scholarly journals Laterally constrained inversion of ground roll from seismic reflection records

Geophysics ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. G35-G45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Valentina Socco ◽  
Daniele Boiero ◽  
Sebastiano Foti ◽  
Roger Wisén

Seismic reflection data contain surface waves that can be processed and interpreted to supply shear-wave velocity models along seismic reflection lines. The coverage of seismic reflection data allows the use of automated multifold processing to extract high-quality dispersion curves and experimental uncertainties in a moving spatial window. The dispersion curves are then inverted using a deterministic, laterally constrained inversion to obtain a pseudo-2D model of the shear-wave velocity. A Monte Carlo global search inversion algorithm optimizes the parameterization. When the strategy is used with synthetic and field data, consistent final models with smooth lateral variations are successfully retrieved. This method constitutes an improvement over the individual inversion of single dispersion curves.

2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Corchete

<p>The elastic structure beneath Greenland is shown by means of S-velocity maps for depths ranging from zero to 350 km, determined by the regionalization and inversion of Rayleigh-wave dispersion. The traces of 50 earthquakes, occurring from 1990 to 2011, have been used to obtain Rayleigh-wave dispersion data. These earthquakes were registered by 21 seismic station located in Greenland and the surrounding area. The dispersion curves were obtained for periods between 5 and 200 s, by digital filtering with a combination of MFT (Multiple Filter Technique) and TVF (Time Variable Filtering). Later, all seismic events (and some stations) were grouped to obtain a dispersion curve for each source-station path. These dispersion curves were regionalized and inverted according to the generalized inversion theory, to obtain shear-wave velocity models for a rectangular grid of 16x20 points. The shear-velocity structure obtained through this procedure is shown in the S-velocity maps plotted for several depths. These results agree well with the geology and other geophysical results previously obtained. The obtained S-velocity models suggest the existence of lateral and vertical heterogeneity. The zones with consolidated and old structures present greater S-velocity values than the other zones, although this difference can be very little or negligible in some case. Nevertheless, in the depth range of 15 to 45 km, the different Moho depths present in the study area generate the principal variation of S-velocity. A similar behaviour is found for the depth range from 80 to 230 km, in which the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) generates the principal variations of S-velocity. Finally, the new and interesting feature obtained in this study: the definition of the base of the asthenosphere (for the whole study area and for depths ranging from 130 to 280 km, respectively) should be highlighted.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Estructura de velocidad de cizalla de Groenlandia obtenida de análisis de onda Rayleigh</strong></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong>Resumen</strong></p><p>La estructura elástica bajo Groenlandia es mostrada por medio de mapas de velocidad de onda para profundidades variando desde cero a 350 km, determinada por la regionalización e inversión de la dispersión de onda Rayleigh. Las trazas de 50 terremotos, ocurridos desde 1990 hasta 2011, han sido usados para obtener datos de dispersión de onda Rayleigh. Estos terremotos fueron registrados por 21 estaciones sísmicas localizadas en Groenlandia y el área circundante. Las curvas de dispersión fueron obtenidas para periodos entre 5 y 200 s, por filtrado digital con una combinación de MFT (Técnica de Filtrado Múltiple) y TVF (Filtrado en Tiempo Variable). Después, todos los eventos sísmicos (y algunas estaciones) fueron agrupados para obtener una curva de dispersión para cada trayecto fuente-estación. Estas curvas de dispersión fueron regionalizadas e invertidas de acuerdo con la teoría de la inversión generalizada, para obtener modelos de velocidad de cizalla para una rejilla rectangular de 16x20 puntos. La estructura de velocidad de cizalla obtenida a través de este procedimiento es mostrada in los mapas de velocidad de onda S representados para varias profundidades. Estos resultados muestran buen acuerdo con la geología y con otros resultados geofísicos obtenidos previamente. Los modelos de velocidad de onda S obtenidos sugieren la existencia de heterogeneidad lateral y vertical. Las zonas con estructuras antiguas y consolidadas presentan mayores valores de velocidad de onda S que las otras zonas, aunque esta diferencia puede ser muy pequeña o despreciable en algún caso. No obstante, en el rango de profundidad de 15 a 45 km, las diferentes profundidades del Moho presentes en el área de estudio generan la principal variación de velocidad de onda S. Un comportamiento similar es encontrado para el rango de profundidad desde 80 a 230 km, en el cual la frontera litosfera-astenosfera (LAB) genera las principales variaciones de velocidad de onda S. Finalmente, debería ser destacada la nueva e interesante característica obtenida en este estudio: la definición de la base de la astenosfera (para el área de estudio completa y para profundidades variando desde 130 a 280 km, respectivamente).</p>


2013 ◽  
Vol 300-301 ◽  
pp. 955-958
Author(s):  
Pei Hsun Tsai ◽  
Chih Chun Lou

In the paper the shear wave velocity profile is studied using the MASW test. The experimental dispersion curves were obtained from the signal process proposed by Ryden. Theoretical dispersion curve can be constructed by thin layer stiffness matrix method. A real-parameter genetic algorithm is required to minimize the error between the theoretical and experimental dispersion curves. To reduce the error of experimental and theoretical dispersion curve using real-parameter genetic algorithm is feasible. The results show that the soil layers of the study area can be modeled as a sandy fill overlaid on an underlying half space. Test results also show that the asymptotes at high frequencies of the fundamental mode approach the phase velocities for the fill of 190 m/s. The depths of weathered bedrock estimating from dispersion curves match well with that of borehole data.


Geophysics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao‐Gui Miao ◽  
Wooil M. Moon ◽  
B. Milkereit

A multioffset, three‐component vertical seismic profiling (VSP) experiment was carried out in the Sudbury Basin, Ontario, as a part of the LITHOPROBE Sudbury Transect. The main objectives were determination of the shallow velocity structure in the middle of the Sudbury Basin, development of an effective VSP data processing flow, correlation of the VSP survey results with the surface seismic reflection data, and demonstration of the usefulness of the VSP method in a crystalline rock environment. The VSP data processing steps included rotation of the horizontal component data, traveltime inversion for velocity analysis, Radon transform for wavefield separation, and preliminary analysis of shear‐wave data. After wavefield separation, the flattened upgoing wavefields for both P‐waves and S‐waves display consistent reflection events from three depth levels. The VSP-CDP transformed section and corridor stacked section correlate well with the high‐resolution surface reflection data. In addition to obtaining realistic velocity models for both P‐ and S‐waves through least‐square inversion and synthetic seismic modeling for the Chelmsford area, the VSP experiment provided an independent estimation for the reflector dip using three component hodogram analysis, which indicates that the dip of the contact between the Chelmsford and Onwatin formations, at an approximate depth of 380 m in the Chelmsford borehole, is approximately 10.5° southeast. This study demonstrates that multioffset, three‐component VSP experiments can provide important constraints and auxiliary information for shallow crustal seismic studies in crystalline terrain. Thus, the VSP technique bridges the gap between the surface seismic‐reflection technique and well‐log surveys.


Geophysics ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. R31-R41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Zunino ◽  
Klaus Mosegaard ◽  
Katrine Lange ◽  
Yulia Melnikova ◽  
Thomas Mejer Hansen

Determination of a petroleum reservoir structure and rock bulk properties relies extensively on inference from reflection seismology. However, classic deterministic methods to invert seismic data for reservoir properties suffer from some limitations, among which are the difficulty of handling complex, possibly nonlinear forward models, and the lack of robust uncertainty estimations. To overcome these limitations, we studied a methodology to invert seismic reflection data in the framework of the probabilistic approach to inverse problems, using a Markov chain Monte Carlo (McMC) algorithm with the goal to directly infer the rock facies and porosity of a target reservoir zone. We thus combined a rock-physics model with seismic data in a single inversion algorithm. For large data sets, the McMC method may become computationally impractical, so we relied on multiple-point-based a priori information to quantify geologically plausible models. We tested this methodology on a synthetic reservoir model. The solution of the inverse problem was then represented by a collection of facies and porosity reservoir models, which were samples of the posterior distribution. The final product included probability maps of the reservoir properties in obtained by performing statistical analysis on the collection of solutions.


Geophysics ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 440-459 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranajit Ghose ◽  
Jeroen Goudswaard

A cone penetration test (CPT) is the most common geotechnical testing method used to estimate in situ the strength properties of soil. Although CPT provides valuable information, this information is restricted to the location of the measurement. We propose a new concept to integrate shallow S‐wave reflection seismic data with CPT data in order to obtain laterally continuous subsoil information. In this vein, a valid quantitative means to relate seismic reflections to CPT data is a primary requirement. The approach proposed here is based on the characterization of the scaling behavior of the local fine‐scale S‐wave velocity information extracted from the seismic reflection data and the same behavior of the CPT cone resistance. The local velocity contrast information is extracted by linearized Zoeppritz inversion of the amplitude‐preserved prestack reflection data. We have formulated a multiscale analysis approach employing the continuous wavelet transform in order to quantitatively characterize the nature of change at an interface of the local S‐wave velocity contrast and the CPT cone resistance and to illuminate any relation between these two. The multiscale analysis estimates the singularity parameter α, which indicates the nature of the interfacial change. The application of our method to the field data has uncovered a striking relation between the nature of variation of the local S‐wave velocity contrast and that of CPT cone resistance; otherwise, such a relation was not visible. Detailed analyses of two extensive field datasets have shown that the lateral fine‐scale variation of soil strength, as seen by CPT cone resistance, has a close resemblance with the variation of the local S‐wave velocity function as seen by angle‐dependent reflection measurements. This leads to a unique possibility to integrate two very different in‐situ measurements—reflection seismic and CPT—providing laterally continuous detailed information of the soil layer boundaries.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (12) ◽  
pp. 2937
Author(s):  
Amin Ghanbari ◽  
Younes Daghigh ◽  
Forough Hassanvand

The average shear wave velocity of the uppermost 30 m of earth (Vs30) is widely used in seismic geotechnical engineering and soil-structure interaction studies. In this regard, any given subsurface profile is assigned to a specific site class according to its average shear wave velocity. However, in a real-world scenario, entirely different velocity models could be considered in the same class type due to their identical average velocities. The objective of the present study is to underline some of the risks associated with solely using Vs30 as a classification tool. To do so, three imaginary soil profiles that are quite different in nature, but all with the same average Vs were considered and were subjected to the same earthquake excitation. Seismic records acquired at the ground surface demonstrated that the three sites have different ground motion amplifications. Then, the different ground responses were used to excite a five-story structure. Results confirmed that even sites from the same class can indeed exhibit different responses under identical seismic excitations. Our results demonstrated that caution should be practiced when large-contrast velocity models are involved as such profiles are prone to pronounced ground motion amplification. This study, which serves as link between soil dynamics and structural dynamics, warns practitioners about the risks associated with oversimplifying the subsurface profile. Such oversimplifications can potentially undermine the safety of existing or future structures.


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