Pre-stack 3D Ultra High-Resolution Seismic Inversion for Shear Modulus Prediction

This study advances offshore wind foundation design by demonstrating the prediction of absolute shear modulus from high-quality 3D Ultra High-Resolution Seismic (3D UHRS) pre-stack data using the relative Extended Elastic Impedance (rEEI) method. Building on prior work by Ruiz et al., it integrates seismic velocities, Quantitative Interpretation (QI), and PS logging data within the seismic survey for validation and calibration. Key achievements include confirming the optimal rotation angle in the Acoustic Impedance–Gradient Impedance space for relative shear modulus prediction, deriving a background trend shear modulus using seismic velocities, and validating absolute shear modulus estimates at a reference location. This integrated workflow enables generation of detailed 3D shear modulus volumes, which could potentially facilitate location-specific foundation designs that can reduce material costs and installation efforts. While currently deterministic, this methodology offers scope for improvement through uncertainty and error analysis, highlighting its potential to improve geotechnical site characterization for offshore wind development via integration of pre-stack 3D UHRS data.