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- Volume 39, Issue 8, 1991
Geophysical Prospecting - Volume 39, Issue 8, 1991
Volume 39, Issue 8, 1991
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THE INSENSITIVITY OF REFLECTED SH WAVES TO ANISOTROPY IN AN UNDERLYING LAYERED MEDIUM1
Authors MICHAEL SCHOENBERG and JESSE COSTAAbstractPropagation in the plane of mirror symmetry of a monoclinic medium, with displacement normal to the plane, is the most general circumstance in anisotropic media for which pure shear‐wave propagation can occur at all angles. Because the pure shear mode is uncoupled from the other two modes, its slowness surface in the plane is an ellipse. When the mirror symmetry plane is vertical the pure shear waves in this plane are SH waves and the elliptical SH sheet of the slowness surface is, in general, tilted with respect to the vertical axis. Consider a half‐space of such a monoclinic medium, called medium M, overlain by a half‐space of isotropic medium I with plane SH waves incident on medium M propagating in the vertical symmetry plane of M. Contrary to the appearance of a lack of symmetry about the vertical axis due to the tilt of the SH‐wave slowness ellipse, the reflection and transmission coefficients are symmetrical functions of the angle of incidence, and further, there exists an isotropic medium E with uniquely determined density and shear speed which gives exactly the same reflection and transmission coefficients underlying medium J as does monoclinic medium M. This means that the underlying monoclinic medium M can be replaced by isotropic medium E without changing the reflection and transmission coefficients for all values of the angle of incidence. Thus no set of SH seismic experiments performed in the isotropic medium in the symmetry plane of the underlying half‐space can reveal anything about the monoclinic anisotropy of that underlying half‐space. Moreover, even when the underlying monoclinic half‐space is stratified, there exists a stratified isotropic half‐space that gives the identical reflection coefficient as the stratified monoclinic half‐space for all angles of incidence and all frequencies.
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SOME REMARKS ON NOISE STABILITY IN DYNAMIC INVERSION OF REFLECTION SEISMIC DATA1
By H. G. MEYERAbstractThe dynamic inversion of reflection seismic data is investigated with reference to the influence of noise on pseudo‐impedance logs. Model traces are calculated with 0, 5, 15 and 50% noise, respectively. In solving the inversion problem, the algorithm of Marquardt and Levenberg is used in connection with singular value decomposition (SVD). The results are within a 1% error range so that there was no visible change in the logs. Further signal analysis show that there is no dependence on the phase content of the wavelet used if all other parameters of the model are known.
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MULTICOMPONENT COMMON‐RECEIVER GATHER MIGRATION OF SINGLE‐LEVEL WALK‐AWAY SEISMIC PROFILES1
Authors G. M. JACKSON, I. M. MASON and DELMAN LEEAbstractSeismic data are usually separated into P‐waves and S‐waves before being put through a scalar (acoustic) migration. The relationship between polarization and moveout is exploited to design filters that extract the desired wavetype. While these filters can always be applied to shot records, they can only be applied to a triaxial common‐receiver gather in special cases since the moveout of scattered energy on the receiver gather relates to path differences between the surface shots and the scatterer while the polarization is determined by the path from scatterer to downhole geophone. Without the ability to separate wavefields before migration, a ‘vector scalar’ or an elastic migration becomes a necessity.
Here the propagation of the elastic wavefield for a given mode (e.g. P‐S) is approximated by two scalar (acoustic) propagation steps in a ‘vector scalar’ migration. ‘Vector’ in that multicomponent data is migrated and 'scalar’ in that each propagation step is based on a scalar wave equation for the appropriate mode. It is assumed that interaction between the wavefields occurs only once in the far‐field of both the source and receiver. Extraction of the P, SV and SH wavefields can be achieved within the depth migration (if one assumes isotropy in the neighbourhood of the downhole receiver) by a projection onto the polarization for the desired mode. Since the polarization of scattered energy is only a function of scatterer position and receiver position (and not source position), the projection may be taken outside the migration integral in the special case of the depth migration of a common‐receiver gather. The extraction of the desired mode is then performed for each depth migration bin after the separate scalar migration of each receiver gather component.
This multicomponent migration of triaxial receiver gathers is conveniently implemented with a hybrid split‐step Fourier‐excitation‐time imaging condition depth migration. The raytracing to get the excitation‐time imaging condition also provides the expected polarization for the post‐migration projection. The same downward extrapolated wavefield can be used for both the P‐P and P‐S migrations, providing a flexible and efficient route to the migration of multicomponent data.
The technique is illustrated on a synthetic example and a single‐level Walk‐away Seismic Profile (WSP) from the southern North Sea. The field data produced images showing a P‐P reflector below the geophone and localized P‐P and P‐S scatterers at the level of the geo‐phone. These scatterers, which lie outside the zone of specular illumination, are interpreted as faults in the base Zechstein/top Rotliegendes interface.
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THE RESOLUTION OF NARROW LOW‐VELOCITY ZONES WITH THE GENERALIZED RECIPROCAL METHOD1
More LessAbstractThe depth to the surface of a refractor and the seismic velocity within the refractor are very often intimately related. In the shallow environment, increased thicknesses of weathering occur in areas of jointing, shearing or lithological variations, and these zones of deeper weathering can have lower subweathering refractor velocities. This association is important in geotechnical investigations and in the measurement of weathering thicknesses and sub‐weathering velocities for statics corrections for reflection seismic surveys.
Algorithms, which employ forward and reverse traveltime data and which explicitly accommodate the offset distance through the process known as refraction migration, are necessary if detailed structure on a refractor and rapid lateral variations of the seismic velocity within it are to be resolved. These requirements are satisfied with wavefront construction techniques, Hales’ method and the generalized reciprocal method (GRM).
However, these methods employ refraction migration in fundamentally different manners. Most methods compute an offset distance with an often imprecise knowledge of the seismic velocities of the overlying layers. In contrast, the GRM uses a range of offset distances from less than to greater than the optimum value, with the optimum value being selected with a minimum‐variance criterion.
The approach of the GRM is essential where there are undetected layers and where there are rapid variations in the depth to a refractor and the seismic velocity within it. In the latter situations the offset distance necessary to define the seismic velocities can differ considerably from the value required to define depths.
The efficacy of the GRM in resolving structure and seismic velocity is demonstrated with three model studies and two field examples.
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APPLICATION OF THE MULTIFREQUENCY HORIZONTAL‐LOOP EM METHOD IN OVERBURDEN INVESTIGATIONS1
More LessAbstractIn recent years, geophysical methods (shallow seismic, electromagnetic, resistivity, ground penetrating radar) have been increasingly applied to overburden investigations. Their effectiveness has been found to depend significantly on local geological conditions. Compared with advanced seismic techniques, EM methods are faster and hence more cost‐effective, but they have not been considered sufficiently accurate.
Analysis is carried out of data obtained with the multifrequency horizontal‐loop method (HLEM) in northeastern Ontario, where the overburden consists of Quaternary glacial and glaciolacustrine sediments. Surveying along 1‐6 km long profiles permitted recognition of bedrock inhomogeneities and selection of sites suitable for HLEM data interpretation using the layered model. Phasor diagrams and computer inversion based on the ridge regression technique were used to interpret HLEM soundings obtained at eight frequencies. Interpreted layer resistivities and thicknesses were correlated with the results of Rotasonic drilling at 70 sites. Relatively accurate estimates of overburden thickness (within 10%) could be obtained in about 80% of the cases. Nine examples of HLEM soundings are given and discussed: three each of one‐, two‐ and three‐layer situations. An appropriate interpretation model cannot be selected simply by minimizing the rms error or by analysing the parameter resolution matrix. Frequently, the most effective way of evaluating a solution is to consider whether resistivity values determined by inversion fit any of the ranges determined by statistical analyses of sediment resistivities. A previously published study of electrical properties of Quaternary sediments indicated that resistivities of clay, till and sand are stable within a fairly large area, such as the one under investigation. While the application of HLEM methods to mapping of Quaternary sediments can be considered a success, interpretation of EM data in regions covered by glacial sediments is more difficult than in weathered terrains, where near‐surface layering is more predictable. The problem of equivalence causes non‐uniqueness in interpretation. Thickness equivalence, which results in poor resistivity estimates, was found to affect areas convered by sand and till. Conductance equivalence caused poor resolution of thickness and resistivity for thin clay layers (less than 10 m).
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VLF RESISTIVITY MAPPING AND VERTICALIZATION OF THE ELECTRIC FIELD1
Authors ALAIN TABBAGH, YVES BENDERITTER, PIERRE ANDRIEUX, JEAN PAUL DECRIAUD and ROGER GUERINAbstractFor over 20 years, powerful VLF transmitters have been used as electromagnetic sources for subsurface investigations in mining exploration. Measurements initially concerned the vertical component of the magnetic field or the inclination of the field and were later extended to measurement of the horizontal electric field in the direction of the transmitter, to determine the resistivity of the terrain. Measurement of the electric field is usually performed with electric lines, grounded or not, with lengths of at least 5 m.
This paper presents the concept of a VLF resistivity meter with a very short electric sensor (1 m) and the results obtained with it. This technique improves the measurement of the electric field, which is in principle a point value. It also permits a higher spatial sampling rate and, by closely linking the electric sensor with the magnetic sensor on a lightweight mount, makes it possible for the instrument to be used by a single operator.
In addition, transformation of the electric field data, analogous to reduction to the pole in magnetism, is proposed to correct the horizontal deformation of the anomalies created by polarization of the primary field. Comparison with direct current electrical measurements shows highly satisfactory correlations. This transformation, validated for VLF, can be extended to any electrical or electromagnetic method using a uniform primary field, i.e. gradient array in direct current or low‐frequency magnetotellurics. We call this verticalization of the electric field.
Resistivity measurements and mapping using the VLF frequency range can be applied not only to mining but also to a wide range of shallow geophysical studies (hydrology, civil engineering, etc.) and are not limited to problems concerning the location of conductive targets
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Volumes & issues
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Volume 72 (2023 - 2024)
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Volume 71 (2022 - 2023)
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Volume 70 (2021 - 2022)
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Volume 69 (2021)
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Volume 68 (2020)
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Volume 67 (2019)
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Volume 66 (2018)
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Volume 65 (2017)
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Volume 64 (2015 - 2016)
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Volume 63 (2015)
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Volume 62 (2014)
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Volume 61 (2013)
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Volume 60 (2012)
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Volume 59 (2011)
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Volume 58 (2010)
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Volume 57 (2009)
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Volume 56 (2008)
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Volume 55 (2007)
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Volume 54 (2006)
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Volume 18 (1970 - 2006)
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Volume 53 (2005)
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Volume 52 (2004)
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Volume 51 (2003)
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Volume 50 (2002)
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Volume 49 (2001)
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Volume 48 (2000)
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Volume 47 (1999)
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Volume 46 (1998)
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Volume 45 (1997)
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Volume 44 (1996)
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Volume 43 (1995)
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Volume 42 (1994)
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Volume 41 (1993)
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Volume 40 (1992)
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Volume 39 (1991)
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Volume 38 (1990)
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Volume 37 (1989)
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Volume 36 (1988)
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Volume 35 (1987)
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Volume 34 (1986)
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Volume 33 (1985)
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Volume 32 (1984)
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Volume 31 (1983)
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Volume 30 (1982)
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Volume 29 (1981)
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Volume 28 (1980)
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Volume 27 (1979)
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Volume 26 (1978)
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Volume 25 (1977)
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Volume 24 (1976)
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Volume 23 (1975)
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Volume 22 (1974)
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Volume 21 (1973)
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Volume 20 (1972)
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Volume 19 (1971)
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Volume 17 (1969)
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Volume 16 (1968)
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Volume 15 (1967)
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Volume 14 (1966)
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Volume 13 (1965)
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Volume 12 (1964)
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Volume 11 (1963)
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Volume 10 (1962)
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Volume 9 (1961)
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Volume 8 (1960)
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Volume 7 (1959)
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Volume 6 (1958)
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Volume 5 (1957)
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Volume 4 (1956)
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Volume 3 (1955)
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Volume 2 (1954)
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Volume 1 (1953)