging of fracture zones in crystalline rock

Geophysics ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. B149-B160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cedric Schmelzbach ◽  
Heinrich Horstmeyer ◽  
Christopher Juhlin
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Reflection ◽  
Crystalline Rock ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Disposal Site ◽  
3D Seismic ◽  
Fracture Zones ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Reflection Data ◽  
Receiver Array

A limited 3D seismic-reflection data set was used to map fracture zones in crystalline rock for a nuclear waste disposal site study. Seismic-reflection data simultaneously recorded along two roughly perpendicular profiles (1850 and [Formula: see text] long) and with a [Formula: see text] receiver array centered at the intersection of the lines sampled a [Formula: see text] area in three dimensions. High levels of source-generated noise required a processing sequence involving surface-consistent deconvolution, which effectively increased the strength of reflected signals, and a linear [Formula: see text] filtering scheme to suppress any remaining direct [Formula: see text]-wave energy. A flexible-binning scheme significantly balanced and increased the CMP fold, but the offset and azimuth distributions remain irregular; a wide azimuth range and offsets [Formula: see text] are concentrated in the center of the survey area although long offsets [Formula: see text] are only found at the edges of the site. Three-dimensional dip moveout and 3D poststack migration were necessary to image events with conflicting dips up to about 40°. Despite the irregular acquisition geometry and the high level of source-generated noise, we obtained images rich in structural detail. Seven continuous to semicontinuous reflection events were traced through the final data volume to a maximum depth of around [Formula: see text]. Previous 2D seismic-reflection studies and borehole data indicate that fracture zones are the most likely cause of the reflections.

Linearized tomographic inversion of first‐arrival times

Geophysics ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 1482-1492 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Simmons ◽  
Milo M. Backus
Keyword(s):  
Reference Model ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Inversion Algorithm ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Tomographic Inversion ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Geometric Patterns ◽  
First Arrival ◽  
Thick Layers

A linearized tomographic‐inversion algorithm estimates the near‐surface slowness anomalies present in a conventional, shallow‐marine seismic reflection data set. First‐arrival time residuals are the data to be inverted. The anomalies are treated as perturbations relative to a known, laterally‐invariant reference velocity model. Below the sea floor the reference model varies smoothly with depth; consequently the first arrivals are considered to be diving waves. In the offset‐midpoint domain the geometric patterns of traveltime perturbations produced by the anomalies resemble hyperbolas. Based on simple ray theory, these geometric patterns are predictable and can be used to relate the unknown model to the data. The assumption of a laterally‐invariant reference model permits an efficient solution in the offset‐wavenumber domain which is obtained in a single step using conventional least squares. The tomographic image shows the vertical‐traveltime perturbations associated with the anomalies as a function of midpoint at a number of depths. As implemented, the inverse problem is inherently stable. The first arrivals sample the subsurface to a maximum depth of roughly 500 m (≈ one‐fifth of the spread length). The model is parameterized to consist of fifteen 20-m thick layers spanning a depth range of 80–380 m. One‐way vertical‐traveltime delays as large as 10 ms are estimated. Assuming that these time delays are distributed over the entire 20-m thick layers, velocities much slower than water velocity are implied for the anomalies. Maps of the tomographic images show the spatial location and orientation of the anomalies throughout the prospect for the upper 400 m. Each line is processed independently, and the results are corroborated to a high degree at the line intersections.

scholarly journals Using Seismic Attributes in seismotectonic research: an application to the Norcia's Mw = 6.5 earthquake (30th October 2016) in Central Italy

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maurizio Ercoli ◽  
Emanuele Forte ◽  
Massimiliano Porreca ◽  
Ramon Carbonell ◽  
Cristina Pauselli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Reflection ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Seismic Attributes ◽  
Seismic Attribute ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Epicentral Zone ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Reflection Data ◽  
Attribute Analysis

Abstract. In seismotectonic studies, seismic reflection data are a powerful tool to unravel the complex deep architecture of active faults. Such tectonic structures are usually mapped at surface through traditional geological surveying whilst seismic reflection data may help to trace their continuation from the near-surface down to hypocentral depth. In this study, we propose the application of the seismic attributes technique, commonly used in seismic reflection exploration by oil industry, to seismotectonic research for the first time. The study area is a geologically complex region of Central Italy, recently struck by a long-lasting seismic sequence including a Mw 6.5 main-shock. A seismic reflection data-set consisting of three vintage seismic profiles, currently the only available across the epicentral zone, constitutes a singular opportunity to attempt a seismic attribute analysis. This analysis resulted in peculiar seismic signatures which generally correlate with the exposed surface geologic features, and also confirming the presence of other debated structures. These results are critical, because provide information also on the relatively deep structural setting, mapping a prominent, high amplitude regional reflector that marks the top basement, interpreted as important rheological boundary. Complex patterns of high-angle discontinuities crossing the reflectors have been also identified. These dipping fabrics are interpreted as the expression of fault zones, belonging to the active normal fault systems responsible for the seismicity of the region. This work demonstrates that seismic attribute analysis, even if used on low-quality vintage 2D data, may contribute to improve the subsurface geological interpretation of areas characterized by high seismic potential.

scholarly journals Geostatistical FDEM inversion: a three-dimensional real case application

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Azevedo ◽  
João Narciso ◽  
Ellen Van De Vijver
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Physical Properties ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Real Case ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Inversion Method ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Direct Observations

&lt;p&gt;The near surface is a complex and often highly heterogeneous system as its current status results from interacting processes of both natural and anthropogenic origin. Effective sustainable management and land use planning, especially in urban environments, demands high-resolution subsurface property models enabling to capture small-scale processes of interest. The modelling methods based only on discrete direct observations from conventional invasive sampling techniques have limitations with respect to capturing the spatial variability of these systems. Near-surface geophysical surveys are emerging as powerful techniques to provide indirect measurements of subsurface properties. Their integration with direct observations has the potential for better predicting the spatial distribution of the subsurface physical properties of interest and capture the heterogeneities of the near-surface systems.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Within the most common geophysical techniques, frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) induction methods have demonstrated their potential and efficiency to characterize heterogeneous deposits due to their simultaneous sensitivity to electrical conductivity (EC) and magnetic susceptibility (MS). The inverse modelling of FDEM data based on geostatistical techniques allows to go beyond conventional analyses of FDEM data. This geostatistical FDEM inversion method uses stochastic sequential simulation and co-simulation to perturbate the model parameter space and the corresponding FDEM forward model solutions, including both the synthetic FDEM responses and their sensitivity to changes on the physical properties of interest. A stochastic optimization driven by the misfit between true and synthetic FDEM data is applied to iterative towards a final subsurface model. This method not only improve the confidence of the obtained EC and MS inverted models but also allows to quantify the uncertainty related to them. Furthermore, taking into account spatial correlations enables more accurate prediction of the spatial distribution of subsurface properties and a more realistic reconstruction of small-scale spatial variations, even when considering highly heterogeneous near surface systems. Moreover, a main advantage of this iterative geostatistical FDEM inversion method is its ability to flexibly integrate data with different resolution in the same framework.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In this work, we apply this iterative geostatistical FDEM inversion technique, which has already been successfully demonstrated for one- and two-dimensional applications, to invert a real case FDEM data set in three dimensions. The FDEM survey data set was collected on a site located near Knowlton (Dorset, UK), which is geologically characterized by Cretaceous chalk overlain by Quaternary siliciclastic sand deposits. The subsurface at the site is known to contain several archaeological features, which produces strong local in-phase anomalies in the FDEM survey data. We discuss the particular challenges involved in the three-dimensional application of the inversion method to a real case data set and compare our results against previously obtained ones for one- and two-dimensional approximations.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Time-lapse imaging using 3D ultra-high-frequency marine seismic reflection data

Geophysics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. P13-P25
Author(s):  
Michael J. Faggetter ◽  
Mark E. Vardy ◽  
Justin K. Dix ◽  
Jonathan M. Bull ◽  
Timothy J. Henstock
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Seismic Reflection ◽  
High Tide ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Ultra High Frequency ◽  
Reflection Data ◽  
Marine Seismic

Time-lapse (4D) seismic imaging is now widely used as a tool to map and interpret changes in deep reservoirs as well as investigate dynamic, shallow hydrological processes in the near surface. However, there are very few examples of time-lapse analysis using ultra-high-frequency (UHF; kHz range) marine seismic reflection data. Exacting requirements for navigation can be prohibitive for acquiring coherent, true-3D volumes. Variable environmental noise can also lead to poor amplitude repeatability and make it difficult to identify differences that are related to real physical changes. Overcoming these challenges opens up a range of potential applications for monitoring the subsurface at decimetric resolution, including geohazards, geologic structures, as well as the bed-level and subsurface response to anthropogenic activities. Navigation postprocessing was incorporated to improve the acquisition and processing workflow for the 3D Chirp subbottom profiler and provide stable, centimeter-level absolute positioning, resulting in well-matched 3D data and mitigating 4D noise for data stacked into [Formula: see text] common-midpoint bins. Within an example 4D data set acquired on the south coast of the UK, interpretable differences are recorded within a shallow gas blanket. Reflections from the top and bottom of a gas pocket are imaged at low tide, whereas at high tide only the upper reflection is imaged. This case study demonstrates the viability of time-lapse UHF 3D seismic reflection for quantitative mapping of decimeter-scale changes within the shallow marine subsurface.

A ray inversion method for refraction analysis

Geophysics ◽  
1985 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. 1701-1720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glyn M. Jones ◽  
D. B. Jovanovich
Keyword(s):  
Field Data ◽  
Opposite Sign ◽  
Synthetic Data ◽  
Head Wave ◽  
Inversion Method ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
A New Technique ◽  
Good Agreement

A new technique is presented for the inversion of head‐wave traveltimes to infer near‐surface structure. Traveltimes computed along intersecting pairs of refracted rays are used to reconstruct the shape of the first refracting horizon beneath the surface and variations in refractor velocity along this boundary. The information derived can be used as the basis for further processing, such as the calculation of near‐surface static delays. One advantage of the method is that the shape of the refractor is determined independently of the refractor velocity. With multifold coverage, rapid lateral changes in refractor geometry or velocity can be mapped. Two examples of the inversion technique are presented: one uses a synthetic data set; the other is drawn from field data shot over a deep graben filled with sediment. The results obtained using the synthetic data validate the method and support the conclusions of an error analysis, in which errors in the refractor velocity determined using receivers to the left and right of the shots are of opposite sign. The true refractor velocity therefore falls between the two sets of estimates. The refraction image obtained by inversion of the set of field data is in good agreement with a constant‐velocity reflection stack and illustrates that the ray inversion method can handle large lateral changes in refractor velocity or relief.

Shallow 3-D seismic reflection surveying: Data acquisition and preliminary processing strategies

Geophysics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1434-1450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Büker ◽  
Alan G. Green ◽  
Heinrich Horstmeyer
Keyword(s):  
Data Acquisition ◽  
Seismic Reflection ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Processing Scheme ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Glacial Sediments ◽  
Reflection Data

A comprehensive strategy of 3-D seismic reflection data acquisition and processing has been used in a study of glacial sediments deposited within a Swiss mountain valley. Seismic data generated by a downhole shotgun source were recorded with single 30-Hz geophones distributed at 3 m × 3 m intervals across a 357 m × 432 m area. For most common‐midpoint (CMP) bins, traces covering a full range of azimuths and source‐receiver distances of ∼2 to ∼125 m were recorded. A common processing scheme was applied to the entire data set and to various subsets designed to simulate data volumes collected with lower density source and receiver patterns. Comparisons of seismic sections extracted from the processed 3-D subsets demonstrated that high‐fold (>40) and densely spaced (CMP bin sizes ⩽ 3 m × 3 m) data with relatively large numbers (>6) of traces recorded at short (<20 m) source‐receiver offsets were essential for obtaining clear images of the shallowest (<100 ms) reflecting horizons. Reflections rich in frequencies >100 Hz at traveltimes of ∼20 to ∼170 ms provided a vertical resolution of 3 to 6 m over a depth range of ∼15 to ∼150 m. The shallowest prominent reflection at 20 to 35 ms (∼15 to 27 m depth) originated from the boundary between a near‐surface sequence of clays/silts and an underlying unit of heterogeneous sands/gravels.

Aquifer heterogeneity from SH‐wave seismic impedance inversion

Geophysics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 1548-1557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin D. Jarvis ◽  
Rosemary J. Knight
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Aquifer ◽  
Velocity Variation ◽  
Bayesian Inversion ◽  
Cone Penetrometer ◽  
Seismic Velocities ◽  
Sh Wave ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
The Impact

We collected SH‐wave seismic reflection data over a shallow aquifer in southwestern British Columbia to investigate the use of such data in hydrogeologic applications. We used this data set in developing a methodology that uses cone penetrometer data as an integral part of the inversion and interpretation of the seismic data. A Bayesian inversion technique converts the seismic amplitude variations to velocity variations, honoring the probabilities of the priors and adhering to a geologically reasonable sparseness criterion. Velocity measurements acquired with the cone penetrometer provide velocity profiles and vertical seismic profiling (VSP) data, all of which are valuable in properly constraining the Bayesian inversion. The differentiation of lithologies (in this data set, sand and clay) is accomplished by first using a normalization procedure to remove the impact of effective stress, which dominates the velocity variation in the upper 10 to 20 m. The final transformation of seismic velocities to void ratio for the sand‐dominated regions is made using laboratory‐derived measurements; it provides an image of the heterogeneity of the near‐surface aquifer.

Exploiting surface consistency for surface-wave characterization and mitigation — Part 2: Application to 3D data

Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. V39-V50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine E. Krohn ◽  
Partha S. Routh
Keyword(s):  
Surface Wave ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Single Mode ◽  
Complex Surface ◽  
Surface Elevation ◽  
Inversion Method ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Nonlinear Inversion ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Near Surface

We present a case history demonstrating the 3D implementation of the surface-wave impulse estimation and removal (SWIPER) method. SWIPER is a tomographic inversion method that is able to predict and remove complex surface waves, which are multimodal and heterogeneous. The inversion generates surface-consistent model parameters, which correlate with near-surface elevation. These parameters include a surface map of the propagation velocity and attenuation values for each surface-wave mode as a function of frequency. The method also determines variations in source coupling as a function of frequency, which also correlate with the near-surface elevation changes. We show that the method works equally well with a fully sampled and decimated 3D dynamite-sourced data set. We start with a linear single-mode inversion and use the results to generate the starting model for a subsequent three-mode nonlinear inversion. The resulting velocity-dispersion grid has greater lateral resolution and extends to higher frequencies than that generated by a conventional array beam forming method. The propagation and source coupling parameters can be used together to predict the surface-wave waveforms, which are then adaptively subtracted from the data on a trace-to-trace basis. We demonstrate with decimated data that low-frequency reflections can be preserved, even when the data are highly aliased and would be removed by traditional multichannel filters.

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