scholarly journals Influence of ice crystal anisotropy on seismic velocity analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 55 (67) ◽  
pp. 97-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Diez ◽  
Olaf Eisen ◽  
Ilka Weikusat ◽  
Jan Eichler ◽  
Coen Hofstede ◽  
...  

AbstractIn 2010 a reflection seismic survey was carried out on the Alpine glacier Colle Gnifetti. The processed and depth-converted data could be compared to a nearby ice core, drilled almost to the bed. Comparisons showed that the depth of the P-wave bed reflection was too shallow, while the depth of the SH-wave bed reflection fitted the ice-core length well. We are now able to explain the major part of these differences using the existing crystal orientations of the ice at Colle Gnifetti. We calculate anisotropic velocities for P- and SH-waves that are usually picked for stacking and compare them with zero-offset velocities needed for the depth conversion. Here we take the firn pack at Colle Gnifetti into account for P- and S-wave analysis. To incorporate the S-wave analysis we first derive a new equation for the relationship between density and S-wave velocity from diving waves. We show that anisotropic fabrics observed at Colle Gnifetti introduce a difference of only 1% between stacking and depth-conversion velocities for the SH-wave, but 7% for the P-wave. We suggest that this difference in stacking and depth-conversion velocity for the P-wave can be used to derive information about the existing anisotropy by combining our seismic data with, for example, radar data.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Britta Wawerzinek ◽  
Hermann Buness ◽  
Hartwig von Hartmann ◽  
David C. Tanner

AbstractThere are many successful geothermal projects that exploit the Upper Jurassic aquifer at 2–3 km depth in the German Molasse Basin. However, up to now, only P-wave seismic exploration has been carried out. In an experiment in the Greater Munich area, we recorded S-waves that were generated by the conventional P-wave seismic survey, using 3C receivers. From this, we built a 3D volume of P- to S-converted (PS) waves using the asymptotic conversion point approach. By combining the P-volume and the resulting PS-seismic volume, we were able to derive the spatial distribution of the vp/vs ratio of both the Molasse overburden and the Upper Jurassic reservoir. We found that the vp/vs ratios for the Molasse units range from 2.0 to 2.3 with a median of 2.15, which is much higher than previously assumed. This raises the depth of hypocenters of induced earthquakes in surrounding geothermal wells. The vp/vs ratios found in the Upper Jurassic vary laterally between 1.5 and 2.2. Since no boreholes are available for verification, we test our results against an independently derived facies classification of the conventional 3D seismic volume and found it correlates well. Furthermore, we see that low vp/vs ratios correlate with high vp and vs velocities. We interpret the latter as dolomitized rocks, which are connected with enhanced permeability in the reservoir. We conclude that 3C registration of conventional P-wave surveys is worthwhile.


1988 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 198 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Anandakrishnan

Detailed seismic short-refraction profiling was conducted on Ice Stream Β (UpB) during the 1983–84 austral summer. A new high-resolution data logger, developed at the University of Wisconsin, recorded both compressional- and shear-wave arrivals. We report here on P-wave and S-wave profiles recorded along a line parallel to the axis of the ice stream. Source-receiver separations up to 720 m yielded seismic velocity-depth curves to below the firn-ice transition zone (slightly greater than 30 m at UpB). For the compressional-wave profile, geophones were separated by 2.5 m, which yielded a velocity-depth curve with a granularity of ∼1 m. The corresponding density-depth curve agrees well with direct density measurements obtained from a core extracted nearby (Alley and Bentley 1988, this volume). Discontinuities in the velocity gradient do not appear at the “critical densities” as they did at Byrd Station, Antarctica, and elsewhere (Kohnen and Bentley 1973 , Robertson and Bentley 1975). Two shear-wave profiles were recorded, both with geophone spacings of 5 m, one with longitudinal polarization (SV) and the other with transverse polarization (SH). There is a marked difference in velocity between the SH and SV waves, particularly in the shallow firn. We suggest that a strong vertical shape-and-bonding fabric in the shallow firn, as observed in cores collected at UpB, would account for this disparity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 221 (3) ◽  
pp. 1765-1776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia Wei ◽  
Li-Yun Fu ◽  
Zhi-Wei Wang ◽  
Jing Ba ◽  
José M Carcione

SUMMARY The Lord–Shulman thermoelasticity theory combined with Biot equations of poroelasticity, describes wave dissipation due to fluid and heat flow. This theory avoids an unphysical behaviour of the thermoelastic waves present in the classical theory based on a parabolic heat equation, that is infinite velocity. A plane-wave analysis predicts four propagation modes: the classical P and S waves and two slow waves, namely, the Biot and thermal modes. We obtain the frequency-domain Green's function in homogeneous media as the displacements-temperature solution of the thermo-poroelasticity equations. The numerical examples validate the presence of the wave modes predicted by the plane-wave analysis. The S wave is not affected by heat diffusion, whereas the P wave shows an anelastic behaviour, and the slow modes present a diffusive behaviour depending on the viscosity, frequency and thermoelasticity properties. In heterogeneous media, the P wave undergoes mesoscopic attenuation through energy conversion to the slow modes. The Green's function is useful to study the physics in thermoelastic media and test numerical algorithms.


Solid Earth ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Burschil ◽  
T. Beilecke ◽  
C. M. Krawczyk

Abstract. High-resolution reflection seismic methods are an established non-destructive tool for engineering tasks. In the near surface, shear-wave reflection seismic measurements usually offer a higher spatial resolution in the same effective signal frequency spectrum than P-wave data, but data quality varies more strongly. To discuss the causes of these differences, we investigated a P-wave and a SH-wave seismic reflection profile measured at the same location on the island of Föhr, Germany and applied seismic reflection processing to the field data as well as finite-difference modelling of the seismic wave field. The simulations calculated were adapted to the acquisition field geometry, comprising 2 m receiver distance (1 m for SH wave) and 4 m shot distance along the 1.5 km long P-wave and 800 m long SH-wave profiles. A Ricker wavelet and the use of absorbing frames were first-order model parameters. The petrophysical parameters to populate the structural models down to 400 m depth were taken from borehole data, VSP (vertical seismic profile) measurements and cross-plot relations. The simulation of the P-wave wave-field was based on interpretation of the P-wave depth section that included a priori information from boreholes and airborne electromagnetics. Velocities for 14 layers in the model were derived from the analysis of five nearby VSPs (vP =1600–2300 m s-1). Synthetic shot data were compared with the field data and seismic sections were created. Major features like direct wave and reflections are imaged. We reproduce the mayor reflectors in the depth section of the field data, e.g. a prominent till layer and several deep reflectors. The SH-wave model was adapted accordingly but only led to minor correlation with the field data and produced a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Therefore, we suggest to consider for future simulations additional features like intrinsic damping, thin layering, or a near-surface weathering layer. These may lead to a better understanding of key parameters determining the data quality of near-surface shear-wave seismic measurements.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caglar Ozer ◽  
Mehmet Ozyazicioglu

Erzurum and its surroundings are one of the seismically active and hydrothermal areas in the Eastern part of Turkey. This study is the first approach to characterize the crust by seismic features by using the local earthquake tomography method. The earthquake source location and the three dimensional seismic velocity structures are solved simultaneously by an iterative tomographic algorithm, LOTOS-12. Data from a combined permanent network comprising comprises of 59 seismometers which was installed by Ataturk University-Earthquake Research Center and Earthquake Department of the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority  to monitor the seismic activity in the Eastern Anatolia, In this paper, three-dimensional Vp and Vp/Vs characteristics of Erzurum geothermal area were investigated down to 30 km by using 1685 well-located earthquakes with 29.894 arrival times, consisting of 17.298 P- wave and 12.596 S- wave arrivals. We develop new high-resolution depth-cross sections through Erzurum and its surroundings to provide the subsurface geological structure of seismogenic layers and geothermal areas. We applied various size horizontal and vertical checkerboard resolution tests to determine the quality of our inversion process. The basin models are traceable down to 3 km depth, in terms of P-wave velocity models. The higher P-wave velocity areas in surface layers are related to the metamorphic and magmatic compact materials. We report that the low Vp and high Vp/Vs values are observed in Yedisu, Kaynarpinar, Askale, Cimenozu, Kaplica, Ovacik, Yigitler, E part of Icmeler, Koprukoy, Uzunahmet, Budakli, Soylemez, Koprukoy, Gunduzu, Karayazi, Icmesu, E part of Horasan and Kaynak regions indicated geothermal reservoir.


Geophysics ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1371-1384 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Hunter ◽  
S. E. Pullan ◽  
R. A. Burns ◽  
R. L. Good ◽  
J. B. Harris ◽  
...  

Downhole seismic velocity logging techniques have been developed and applied in support of high‐resolution reflection seismic surveys. For shallow high‐resolution reflection surveying within unconsolidated overburden, velocity‐depth control can sometimes be difficult to achieve; as well, unambiguous correlation of reflections with overburden stratigraphy is often problematic. Data obtained from downhole seismic logging can provide accurate velocity‐depth functions and directly correlate seismic reflections to depth. The methodologies described in this paper are designed for slimhole applications in plastic‐cased boreholes (minimum ID of 50 mm) and with source and detector arrays that yield similar frequency ranges and vertical depth resolutions as the surface reflection surveys. Compressional- (P-) wave logging uses a multichannel hydrophone array with 0.5-m detector spacings in a fluid‐filled borehole and a high‐frequency, in‐hole shotgun source at the surface. Overlapping array positions downhole results in redundant first‐arrival data (picked using interactive computer techniques), which can be processed to provide accurate interval velocities. The data also can be displayed as a record suite, showing reflections and directly correlating reflection events with depths. Example applications include identification of gas zones, lithological boundaries within unconsolidated sediments, and the overburden‐bedrock interface. Shear- (S-) wave logging uses a slimhole, well‐locked, three‐component (3-C) geophone pod and a horizontally polarized, hammer‐and‐loaded‐plate source at ground surface. The pod is moved in successive 0.5- or 1-m intervals downhole with no redundancy of overlapping data as in the P-wave method. First‐arrival data can be obtained by picking the crossover onset of polarized energy or by closely examining particle‐motion plots using all three components of motion. In unconsolidated sediments, shear‐wave velocity contrasts can be associated with changes in material density or dynamic shear modulus, which in turn can be related to consolidation. Example applications include identification of a lithological boundary for earthquake hazard applications and mapping massive ice within permafrost materials.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. T183-T190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael V. De Angelo ◽  
Bob A. Hardage

We acquired 3D multicomponent data in Andrews County, Midland Basin, West Texas with a seismic survey. We extracted direct-SV modes generated by a vertical-force source (an array of three inline vertical vibrators) from the vertical component of multicomponent geophones. This seismic mode, SV-P, was created by reprocessing legacy 2D/3D P-wave seismic data to create converted-wave data and consequently forgoing the need for a multicomponent seismic acquisition program to obtain important S-wave information from the subsurface. We have compared P-P, P-SV, and SV-P traveltime and amplitude characteristics to determine which seismic mode provided better characterization of the targeted reservoirs and reduced exploration risk.


1958 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-219
Author(s):  
Wm. Mansfield Adams

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to determine from the seismograms of a tectonic earthquake the line of the motion which generated the observed S waves (tectonically, the A axis). By noting certain geometrical relationships between the faulting motion and the emitted S waves, it is possible to derive a method which determines the line of the generating motion from observations of the generated S waves. The results of the application of the proposed method of S wave analysis should, theoretically, make it possible to determine which of the two solutions given by the P wave method of analyzing the tectonic mechanism of earthquakes is the correct solution. The proposed procedure is applied to data collected from the original seismograms of four earthquakes as recorded at seismic observatories throughout the world. There is such poor agreement between the S wave results and the previous P wave solutions that it is necessary to conclude that one or more of the following is true: either the mechanism assumed is not the type actually occurring; the phase identified as the S wave does not correspond to the first P wave motion; the P wave method is incorrect or inadequate; or the S wave method is incorrect or inadequate. To select among the various possibilities necessitates a discussion of the relative merits, defects, and potentialities of the two methods.


2013 ◽  
Vol 54 (64) ◽  
pp. 201-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anja Diez ◽  
Olaf Eisen ◽  
Coen Hofstede ◽  
Pascal Bohleber ◽  
Ulrich Polom

Abstract Two seismic surveys were carried out on the high-altitude glacier saddle, Colle Gnifetti, Monte Rosa, Italy/Switzerland. Explosive and vibroseismic sources were tested to explore the best way to generate seismic waves to deduce shallow and intermediate properties (<100 m) of firn and ice. The explosive source (SISSY) excites strong surface and diving waves, degrading data quality for processing; no englacial reflections besides the noisy bed reflector are visible. However, the strong diving waves are analyzed to derive the density distribution of the firn pack, yielding results similar to a nearby ice core. The vibrator source (ElViS), used in both P- and SH-wave modes, produces detectable laterally coherent reflections within the firn and ice column. We compare these with ice-core and radar data. The SH-wave data are particularly useful in providing detailed, high-resolution information on firn and ice stratigraphy. Our analyses demonstrate the potential of seismic methods to determine physical properties of firn and ice, particularly density and potentially also crystal-orientation fabric.


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