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- Volume 66, Issue 3, 2018
Geophysical Prospecting - Volume 66, Issue 3, 2018
Volume 66, Issue 3, 2018
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A nonlinear method for multiparameter inversion of pre‐stack seismic data based on anisotropic Markov random field
Authors Hongbing Zhang, Qiang Guo, Lifeng Liang, Chenghao Cao and Zuoping ShangABSTRACTMultiparameter inversion for pre‐stack seismic data plays a significant role in quantitative estimation of subsurface petrophysical properties. However, it remains a complicated problem due to the non‐unique results and unstable nature of the processing; the pre‐stack seismic inversion problem is ill‐posed and band‐limited. Combining the full Zoeppritz equation and additional assumptions with edge‐preserving regularisation can help to alleviate these problems. To achieve this, we developed an inversion method by constructing a new objective function that includes edge‐preserving regularisation and soft constraints based on anisotropic Markov random fields and is intended especially for layered formations. We applied a fast simulated annealing algorithm to solve the nonlinear optimisation problem. The method directly obtains reflectivity RPP values using the full Zoeppritz equation instead of its approximations and effectively controls the stability of the multiparameter inversion by assuming a sectionally constant S‐ and P‐wave velocity ratio and using the generalised Gardner equation. We substituted the inverted parameters, i.e., the P‐wave velocity, the fitting deviation of S‐wave velocity, and the density were inverted instead of the P‐wave velocity, the S‐wave velocity, and the density, and the generalised Gardner equation was applied as a constraint. Test results on two‐dimensional synthetic data indicated that our substitution obtained improved results for multiparameter inversion. The inverted results could be improved by utilising high‐order anisotropic Markov random field neighbourhoods at early stages and low‐order anisotropic Markov random field neighbourhoods in the later stages. Moreover, for layered formations, using a large horizontal weighting coefficient can preserve the lateral continuity of layers, and using a small vertical weighting coefficient allows for large longitudinal gradients of the interlayers. The inverted results of the field data revealed more detailed information about the layers and matched the logging curves at the wells acceptably over most parts of the curves.
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Seismic data interpolation using frequency‐domain complex nonstationary autoregression
Authors Guochang Liu and Xiaohong ChenABSTRACTWe have developed a novel method for missing seismic data interpolation using f‐x‐domain regularised nonstationary autoregression. f‐x regularised nonstationary autoregression interpolation can deal with the events that have space‐varying dips. We assume that the coefficients of f‐x regularised nonstationary autoregression are smoothly varying along the space axis. This method includes two steps: the estimation of the coefficients and the interpolation of missing traces using estimated coefficients. We estimate the f‐x regularised nonstationary autoregression coefficients for the completed data using weighted nonstationary autoregression equations with smoothing constraints. For regularly missing data, similar to Spitz f‐x interpolation, we use autoregression coefficients estimated from low‐frequency components without aliasing to obtain autoregression coefficients of high‐frequency components with aliasing. For irregularly missing or gapped data, we use known traces to establish nonstationary autoregression equations with regularisation to estimate the f‐x autoregression coefficients of the complete data. We implement the algorithm by iterated scheme using a frequency‐domain conjugate gradient method with shaping regularisation. The proposed method improves the calculation efficiency by applying shaping regularisation and implementation in the frequency domain. The applicability and effectiveness of the proposed method are examined by synthetic and field data examples.
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Strategies for stable attenuation compensation in reverse‐time migration
Authors Junzhe Sun and Tieyuan ZhuABSTRACTAttenuation in seismic wave propagation is a common cause for poor illumination of subsurface structures. Attempts to compensate for amplitude loss in seismic images by amplifying the wavefield may boost high‐frequency components, such as noise, and create undesirable imaging artefacts. In this paper, rather than amplifying the wavefield directly, we develop a stable compensation operator using stable division. The operator relies on a constant‐Q wave equation with decoupled fractional Laplacians and compensates for the full attenuation phenomena by performing wave extrapolation twice. This leads to two new imaging conditions to compensate for attenuation in reverse‐time migration. A time‐dependent imaging condition is derived by applying Q‐compensation in the frequency domain, whereas a time‐independent imaging condition is formed in the image space by calculating image normalisation weights. We demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the proposed methods using three synthetic examples. We found that the proposed methods are capable of properly compensating for attenuation without amplifying high‐frequency noise in the data.
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Effects of variations in fluid properties and fracture geometry on dispersion, anisotropy, and reflection in media with planar fractures
Authors Yuandi Gan and Evgeni M. ChesnokovABSTRACTOur objective was to discover the effect of variations in fluid properties and fracture geometry on the velocity of seismic wave propagation in fluid‐saturated media with parallel planar fractures. We used numerical models calculated by analytical solutions to examine the behaviour of P‐wave phase velocity dispersion in the normal direction to layering, in non‐porous and porous media with planar fractures. We also examined the anisotropy of low frequency phase and group velocities of fast and slow P‐waves and angular‐dependent reflection coefficients in media with planar fractures, under conditions of saturation by fluids with varying bulk moduli, densities, and fracture apertures. We defined several parametre , , and characterising dispersion, characterising anisotropy, characterising the difference between fast and slow modes, and R0 and characterising reflection. Our results show that the behaviour of dispersion shows wider stopbands in the case of gas saturation. Concavity indicator of dispersion for gas saturation was greater than that for liquid saturation and is usually greater than one. Anisotropy is more sensitive to bulk modulus contrast than to density contrast between the solid and the fluid, and is more sensitive to density contrast than to bulk modulus contrast. The case of gas saturation usually had a greater negative R0 and a greater value of compared with those of brine and heavy and light oil saturations. Our results are helpful in distinguishing fluid types saturating geophysical fractures and estimating the aperture and spacing of planar fractures. In seismic exploration, bulk modulus and fluid density can provide useful information in distinguishing among brine, oil, and gas; fracture geometry is important to estimate the permeability of reservoirs.
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Most frequent value‐based factor analysis of direct‐push logging data
Authors Norbert Péter Szabó, Gergely Pál Balogh and János StickelABSTRACTAn improved, iteratively re‐weighted factor analysis procedure is presented to interpret engineering geophysical sounding logs in shallow unsaturated sediments. We simultaneously process cone resistance, electric resistivity, and nuclear data acquired by direct‐push tools to give robust estimates of factor variables and water content in unconsolidated heterogeneous formations. The statistical procedure is based on the iterative re‐weighting of the deviations between the measured and calculated data using the most frequent value method famous for its robustness and high statistical efficiency. The iterative approach improves the result of factor analysis for not normally distributed data and extremely noisy measurements. By detecting a strong regression relation between one of the extracted factors and the fractional volume of water, we establish an independent method for water content estimation along the penetration hole. We verify the estimated values of water volume by using a highly over‐determined, quality‐checked interval inversion procedure. The multidimensional extension of the statistical method allows the estimation of water content distribution along both the vertical and the horizontal coordinates. Numerical tests using engineering geophysical sounding data measured in a Hungarian loessy–sandy formation demonstrate the feasibility of the most frequent value‐based factor analysis, which can be efficiently used for a more reliable hydrogeophysical characterisation of the unsaturated zone.
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A new mathematical model of asymmetric hydraulic fracture growth
Authors J. Mls and T. FischerABSTRACTHydraulic fractures generated by fluid injection in rock formations are often mapped by seismic monitoring. In many cases, the microseismicity is asymmetric relative to the injection well, which has been interpreted by stress gradient along the direction of the hydraulic fracture. We present a mathematical model of asymmetric hydrofracture growth based on relations between the solid‐phase stress and the fracture hydraulics. For single fracture and single injection point, the model has three parameters, hydraulic conductivities of the fracture wings, and normalised stress gradient and predicts the positions of the fracture tips as functions of time. The model is applied to a set of microseismic event locations that occurred during and after an injection process. Two different methods are suggested that make it possible to delineate the fracture tips from the set of microseismic events. This makes it possible to determine the model parameters and to check the agreement between the model prediction and the measured data. The comparison of the measured and modelled growth of fracture wings supports both the assumption of the non‐zero stress gradient and the existence of the post‐injection unilateral growth.
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Joint PP‐ and PSV‐wave amplitudes versus offset and azimuth inversion for fracture compliances in horizontal transversely isotropic media
Authors Huaizhen Chen, Guangzhi Zhang, Tiansheng Chen and Xingyao YinABSTRACTWe propose a robust approach for the joint inversion of PP‐ and PSV‐wave angle gathers along different azimuths for the elastic properties of the homogeneous isotropic host rock and excess compliances due to the presence of fractures. Motivated by the expression of fluid content indicator in fractured reservoirs and the sensitivity of Lamé impedances to fluid type, we derive PP‐ and PSV‐wave reflection coefficients in terms of Lamé impedances, density, and fracture compliances for an interface separating two horizontal transversely isotropic media. Following a Bayesian framework, we construct an objective function that includes initial models. We employ the iteratively reweighted least‐squares algorithm to solve the inversion problem to estimate unknown parameters (i.e., Lamé impedances, density, and fracture compliances) from PP‐ and PSV‐wave angle gathers along different azimuths. Synthetic tests reveal that the unknown parameters estimated using the joint inversion approach match true values better than those estimated using a PP‐wave amplitude inversion only. A real data test indicates that reasonable results for subsurface fracture detection are obtained from the joint inversion approach.
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Rapid inversion of data from 2D resistivity surveys with electrode displacements
Authors M.H. Loke, P.B. Wilkinson, J.E. Chambers and P.I. MeldrumABSTRACTResistivity monitoring surveys are used to detect temporal changes in the subsurface using repeated measurements over the same site. The positions of the electrodes are typically measured at the start of the survey program and possibly at occasional later times. In areas with unstable ground, such as landslide‐prone slopes, the positions of the electrodes can be displaced by ground movements. If this occurs at times when the positions of the electrodes are not directly measured, they have to be estimated. This can be done by interpolation or, as in recent developments, from the resistivity data using new inverse methods. The smoothness‐constrained least squares optimisation method can be modified to include the electrode positions as additional unknown parameters. The Jacobian matrices with the sensitivity of the apparent resistivity measurements to changes in the electrode positions are then required by the optimisation method. In this paper, a fast adjoint‐equation method is used to calculate the Jacobian matrices required by the least squares method to reduce the calculation time. In areas with large near‐surface resistivity contrasts, the inversion routine sometimes cannot accurately distinguish between electrode displacements and subsurface resistivity variations. To overcome this problem, the model for the initial time‐lapse dataset (with accurately known electrode positions) is used as the starting model for the inversion of the later‐time dataset. This greatly improves the accuracy of the estimated electrode positions compared to the use of a homogeneous half‐space starting model. In areas where the movement of the electrodes is expected to occur in a fixed direction, the method of transformations can be used to include this information as an additional constraint in the optimisation routine.
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Generalised relative and cumulative response functions for electromagnetic induction conductivity meters operating at low induction numbers
Authors Fernando César Moura de Andrade and Tomáš FischerABSTRACTRelative and cumulative analytical response functions have been widely used as a powerful tool for forward modelling and interpretation of measurements obtained by electromagnetic induction conductivity meters operating at low induction numbers for one‐dimensional layered earth models. These well‐known functions were derived and should be used for the instruments laid on the surface of the earth. In this paper, we extended the response functions and obtained new generalised analytical expressions, which can be used for instruments carried at any height from the surface. The proposed new equations were compared with numerically constructed functions, obtained using the full solution of Maxwell's equations, and proved to be in very good agreement at low induction numbers. Quantitative analyses of the behaviour of the relative response and the depth of investigation of electromagnetic induction instruments, when raised from the ground, could also be done using the generalised functions.
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Illuminating and optimising a three‐dimensional model of an oil shale seam and its volume distribution using the transient electromagnetic induction method, central part of Jordan
Authors Jafar Sadi Abu Rajab and Eid Al TaraziABSTRACTThe oil shale exploration program in Jordan is undertaking great activity in the domain of applied geophysical methods to evaluate bitumen‐bearing rock. In the study area, the bituminous marl or oil shale exhibits a rock type dominated by lithofacies layers composed of chalky limestone, marls, clayey marls, and phosphatic marls.
The study aims to present enhancements for oil shale seam detection using progressive interpretation from a one‐dimensional inversion to a three‐dimensional modelling and inversion of ground‐based transient electromagnetic data at an area of stressed geological layers.
The geophysical survey combined 58 transient electromagnetic sites to produce geoelectrical structures at different depth slices, and cross sections were used to characterise the horizon of the most likely sites for mining oil shale. The results show valuable information on the thickness of the oil shale seam at 3.7 Ωm, which is correlated to the geoelectrical layer between 2‐ and 4 ms transient time delays, and at depths ranging between 85 and 105 m. The 300 m penetrated depth of the transient electromagnetic soundings allows the resolution of the main geological units at narrow resistivity contrast and the distinction of the main geological structures that constrain the detection of the oil shale seam. This geoelectrical layer at different depth slices illustrates a localised oil shale setting and can be spatially correlated with an area bounded by fold and fault systems. Also, three‐dimensional modelling and inversion for synthetic and experimental data are introduced at the faulted area. The results show the limitations of oil shale imaging at a depth exceeding 130 m, which depends on the near‐surface resistivity layer, the low resistivity contrast of the main lithological units, and the degree of geological detail achieved at a suitable model's misfit value.
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Three‐dimensional potential field data inversion with L0 quasinorm sparse constraints
By Zhaohai MengABSTRACTThe quantitative explanation of the potential field data of three‐dimensional geological structures remains one of the most challenging issues in modern geophysical inversion. Obtaining a stable solution that can simultaneously resolve complicated geological structures is a critical inverse problem in the geophysics field. I have developed a new method for determining a three‐dimensional petrophysical property distribution, which produces a corresponding potential field anomaly. In contrast with the tradition inverse algorithm, my inversion method proposes a new model norm, which incorporates two important weighting functions. One is the L0 quasi norm (enforcing sparse constraints), and the other is depth‐weighting that counteracts the influence of source depth on the resulting potential field data of the solution. Sparseness constraints are imposed by using the L0 quasinorm on model parameters. To solve the representation problem, an L0 quasinorm minimisation model with different smooth approximations is proposed. Hence, the data space (N) method, which is much smaller than model space (M), combined with the gradient‐projected method, and the model space, combined with the modified Newton method for L0 quasinorm sparse constraints, leads to a computationally efficient method by using an N × N system versus an M × M one because N ≪ M. Tests on synthetic data and real datasets demonstrate the stability and validity of the L0 quasinorm spare norms inversion method. With the aim of obtaining the blocky results, the inversion method with the L0 quasinorm sparse constraints method performs better than the traditional L2 norm (standard Tikhonov regularisation). It can obtain the focus and sparse results easily. Then, the Bouguer anomaly survey data of the salt dome, offshore Louisiana, is considered as a real case study. The real inversion result shows that the inclusion the L0 quasinorm sparse constraints leads to a simpler and better resolved solution, and the density distribution is obtained in this area to reveal its geological structure. These results confirm the validity of the L0 quasinorm sparse constraints method and indicate its application for other potential field data inversions and the exploration of geological structures.
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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)