1887
ASEG2001 - 15th Geophysical Conference
  • ISSN: 2202-0586
  • E-ISSN:

Abstract

A three dimensional (3D) seismic refraction survey was carried out across a shear zone. The data were processed with the generalized reciprocal method (GRM) rather than with tomographic inversion because of the relatively small volume of data, the occurrence of large variations in depth to and wavespeeds within the main refractor and the presence of azimuthal anisotropy.

The results show that there is an increase in the depth of weathering and a decrease in wavespeed in the sub-weathering associated with the shear zone. Although the shear zone is generally considered to be a two dimensional (2D) feature, the significant lateral variations in both depths to and wavespeeds within the refractor in the cross-line direction indicate that it is best treated as a 3D target. These variations are not predictable on the basis of a 2D profile recorded earlier.

The in-line results show that both accurate refractor depths and wavespeeds can be computed with moderate cross-line offsets, say less than 20 m, of shot points. These results demonstrate that swath shooting with a number of parallel recording lines would be adequate for 3D surveys over targets such as highways, damsites and pipelines. Only a modest increase in shot points over the requirements for the normal 2D program would be required in the cross-line direction for measuring azimuthal anisotropy and rock fabric.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1071/ASEG2001ab104
2001-12-01
2026-01-16
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Bennett, G., 1999, 3-D seismic refraction for deep exploration targets: The Leading Edge, 18, 186-191.
  2. Deen, T. J., Gohl, K., Leslie, C., Papp, E., and Wake-Dyster, K., 2000, Seismic refraction inversion of a palaeochannel system in the Lachlan Fold Belt, Central New South Wales: Exploration Geophysics, 31, 389-393.
  3. Lanz, E., Maurer, H., and Green, A. G., 1998, Refraction tomography over a buried waste disposal site: Geophysics, 63, 1414-1433.
  4. Nestvold, E. O., 1992, 3-D seismic: is the promise fulfilled?: The Leading Edge, 11, 12-19.
  5. Palmer, D., 1980, The generalized reciprocal method of seismic refraction interpretation: Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
  6. Palmer, D., 1986, Refraction seismics - the lateral resolution of structure and seismic velocity: Geophysical Press.
  7. Palmer, D., 1991, The resolution of narrow low-velocity zones with the generalized reciprocal method: Geophysical Prospecting, 39, 1031-1060.
  8. Palmer, D., 2000, Can amplitudes resolve ambiguities in refraction inversion?: Exploration Geophysics, 31, 304-309.
  9. Sjogren, B., 1984, Shallow refraction seismics: Chapman and Hall.
  10. Zelt, C. A., and Barton, P. J., 1998, 3D seismic refraction tomography: a comparison of two methods applied to data from the Faeroe Basin: Journal of Geophyical Research, 103, 7187-7210.
  11. Zelt, C. A., 1998, Lateral velocity resolution from 3-D seismic refraction data: Geophysical Journal International, 135, 1101-1112.
/content/journals/10.1071/ASEG2001ab104
Loading
  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): fabric; GRM; refraction; three-dimensional
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error