scholarly journals Detecting clandestine tunnels by using near-surface seismic techniques

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Sloan ◽  
Shelby Peterie ◽  
Richard Miller ◽  
Julian Ivanov ◽  
J. Schwenk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Wave ◽  
Wave Diffraction ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Body Wave ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Complex Problem ◽  
Unconsolidated Sediments ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Reliable Solution

Geophysical detection of clandestine tunnels is a complex problem that has been met with limited success. Multiple methods have been applied spanning several decades, but a reliable solution has yet to be found. This report presents shallow seismic data collected at a tunnel test site representative of geologic settings found along the southwestern U.S. border. Results demonstrate the capability of using compressional wave diffraction and surface-wave backscatter techniques to detect a purpose-built subterranean tunnel. Near-surface seismic data were also collected at multiple sites in Afghanistan to detect and locate subsurface anomalies (e.g., data collected over an escape tunnel discovered in 2011 at the Sarposa Prison in Kandahar, Afghanistan, which allowed more than 480 prisoners to escape, and data from another shallow tunnel recently discovered at an undisclosed location). The final example from Afghanistan is the first time surface-based seismic methods have detected a tunnel whose presence and location were not previously known. Seismic results directly led to the discovery of the tunnel. Interpreted tunnel locations for all examples were less than 2 m of the actual location. Seismic surface wave backscatter and body-wave diffraction methods show promise for efficient data acquisition and processing for locating purposefully hidden tunnels within unconsolidated sediments.

scholarly journals Potential Use of Time-Lapse Surface Seismics for Monitoring Thawing of the Terrestrial Arctic

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1875
Author(s):  
Helene Meling Stemland ◽  
Tor Arne Johansen ◽  
Bent Ole Ruud
Keyword(s):  
Surface Wave ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Rock Physics ◽  
Wave Dispersion ◽  
Time Lapse ◽  
Unconsolidated Sediments ◽  
Frozen Ground ◽  
Surface Wave Dispersion ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Surface Temperatures

The terrestrial Arctic is warming rapidly, causing changes in the degree of freezing of the upper sediments, which the mechanical properties of unconsolidated sediments strongly depend upon. This study investigates the potential of using time-lapse surface seismics to monitor thawing of currently (partly) frozen ground utilizing synthetic and real seismic data. First, we construct a simple geological model having an initial temperature of −5 °C, and infer constant surface temperatures of −5 °C, +1 °C, +5 °C, and +10 °C for four years to this model. The geological models inferred by the various thermal regimes are converted to seismic models using rock physics modeling and subsequently seismic modeling based on wavenumber integration. Real seismic data reflecting altered surface temperatures were acquired by repeated experiments in the Norwegian Arctic during early autumn to mid-winter. Comparison of the surface wave characteristics of both synthetic and real seismic data reveals time-lapse effects that are related to thawing caused by varying surface temperatures. In particular, the surface wave dispersion is sensitive to the degree of freezing in unconsolidated sediments. This demonstrates the potential of using surface seismics for Arctic climate monitoring, but inversion of dispersion curves and knowledge of the local near-surface geology is important for such studies to be conclusive.

3D elastic full-waveform inversion of surface waves in the presence of irregular topography using an envelope-based misfit function

Geophysics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. R1-R11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitry Borisov ◽  
Ryan Modrak ◽  
Fuchun Gao ◽  
Jeroen Tromp
Keyword(s):  
Surface Wave ◽  
Objective Function ◽  
Surface Waves ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Body Wave ◽  
Waveform Inversion ◽  
Full Waveform Inversion ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Full Waveform

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) is a powerful method for estimating the earth’s material properties. We demonstrate that surface-wave-driven FWI is well-suited to recovering near-surface structures and effective at providing S-wave speed starting models for use in conventional body-wave FWI. Using a synthetic example based on the SEG Advanced Modeling phase II foothills model, we started with an envelope-based objective function to invert for shallow large-scale heterogeneities. Then we used a waveform-difference objective function to obtain a higher-resolution model. To accurately model surface waves in the presence of complex tomography, we used a spectral-element wave-propagation solver. Envelope misfit functions are found to be effective at minimizing cycle-skipping issues in surface-wave inversions, and surface waves themselves are found to be useful for constraining complex near-surface features.

Slant f-k transform of multichannel seismic surface wave data

Geophysics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. A19-A24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksander S. Serdyukov ◽  
Aleksander V. Yablokov ◽  
Anton A. Duchkov ◽  
Anton A. Azarov ◽  
Valery D. Baranov
Keyword(s):  
Surface Wave ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Velocity Estimation ◽  
Seismic Exploration ◽  
Spectral Processing ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Frequency Time Representation ◽  
Time Representation ◽  
S Transform

We have addressed the problem of estimating surface-wave phase velocities through the spectral processing of seismic data. This is the key step of the well-known near-surface seismic exploration method, called multichannel analysis of surface waves. To increase the accuracy and ensure the unambiguity of the selection of dispersion curves, we have developed a new version of the frequency-wavenumber ([Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]) transform based on the S-transform. We obtain the frequency-time representation of seismic data. We analyze the obtained S-transform frequency-time representation in a slant-stacking manner but use a spatial Fourier transform instead of amplitude stacking. Finally, we build the [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] image by analyzing the spatial spectra for different steering values of the surface-wave group velocities. The time localization of the surface-wave packet at each frequency increases the signal-to-noise ratio because of an exclusion of noise in other time steps (which does not fall in the effective width of the corresponding wavelet). The new [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] transform, i.e., the slant [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] (SFK) transform, renders a better spectral analysis than the conventional [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text] transform and yields more accurate phase-velocity estimation, which is critical for the surface-wave analysis. The advantages of the SFK transform have been confirmed by synthetic- and field-data processing.

Propagation of dispersed compressional and Rayleigh waves on the Texas coastal plain

Geophysics ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Ebeniro ◽  
Clark R. Wilson ◽  
James Dorman
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Rayleigh Waves ◽  
Poisson Ratio ◽  
Normal Modes ◽  
Compressional Wave ◽  
Unconsolidated Sediments ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Shallow Subsurface ◽  
Strong Surface ◽  
Group Velocities

During a refraction profile on the Texas coastal plain, a strong surface wave with predominant frequencies between 2 and 10 Hz and group velocities near 1.9 km/sec was observed to ranges as great as 64 km. This dispersed wave, with velocities near the compressional wave speed of near‐surface sediments, corresponds to the “leaky” compressional or PL wave. PL dispersion can be predicted from the theory of the normal modes of a layered liquid medium. Efficient propagation of the PL wave is related to the high Poisson ratio of the unconsolidated sediments in the shallow subsurface, and additional examples from the published literature show that the PL wave is commonly excited by shallow sources both on land and offshore. In addition to the PL waves, dispersed waves with group velocities between 0.3 and 0.7 km/sec were observed at ranges less than 10 km. These are identified as Rayleigh waves (LR). Smoothly varying P and S velocity structures for the upper 1 km are obtained by fitting theoretical dispersion curves to the observed PL and LR data.

Predictive removal of scattered noise

Geophysics ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. V41-V49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gérard C. Herman ◽  
Colin Perkins
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Surface Wave ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Coherent Noise ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Unique Data ◽  
Surface Wave Propagation ◽  
Petroleum Development

Land seismic data can be severely contaminated with coherent noise. We discuss a deterministic technique to predict and remove scattered coherent noise from land seismic data based on a mathematical model of near-surface wave propagation. We test the method on a unique data set recorded by Petroleum Development of Oman in the Qarn Alam area (with shots and receivers on the same grid), and we conclude that it effectively reduces scattered noise without smearing reflection energy.

scholarly journals Joint interpretation of magnetotelluric, seismic, and well-log data in Hontomín (Spain)

Solid Earth ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 943-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xènia Ogaya ◽  
Juan Alcalde ◽  
Ignacio Marzán ◽  
Juanjo Ledo ◽  
Pilar Queralt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Unconsolidated Sediments ◽  
Well Log ◽  
Storage Site ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Log Data ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Joint Interpretation

Abstract. Hontomín (N of Spain) hosts the first Spanish CO2 storage pilot plant. The subsurface characterization of the site included the acquisition of a 3-D seismic reflection and a circumscribed 3-D magnetotelluric (MT) survey. This paper addresses the combination of the seismic and MT results, together with the available well-log data, in order to achieve a better characterization of the Hontomín subsurface. We compare the structural model obtained from the interpretation of the seismic data with the geoelectrical model resulting from the MT data. The models correlate well in the surroundings of the CO2 injection area with the major structural differences observed related to the presence of faults. The combination of the two methods allowed a more detailed characterization of the faults, defining their geometry, and fluid flow characteristics, which are key for the risk assessment of the storage site. Moreover, we use the well-log data of the existing wells to derive resistivity–velocity relationships for the subsurface and compute a 3-D velocity model of the site using the 3-D resistivity model as a reference. The derived velocity model is compared to both the predicted and logged velocity in the injection and monitoring wells, for an overall assessment of the computed resistivity–velocity relationships. The major differences observed are explained by the different resolution of the compared geophysical methods. Finally, the derived velocity model for the near surface is compared with the velocity model used for the static corrections in the seismic data. The results allowed extracting information about the characteristics of the shallow unconsolidated sediments, suggesting possible clay and water content variations. The good correlation of the velocity models derived from the resistivity–velocity relationships and the well-log data demonstrate the potential of the combination of the two methods for characterizing the subsurface, in terms of its physical properties (velocity, resistivity) and structural/reservoir characteristics. This work explores the compatibility of the seismic and magnetotelluric methods across scales highlighting the importance of joint interpretation in near surface and reservoir characterization.

Near-surface scattering effects observed with a high-frequency phased array at Pinyon Flats, California

1998 ◽  
Vol 88 (6) ◽  
pp. 1548-1560
Author(s):  
Frank L. Vernon ◽  
Gary L. Pavlis ◽  
Tom J. Owens ◽  
Dan E. McNamara ◽  
Paul N. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Surface Wave ◽  
Wave Field ◽  
Particle Motion ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Body Wave ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Wave Guide ◽  
Surface Scattering ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Frequency Wave

Abstract Analysis of data collected by a high-frequency array experiment conducted at Pinyon Flat in southern California provides strong evidence that the high-frequency wave field from local earthquakes at this hard-rock site are strongly distorted by near-surface scattering. The seismic array we deployed consisted of 60, 2-Hz natural frequency, three-component sensors deployed in a three-dimensional array. Two of the sensors were located in boreholes at 150 and 275 m depth. The other 58 sensors were deployed in an areal array above these boreholes. Thirty-six of these were deployed in a 6-by-6 element grid array with a nominal spacing of 7 m centered over the borehole sensors. The remaining 22 seismometers were laid out in two 11-element linear arrays radiating outward from the grid. Coherence calculations reveal a rapid loss of coherence at frequencies over 15 Hz at all but the shortest length scales of this array. Three-dimensional visualization techniques were used to closely examine the spatial stability of particle motions of P and S waves. This reveals systematic variations of particle motion across the array in which the particle motion tracks tilt drastically away from the backazimuth expected for an isotropic medium. These variations, however, are frequency dependent. Below around 8 Hz, the particle motions become virtually identical for all stations. At progressively higher frequencies, the wave-field particle motion becomes increasingly chaotic. Frequency-wave-number analysis of these data provide quantitative measures of the same phenomena. We find that direct wave f-k spectra are bathed in a background of signal-generated noise that varies from 10 to 30 dB down from the direct arrival signal. This signal-generated noise appears to be nearly white in wavenumber indicating the wavelength of this “noise” on the scale of tens of meters and less. Refraction measurements we made on two lines crisscrossing the array reveal that the weathered layer velocities are highly variable and define a very strong wave guide. Measured surface P-wave velocities varied from 400 to 1300 m/sec, and velocities at depth of approximately 15 m varied from 1600 to 2700 m/sec. Previous measurements in the boreholes showed that the intact granite below about 65 m depth has a velocity of approximately 5400 m/sec. These results demonstrate the extreme velocity contrast and degree of velocity heterogeneity of the near surface at this site. We conclude that all the observations we made can be explained by strong scattering of incident body-wave signals into a complex mishmash of body-wave and surface-wave modes in this heterogeneous near-surface wave guide.

A method for relocating seismic events using surface waves

1973 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1305-1313
Author(s):  
S. T. Crough ◽  
R. Van der Voo
Keyword(s):  
Surface Wave ◽  
Surface Waves ◽  
Group Velocity ◽  
Group Velocity Dispersion ◽  
Body Wave ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Seismic Events ◽  
Computer Technique ◽  
Nuclear Explosions ◽  
Reference Event

abstract Seismic events can be relocated relative to a reference event by using the group-velocity dispersion curves of surface waves. Since group velocity is a function of the travel path, surface waves from two events in the same locale should show identical group velocities when viewed at any one seismograph station. A computer technique has been developed for comparing the group-velocity curves of any event with the curves of a reference event and for determining the relocation which causes the curves to best coincide. The method is evaluated by relocating eight intermediate-size nuclear explosions of the Nevada Test Site series. With precise curve fitting, the surface-wave locations are slightly more accurate in southern Nevada than the standard body-wave determinations. The surface-wave origin times are considerably more accurate. In areas of sparse station coverage or of many small earthquakes, the surface-wave method can be expected to improve seismic locations significantly.

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