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- Volume 52, Issue 5, 2004
Geophysical Prospecting - Volume 52, Issue 5, 2004
Volume 52, Issue 5, 2004
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Optimization of sub‐band coding method for seismic data compression
Authors Tage Røsten, Tor A. Ramstad and Lasse AmundsenABSTRACTSeismic data volumes, which require huge transmission capacities and massive storage media, continue to increase rapidly due to acquisition of 3D and 4D multiple streamer surveys, multicomponent data sets, reprocessing of prestack seismic data, calculation of post‐stack seismic data attributes, etc. We consider lossy compression as an important tool for efficient handling of large seismic data sets. We present a 2D lossy seismic data compression algorithm, based on sub‐band coding, and we focus on adaptation and optimization of the method for common‐offset gathers. The sub‐band coding algorithm consists of five stages: first, a preprocessing phase using an automatic gain control to decrease the non‐stationary behaviour of seismic data; second, a decorrelation stage using a uniform analysis filter bank to concentrate the energy of seismic data into a minimum number of sub‐bands; third, an iterative classification algorithm, based on an estimation of variances of blocks of sub‐band samples, to classify the sub‐band samples into a fixed number of classes with approximately the same statistics; fourth, a quantization step using a uniform scalar quantizer, which gives an approximation of the sub‐band samples to allow for high compression ratios; and fifth, an entropy coding stage using a fixed number of arithmetic encoders matched to the corresponding statistics of the classified and quantized sub‐band samples to achieve compression. Decompression basically performs the opposite operations in reverse order. We compare the proposed algorithm with three other seismic data compression algorithms. The high performance of our optimized sub‐band coding method is supported by objective and subjective results.
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A numerical comparison of 2D resistivity imaging with 10 electrode arrays
Authors Torleif Dahlin and Bing ZhouABSTRACTNumerical simulations are used to compare the resolution and efficiency of 2D resistivity imaging surveys for 10 electrode arrays. The arrays analysed include pole‐pole (PP), pole‐dipole (PD), half‐Wenner (HW), Wenner‐α (WN), Schlumberger (SC), dipole‐dipole (DD), Wenner‐β (WB), γ‐array (GM), multiple or moving gradient array (GD) and midpoint‐potential‐referred measurement (MPR) arrays. Five synthetic geological models, simulating a buried channel, a narrow conductive dike, a narrow resistive dike, dipping blocks and covered waste ponds, were used to examine the surveying efficiency (anomaly effects, signal‐to‐noise ratios) and the imaging capabilities of these arrays. The responses to variations in the data density and noise sensitivities of these electrode configurations were also investigated using robust (L1‐norm) inversion and smoothness‐constrained least‐squares (L2‐norm) inversion for the five synthetic models.
The results show the following. (i) GM and WN are less contaminated by noise than the other electrode arrays. (ii) The relative anomaly effects for the different arrays vary with the geological models. However, the relatively high anomaly effects of PP, GM and WB surveys do not always give a high‐resolution image. PD, DD and GD can yield better resolution images than GM, PP, WN and WB, although they are more susceptible to noise contamination. SC is also a strong candidate but is expected to give more edge effects. (iii) The imaging quality of these arrays is relatively robust with respect to reductions in the data density of a multi‐electrode layout within the tested ranges. (iv) The robust inversion generally gives better imaging results than the L2‐norm inversion, especially with noisy data, except for the dipping block structure presented here. (v) GD and MPR are well suited to multichannel surveying and GD may produce images that are comparable to those obtained with DD and PD. Accordingly, the GD, PD, DD and SC arrays are strongly recommended for 2D resistivity imaging, where the final choice will be determined by the expected geology, the purpose of the survey and logistical considerations.
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The effect of the electrical anisotropy on the response of helicopter‐borne frequency‐domain electromagnetic systems
Authors Changchun Yin and Douglas C. FraserABSTRACTHelicopter electromagnetic (HEM) systems are commonly used for conductivity mapping and the data are often interpreted using an isotropic horizontally layered earth model. However, in regions with distinct dipping stratification, it is useful to extend the model to a layered earth with general anisotropy by assigning each layer a symmetrical 3 × 3 resistivity tensor.
The electromagnetic (EM) field is represented by two scalar potentials, which describe the poloidal and toroidal parts of the magnetic field. Via a 2D Fourier transform, we obtain two coupled ordinary differential equations in the vertical coordinate. To stabilize the numerical calculation, the wavenumber domain is divided into two parts associated with small and large wavenumbers. The EM field for small wavenumbers is continued from layer to layer with the continuity conditions. For large wavenumbers, the EM field behaves like a DC field and therefore cannot be sensed by airborne EM systems. Thus, the contribution from the large wavenumbers is simply ignored.
The magnetic fields are calculated for the vertical coaxial (VCX), horizontal coplanar (HCP) and vertical coplanar (VCP) coil configurations for a helicopter EM system. The apparent resistivities defined from the VCX, VCP and HCP coil responses, when plotted in polar coordinates, clearly identify the principal anisotropic axes of an anisotropic earth. The field example from the Edwards Aquifer recharge area in Texas confirms that the polar plots of the apparent resistivities identify the principal anisotropic axes that coincide well with the direction of the underground structures.
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The influence of induced polarization on long‐offset transient electromagnetic data
Authors Andreas Hoheisel, Andreas Hördt and Tilman HansteinABSTRACTThe diffusion of electromagnetic fields is dependent not only on conductivity, but also on magnetic permeability, dielectric permittivity and polarizability, i.e. dispersive conductivity. The long‐offset transient electromagnetic (LOTEM) method is mainly used to determine the spatial distribution of conductivity in the subsurface. However, earlier work on loop‐loop TEM suggests that transient EM methods can also be affected by induced polarization (IP).
Numerous 1D forward calculations were carried out to study the IP effect on LOTEM data, using the Cole‐Cole relaxation model to simulate the polarizability of the ground. Besides the polarizability of each layer, the IP effect depends on the LOTEM field set‐up and the spatial distribution of conductivity in the ground. In particular, near‐surface layers with high chargeabilities can significantly distort the late time transients of the electric field components in the vicinity of the transmitter. The influence of polarizable layers on the magnetic field components can be neglected under normal circumstances.
In 1997 and 1999, LOTEM measurements were carried out at Mt. Vesuvius in Italy to explore the geological structure of the volcano. Sensitivity studies on the effect of polarizable layers suggest that high chargeabilities in connection with conductive layers at greater depths would result in a detectable distortion of the electric field transients. Although the simultaneous IP measurements revealed high chargeabilities in a near‐surface layer, no evidence of IP effects could be found in the measured LOTEM data. We conclude that the observed chargeabilities are local and that 3D effects are probably present in the data.
Another aspect is the measurement of the system response, which is usually measured by placing a receiver very close to the transmitter. Therefore, large distortions can be expected if near‐surface polarizable layers exist. This was verified in practice by field measurements in an area with high chargeabilities in Longerich, Cologne.
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Velocity model estimation for depth imaging: Comparison of three tomography methods on a 2D real data set
Authors Soazig Le Bégat, Hervé Chauris, Vincent Devaux, Sylvain Nguyen and Mark NobleABSTRACTThe estimation of velocity models is still crucial in seismic reflection imaging as it controls the quality of the depth‐migrated image, which is the basis of geological interpretation. Among the numerous existing methods for velocity determination, tomographic methods are very attractive for their efficiency and ability to retrieve heterogeneities of the medium. We present three tomographic methods in order to estimate heterogeneous velocity models from 2D prestack PP reflection data: a traveltime tomography in the time‐migrated domain, a traveltime and slope tomography in the non‐migrated time domain, and a slope tomography in the depth‐migrated domain.
The first method (traveltime tomography in the time domain) is based on continuous picked events, whereas the two slope tomographic methods, one in the time domain and the other in the depth domain, are based on locally coherent events, with no assumptions about reflector geometry or the unknown velocity field. The purpose of this paper is not to describe in detail the theoretical basis and implementation of the methods, but to apply and compare their output using the same marine real data set. Based on the estimated velocity models, the migrated images and the common‐image gathers from the three processing routes, the relative strengths and weaknesses of the methods are discussed. Finally, similarities are indicated and potential alternative approaches are proposed.
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Airborne EM skin depths
More LessABSTRACTSkin depth is an electromagnetic (EM) scale length that provides a measure of the degree of attenuation experienced by a particular frequency of an EM system. As has been discussed in the literature, skin depth is not a complete measure of the depth of investigation, but the two may be related. Frequency‐domain airborne EM systems employ pairs of transmitter and receiver coils that use a frequency range from several hundred hertz to over 100 kHz. For elevated dipoles, both geometrical and frequency‐dependent attenuation of the induced fields must be considered. For airborne EM systems it is possible to define a skin depth based only on the electric field induced by the transmitter. A vertical decay scale length, here defined from the at‐surface position of maximum electric field, enables the same skin‐depth estimate to be obtained for both cases of vertical and horizontal dipolar excitation. Such dipolar skin depths associated with towed‐bird and fixed‐wing airborne systems are studied in relation to frequency, conductivity and sensor elevation. Dipolar skin depths are found to be much smaller than their plane‐wave counterparts except at high frequency (>50 kHz) and in combination with high conductivity. For the majority of airborne systems the influence of altitude on skin depth is highly significant. Dipolar skin depths increase with increasing sensor elevation. Low frequencies display the greatest sensitivity. At low elevation (<40 m), geometrical attenuation dominates the behaviour of the skin depth. The study indicates that typical low‐altitude airborne surveys provide vertically compact assessments of subsurface conductivity, well suited to near‐surface, environmental applications.
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Comparison of methods for modelling the behaviour of bubbles produced by marine seismic airguns
Authors E. Cox, A. Pearson, J.R. Blake and S.R. OttoABSTRACTThree models for the dynamics of seismic airgun‐generated bubbles and their associated far‐field signals are developed and compared with geophysical data. The first model of an airgun‐generated bubble uses a spherical approximation, the second is an approximate Lagrangian model which allows for small deformations from a spherical shape, whilst the final model is an axisymmetric boundary‐integral method which permits the bubble to evolve into highly non‐spherical geometries. The boundary‐integral method also allows both geometric interference and strong dynamic interactions in multi‐bubble studies.
When comparing the spherical model to experimental data there are three apparent, significant differences: the magnitude of the primary pressure peak, which is greater in the model; the subsequent decay of the pressure peaks and motion – the experimental data demonstrating greater decay and a slower rise rate; and the frequency of oscillation, which is slower in the experimental data. It is believed that the first discrepancy is due to the initial stages of expansion where the compressed air is forced to sparge through the airgun ports. The other differences indicate that there is some other energy‐loss mechanism which is not accounted for in the spherical bubble model. Non‐spherical bubble behaviour is investigated through the use of two different deformable many‐bubble codes and their predictions are compared with the spherical model and experimental data.
The Lagrangian model predicts the formation of a buoyancy‐driven liquid jet on the first collapse of a typical airgun bubble; however, the model breaks down when the bubble becomes significantly deformed, due to a low‐order spherical‐harmonic approximation for the potential. The axisymmetric boundary‐integral code models the jet shape accurately and it is found that these bubbles evolve to toroidal geometries when the jet impacts on the opposite surface of the bubble. This highly non‐spherical behaviour is readily observed on high‐speed films of airgun bubbles, and is one key source of energy loss; it damps the pulsations of the bubble and slows its rise speed.
Inter‐bubble interactions are investigated using the two deformable bubble models, and the predictions are compared to field data. It was found that as the bubbles approach each other, their periods of oscillation increase in accordance with observations, and jets are formed in the direction of motion upon collapse.
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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 55 (2007)
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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 47 (1999)
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