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- Volume 56, Issue 1, 2008
Geophysical Prospecting - Volume 56, Issue 1, 2008
Volume 56, Issue 1, 2008
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Seismic attenuation in Faroe Islands basalts
Authors F. Shaw, M.H. Worthington, R.S. White, M.S. Andersen, U.K. Petersen and the Seifaba GroupABSTRACTWe analysed vertical seismic profiling (VSP) data from two boreholes at Glyvursnes and Vestmanna on the island of Streymoy, Faroe Islands, to determine the magnitude and causes of seismic attenuation in sequences of basalt flows. The work is part of SeiFaBa, a major project integrating data from vertical and offset VSP, surface seismic surveys, core samples and wireline log data from the two boreholes. Values of effective seismic quality factor (Q) obtained at Glyvursnes and Vestmanna are sufficiently low to significantly degrade the quality of a surface reflection seismic image. This observation is consistent with results from other VSP experiments in the North Atlantic region. We demonstrate that the most likely cause of the low values of effective Q at Glyvursnes and Vestmanna is a combination of 1D scattering and intrinsic attenuation due to seismic wave‐induced fluid flow within pores and micro‐cracks. Tests involving 3D elastic wave numerical modelling with a hypothetical basalt model based on field observations, indicate that little scattering attenuation is caused by lateral variations in basalt structure.
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Seismic characterization of basalt flows from the Faroes margin and the Faroe‐Shetland basin
Authors Roman Spitzer, Robert S. White, Philip A.F. Christie and the iSIMM TeamABSTRACTHigh‐quality seismic profiles across the Faroes volcanic continental margin and the adjacent continental shelf show contrasting styles of basalt emplacement across two major structural boundaries. At the rifted continental margin, the basalts form prominent seaward dipping reflector sequences up to 5 km thick. The same basalts, after they had travelled in a landward direction across the elevated, subaerial Faroes shelf, produced prominent landward dipping foresets, where they flowed across the paleo‐coastline into the deep water of the Faroe‐Shetland Basin. In both cases we are able to image details of the internal structure of the basalts as a result of using a low‐frequency airgun source capable of penetrating through the basalt sequence, together with long‐offset recordings from ocean bottom seismometers and a 12 km long, deep‐towed, hydrophone streamer.
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Seeing below the basalt – offshore Faroes
Authors Joseph W. Gallagher and Peter W. DromgooleABSTRACTExploration in the basalt covered areas of the Faroes offshore has always suffered from poor seismic imaging below the basalt. Long offset 2D and 3D seismic data were acquired and a significant improvement in the seismic image below top basalt has been achieved. Deep towing of the source and receiver cables helped by extending the seismic bandwidth towards lower frequencies. Bubble‐tuned rather than conventional peak‐tuned source arrays gave little, if any, incremental benefit. The improvement in the imaging comes primarily from the approach to processing the data. High frequencies (dominantly noise) are filtered out of the data early in the processing to concentrate on the low frequency data. Careful multiple removal is important with several passes of demultiple being applied to the data using both Surface‐Related Multiple Elimination (SRME) and Radon techniques. Velocity analysis is performed as an iterative process taking into account the geological model. Reprocessing legacy 2D surveys, acquired with wide‐ranging parameters, using these processing techniques improved these datasets significantly, indicating that sub‐basalt imaging seems to be more sensitive to processing than to the choice of acquisition parameters.
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High‐order kernels for Riemannian wavefield extrapolation
Authors Paul Sava and Sergey FomelABSTRACTRiemannian wavefield extrapolation is a technique for one‐way extrapolation of acoustic waves. Riemannian wavefield extrapolation generalizes wavefield extrapolation by downward continuation by considering coordinate systems different from conventional Cartesian ones. Coordinate systems can conform with the extrapolated wavefield, with the velocity model or with the acquisition geometry.
When coordinate systems conform with the propagated wavefield, extrapolation can be done accurately using low‐order kernels. However, in complex media or in cases where the coordinate systems do not conform with the propagating wavefields, low order kernels are not accurate enough and need to be replaced by more accurate, higher‐order kernels. Since Riemannian wavefield extrapolation is based on factorization of an acoustic wave‐equation, higher‐order kernels can be constructed using methods analogous to the one employed for factorization of the acoustic wave‐equation in Cartesian coordinates. Thus, we can construct space‐domain finite‐differences as well as mixed‐domain techniques for extrapolation.
High‐order Riemannian wavefield extrapolation kernels improve the accuracy of extrapolation, particularly when the Riemannian coordinate systems does not closely match the general direction of wave propagation.
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Linearized seismic waveform inversion using a multiple re‐weighted least‐squares method with QR preconditioning
Authors Milton J. Porsani and Saulo Pomponet OliveiraABSTRACTLinearized inversion methods such as Gauss‐Newton and multiple re‐weighted least‐squares are iterative processes in which an update in the current model is computed as a function of data misfit and the gradient of data with respect to model parameters. The main advantage of those methods is their ability to refine the model parameters although they have a high computational cost for seismic inversion. In the Gauss‐Newton method a system of equations, corresponding to the sensitivity matrix, is solved in the least‐squares sense at each iteration, while in the multiple re‐weighted least‐squares method many systems are solved using the same sensitivity matrix. The sensitivity matrix arising from these methods is usually not sparse, thus limiting the use of standard preconditioners in the solution of the linearized systems. For reduction of the computational cost of the linearized inversion methods, we propose the use of preconditioners based on a partial orthogonalization of the columns of the sensitivity matrix. The new approach collapses a band of co‐diagonals of the normal equations matrix into the main diagonal, being equivalent to computing the least‐squares solution starting from a partial solution of the linear system. The preconditioning is driven by a bandwidth L which can be interpreted as the distance for which the correlation between model parameters is relevant. To illustrate the benefit of the proposed approach to the reduction of the computational cost of the inversion we apply the multiple re‐weighted least‐squares method to the 2D acoustic seismic waveform inversion problem. We verify the reduction in the number of iterations in the conjugate'gradient algorithm as the bandwidth of the preconditioners increases. This effect reduces the total computational cost of inversion as well.
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Double‐square‐root one‐way wave equation prestack tau migration in heterogeneous media
Authors Jiubing Cheng, Zaitian Ma, Jianhua Geng and Huazhong WangABSTRACTIn this paper, source‐receiver migration based on the double‐square‐root one‐way wave equation is modified to operate in the two‐way vertical traveltime (τ) domain. This tau migration method includes reasonable treatment for media with lateral inhomogeneity. It is implemented by recursive wavefield extrapolation with a frequency‐wavenumber domain phase shift in a constant background medium, followed by a phase correction in the frequency‐space domain, which accommodates moderate lateral velocity variations. More advanced τ‐domain double‐square‐root wave propagators have been conceptually discussed in this paper for migration in media with stronger lateral velocity variations. To address the problems that the full 3D double‐square‐root equation prestack tau migration could meet in practical applications, we present a method for downward continuing common‐azimuth data, which is based on a stationary‐phase approximation of the full 3D migration operator in the theoretical frame of prestack tau migration of cross‐line constant offset data. Migrations of synthetic data sets show that our tau migration approach has good performance in strong contrast media. The real data example demonstrates that common‐azimuth prestack tau migration has improved the delineation of the geological structures and stratigraphic configurations in a complex fault area.
Prestack tau migration has some inherent robust characteristics usually associated with prestack time migration. It follows a velocity‐independent anti‐aliasing criterion that generally leads to reduction of the computation cost for typical vertical velocity variations. Moreover, this τ‐domain source‐receiver migration method has features that could be of help to speed up the convergence of the velocity estimation.
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Depth migration anisotropy analysis in the time domain
Authors Chandan Kumar, Mrinal K. Sen and Robert J. FergusonABSTRACTIn areas of complex geology such as the Canadian Foothills, the effects of anisotropy are apparent in seismic data and estimation of anisotropic parameters for use in seismic imaging is not a trivial task. Here we explore the applicability of common‐focus point (CFP)‐based velocity analysis to estimate anisotropic parameters for the variably tilted shale thrust sheet in the Canadian Foothills model. To avoid the inherent velocity‐depth ambiguity, we assume that the elastic properties of thrust‐sheet with respect to transverse isotropy symmetry axis are homogeneous, the reflector below the thrust‐sheet is flat, and that the anisotropy is weak. In our CFP approach to velocity analysis, for a poorly imaged reflection point, a traveltime residual is obtained as the time difference between the focusing operator for an assumed subsurface velocity model and the corresponding CFP response obtained from the reflection data. We assume that this residual is due to unknown values for anisotropy, and we perform an iterative linear inversion to obtain new model parameters that minimize the residuals. Migration of the data using parameters obtained from our inversion results in a correctly positioned and better focused reflector below the thrust sheet. For traveltime computation we use a brute force mapping scheme that takes into account weakly tilted transverse isotropy media. For inversion, the problem is set up as a generalized Newton's equation where traveltime error (differential time shift) is linearly dependent on the parameter updates. The iterative updates of parameters are obtained by a least‐squares solution of Newton's equations. The significance of this work lies in its applicability to areas where transverse isotropy layers are heterogeneous laterally, and where transverse isotropy layers are overlain by complex structures that preclude a moveout curve fitting.
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3D Fourier finite‐difference migration by alternating‐direction‐implicit plus interpolation
Authors Jin‐Hai Zhang, Wei‐Min Wang, Li‐Yun Fu and Zhen‐Xing YaoABSTRACTConventional two‐way splitting Fourier finite‐difference migration for 3D complex media yields azimuthal anisotropy where an additional phase correction is needed with much increase of computational cost. We incorporate the alternating‐direction‐implicit plus interpolation scheme into the conventional Fourier finite‐difference method to reduce azimuthal anisotropy. This scheme retains the high‐order remnants ignored by the two‐way splitting in the form of a wavefield interpolation in the wavenumber domain. The wavefield interpolation for each step of downward extrapolation is implemented between the wavefields before and after the conventional Fourier finite‐difference extrapolation. As the Fourier finite‐difference migration is implemented in the space and wavenumber dual space, the Fourier transforms between space and wavenumber domain that were needed for the alternating‐direction‐implicit plus interpolation in frequency domain (FD) migration are saved in Fourier finite‐difference migration. Since the azimuth anisotropy in Fourier finite‐difference is much less than that in FD, the application of the alternating‐direction‐implicit plus interpolation scheme in Fourier finite‐difference migration is superior to that in FD migration in handling complex media with large velocity contrasts and steep dips. Impulse responses show that the presented method reduces the azimuthal anisotropy at almost no extra cost.
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Ground roll attenuation using the S and x‐f‐k transforms
Authors Roohollah Askari and Hamid R. SiahkoohiABSTRACTGround roll, which is characterized by low frequency and high amplitude, is an old seismic data processing problem in land‐based seismic acquisition. Common techniques for ground roll attenuation are frequency filtering, f‐k or velocity filtering and a type of f‐k filtering based on the time‐offset windowed Fourier transform. These techniques assume that the seismic signal is stationary. In this study we utilized the S, x‐f‐k and t‐f‐k transforms as alternative methods to the Fourier transform. The S transform is a type of time‐frequency transform that provides frequency‐dependent resolution while maintaining a direct relationship with the Fourier spectrum. Application of a filter based on the S transform to land seismic shot records attenuates ground roll in a time‐frequency domain. The t‐f‐k and x‐f‐k transforms are approaches to localize the apparent velocity panel of a seismic record in time and offset domains, respectively. These transforms provide a convenient way to define offset or time‐varying reject zones on the separate f‐k panel at different offsets or times.
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Inversion of time‐dependent nuclear well‐logging data using neural networks
More LessABSTRACTThe purpose of this work was to investigate a new and fast inversion methodology for the prediction of subsurface formation properties such as porosity, salinity and oil saturation, using time‐dependent nuclear well logging data. Although the ultimate aim is to apply the technique to real‐field data, an initial investigation as described in this paper, was first required; this has been carried out using simulation results from the time‐dependent radiation transport problem within a borehole. Simulated neutron and γ‐ray fluxes at two sodium iodide (NaI) detectors, one near and one far from a pulsed neutron source emitting at ∼14 MeV, were used for the investigation. A total of 67 energy groups from the BUGLE96 cross section library together with 567 property combinations were employed for the original flux response generation, achieved by solving numerically the time‐dependent Boltzmann radiation transport equation in its even parity form. Material property combinations (scenarios) and their correspondent teaching outputs (flux response at detectors) are used to train the Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and test data is used to assess the accuracy of the ANNs. The trained networks are then used to produce a surrogate model of the expensive, in terms of computational time and resources, forward model with which a simple inversion method is applied to calculate material properties from the time evolution of flux responses at the two detectors.
The inversion technique uses a fast surrogate model comprising 8026 artificial neural networks, which consist of an input layer with three input units (neurons) for porosity, salinity and oil saturation; and two hidden layers and one output neuron representing the scalar photon or neutron flux prediction at the detector. This is the first time this technique has been applied to invert pulsed neutron logging tool information and the results produced are very promising. The next step in the procedure is to apply the methodology to real data.
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Two‐dimensional inversion of magnetotelluric data with consecutive use of conjugate gradient and least‐squares solution with singular value decomposition algorithms
More LessABSTRACTI investigated the two‐dimensional magnetotelluric data inversion algorithms in studying two significant aspects within a linearized inversion approach. The first one is the method of minimization and second one is the type of stabilizing functional used in parametric functionals. The results of two well‐known inversion algorithms, namely conjugate gradient and the least‐squares solution with singular value decomposition, were compared in terms of accuracy and CPU time. In addition, magnetotelluric data inversion with various stabilizers, such as L2‐norm, smoothing, minimum support, minimum gradient support and first‐order minimum entropy, were examined.
A new inversion algorithm named least‐squares solution with singular value decomposition and conjugate gradient is suggested in seeing the outcomes of the comparisons carried out on least‐squares solutions with singular value decomposition and conjugate gradient algorithms subject to a variety of stabilizers. Inversion results of synthetic data showed that the newly suggested algorithm yields better results than those of the individual implementations of conjugate gradient and least‐squares solution with singular value decomposition algorithms. The suggested algorithm and the above‐mentioned algorithms inversion results for the field data collected along a line crossing the North Anatolian Fault zone were also compared each other and results are discussed.
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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 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 18 (1970)
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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)