Interpretation of a vertical seismic profile conducted in the Columbia Plateau basalts

Geophysics ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 54 (10) ◽  
pp. 1258-1266 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Pujol ◽  
B. N. Fuller ◽  
S. B. Smithson
Keyword(s):  
Large Amplitude ◽  
Volcanic Rocks ◽  
Seismic Energy ◽  
Seismic Profile ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
P Waves ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
S Waves ◽  
Columbia Plateau

Seismic reflection data are often of poor quality when recorded in areas where volcanic rocks are present at or near the surface. In order to investigate this phenomenon, a vertical seismic profiling (VSP) experiment was conducted in the Columbia Plateau basalts so that the behavior of seismic energy in subsurface volcanic rocks could be observed directly, thus giving insight into data acquisition in volcanic terrains. The lithologic section at the VSP site consists of low‐velocity (400 m/s to 900 m/s) alluvium in the uppermost 50 m, beneath which are layers of high‐velocity (about 5800 m/s), high‐density basalts interbedded with clay layers with much lower velocities (about 1700 m/s) and densities. These large velocity and density contrasts dramatically influence wave generation and propagation. In spite of the small source‐borehole offset (61 m), large‐amplitude S waves are generated by the downgoing P waves when they reach a shallow (250 m) clay‐basalt boundary. These S waves, in turn, generate strong reflected P waves when they interact with another clay layer at 500 m. On the other hand, strong primary P‐wave reflections are also present in the data but are affected by various interfering effects which reduce their amplitudes. The VSP data are also characterized by large‐amplitude reverberations caused by seismic energy trapped in the upper 250 m of the lithologic section. Reverberations are also observed in surface data recorded near the VSP site. We conclude from our analysis that volcanic rocks, at least in the Columbia Plateau, do not exhibit unusual energy transmission characteristics and that the observations can be explained in terms of the large contrast in the elastic properties of interbedded clay and basalt.

Investigation of multiple reflections and wave conversion by means of a vertical wave test (vertical seismic profiling) in southern Mississippi

Geophysics ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 977-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. C. Lash
Keyword(s):  
Wave Train ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Multiple Reflections ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
P Waves ◽  
S Waves ◽  
Seismic Profiling ◽  
Vertical Seismic Profiling ◽  
Sonic Log

A vertical wave test employing the vertical seismic profiling (VSP) technique in southern Mississippi confirmed suspicions that apparent multiple reflections might include converted waves as well as multiply reflected compressional waves. Both compressional (P) and shear (S) waves generated near the source were observed to travel to great depths, and P‐to‐S conversions were apparent in deep zones as well as shallow. P‐wave reflections were observed in agreement with predictions from synthetic records based on the sonic log. Up‐traveling P‐waves were reflected a short distance below the surface, at the base of the low‐velocity layer, and were followed as down‐traveling P‐waves to 200 ft depth by means of a vertical spread. Below 2000 ft and following the first P wave train, the predominate energy appeared to be down‐traveling P‐waves which could not be traced back to the reflection of up‐traveling P‐waves. The continuity of wavelets indicated instead that the strong down‐traveling S‐waves generated near the source produced P‐waves by S‐to‐P conversion somewhere in the zone between 800 and 1400 ft. The interference on the recordings made with an individual seismometer, or a small group of seismometers, using dynamite shots as the source was generally of a low‐frequency nature, so that the signal‐to‐noise (S/N) ratio was improved by the use of a high passband filter. The interference was greatly reduced without the need for a filter on recordings in which the source was a distributed charge of 100 ft length. The distributed charge produced much less shear‐wave energy in the P reflection band, demonstrating that the interference encountered when using a concentrated charge source was the consequence of the generation of S‐waves near the source. The distributed charges were previously chosen as a means for effectively eliminating secondary (ghost) reflections, an unwanted form of multiple reflections.

scholarly journals P-wave crustal tomography of Greece with use of an accurate two-point ray tracer

1997 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Drakatos ◽  
G. Karantonis ◽  
G. N. Stavrakakis
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Velocity Structure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Seismic Energy ◽  
Aegean Sea ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Aegean Area ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
Horizontal Variations

The three-dimensional velocity structure of the crust in the Aegean sea and the surrounding regions (34.0º-42.OºN, 19.0ºE-29.0ºE) is investigated by inversion of about 10000 residuals of arrival times of P-wave from local events. The resulting velocity structure shows strong horizontal variations due to the complicated crustal structure and the variations of crustal thickness. The northern part of the region generally shows high velocities. In the inner part of the volcanic arc (Southern Aegean area), relatively low velocities are observed, suggesting a large-scale absorption of seismic energy as confirmed by the low seismicity of the region. A low velocity zone was observed along the subduction zone of the region, up to a depth of 4 km. The existence of such a zone could be due to granitic or other intrusions in the crust during the uplift of the region during Alpidic orogenesis.

Numerical simulation of azimuthal acoustic logging in a borehole penetrating a rock formation boundary

Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. D283-D291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Liu ◽  
Wenxiao Qiao ◽  
Xiaohua Che ◽  
Xiaodong Ju ◽  
Junqiang Lu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Domain Model ◽  
P Wave ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Angle Variation ◽  
P Waves ◽  
Acoustic Logging ◽  
S Waves ◽  
Rock Formation ◽  
Logging Tool ◽  
Difference Time

We have developed a new 3D acoustic logging tool (3DAC). To examine the azimuthal resolution of 3DAC, we have evaluated a 3D finite-difference time-domain model to simulate a case in which the borehole penetrated a rock formation boundary when the tool worked at the azimuthal-transmitting-azimuthal-receiving mode. The results indicated that there were two types of P-waves with different slowness in waveforms: the P-wave of the harder rock (P1) and the P-wave of the softer rock (P2). The P1-wave can be observed in each azimuthal receiver, but the P2-wave appears only in the azimuthal receivers toward the softer rock. When these two types of rock are both fast formations, two types of S-waves also exist, and they have better azimuthal sensitivity compared with P-waves. The S-wave of the harder rock (S1) appears only in receivers toward the harder rock, and the S-wave of the softer rock (S2) appears only in receivers toward the softer rock. A model was simulated in which the boundary between shale and sand penetrated the borehole but not the borehole axis. The P-wave of shale and the S-wave of sand are azimuthally sensitive to the azimuth angle variation of two formations. In addition, waveforms obtained from 3DAC working at the monopole-transmitting-azimuthal-receiving mode indicate that the corresponding P-waves and S-waves are azimuthally sensitive, too. Finally, we have developed a field example of 3DAC to support our simulation results: The azimuthal variation of the P-wave slowness was observed and can thus be used to reflect the azimuthal heterogeneity of formations.

An analytical solution to separate P‐waves and S‐waves in VSP wavefields

Geophysics ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 955-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Amano
Keyword(s):  
Analytical Solution ◽  
Formal Solution ◽  
Seismic Profile ◽  
Synthetic Seismograms ◽  
Third Order ◽  
P Waves ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
S Waves ◽  
The Third ◽  
Z Domain

An analytical solution to separate P‐waves and S‐waves in vertical seismic profile (VSP) wavefields is derived using combinations of certain terms of the formal solution for forward VSP modeling. Some practical applications of this method to synthetic seismograms and field data are investigated and evaluated. Little wave distortion is recognized, and the weak wavefield masked by dominant wavetrains can be extracted with this method. The decomposed wavefield is expressed in the frequency‐depth (f-z) domain as a linear combination of up to the third‐order differential of traces, which is approximated by trace differences in the practical separation process. In general, five traces with single‐component data are required in this process, but the same process is implemented with only three traces in the acoustic case. Two‐trace extrapolation is applied to each edge of the data gather to enhance the accuracy of trace difference. Since the formulas are developed in the f-z domain, the influence of anelasticity can be taken into account, and the calculation is carried out fast enough with the benefit of the fast Fourier transform (FFT).

Shallow near-surface effects

Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. T221-T231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine E. Krohn ◽  
Thomas J. Murray
Keyword(s):  
Time Delay ◽  
Velocity Gradient ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Unconsolidated Sediments ◽  
P Waves ◽  
Large Computer ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
S Waves ◽  
High Attenuation ◽  
Pulse Broadening

The top 6 m of the near surface has a surprisingly large effect on the behavior of P- and S-waves. For unconsolidated sediments, the P-wave velocity gradient and attenuation can be quite large. Computer modeling should include these properties to accurately reproduce seismic effects of the near surface. We have used reverse VSP data and computer simulations to demonstrate the following effects for upgoing P-waves. Near the surface, we have observed a large time delay, indicating low velocity ([Formula: see text]), and considerable pulse broadening, indicating high attenuation ([Formula: see text]). Consequently, shallowly buried geophones have greater high-frequency bandwidth compared with surface geophones. In addition, there is a large velocity gradient in the shallow near surface (factor of 10 in 5 m), resulting in the rotation of P-waves to the vertical with progressively smaller amplitudes recorded on horizontal phones. Finally, we have found little indication of a reflection or ghost from the surface, although downgoing reflections have been observed from interfaces within the near surface. In comparison, the following have been observed for upgoing S-waves: There is a small increase in the time delay or pulse broadening near the surface, indicating a smaller velocity gradient and less change in attenuation. In addition, the surface reflection coefficient is nearly one with a prominent surface ghost.

scholarly journals Relative moment tensors and deep Yakutat seismicity

2019 ◽  
Vol 219 (2) ◽  
pp. 1447-1462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre P Plourde ◽  
Michael G Bostock
Keyword(s):  
Principal Components ◽  
Moment Tensor ◽  
Synthetic Data ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Inversion Method ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Stress Regime ◽  
Moment Tensors ◽  
S Waves

SUMMARY We introduce a new relative moment tensor (MT) inversion method for clusters of nearby earthquakes. The method extends previous work by introducing constraints from S-waves that do not require modal decomposition and by employing principal component analysis to produce robust estimates of excitation. At each receiver, P and S waves from each event are independently aligned and decomposed into principal components. P-wave constraints on MTs are obtained from a ratio of coefficients corresponding to the first principal component, equivalent to a relative amplitude. For S waves we produce constraints on MTs involving three events, where one event is described as a linear combination of the other two, and coefficients are derived from the first two principal components. Nonlinear optimization is applied to efficiently find best-fitting tensile-earthquake and double-couple solutions for relative MT systems. Using synthetic data, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the P and S constraints both individually and in combination. We then apply the relative MT inversion to a set of 16 earthquakes from southern Alaska, at ∼125 km depth within the subducted Yakutat terrane. Most events are compatible with a stress tensor dominated by downdip tension, however, we observe several pairs of earthquakes with nearly antiparallel slip implying that the stress regime is heterogeneous and/or faults are extremely weak. The location of these events near the abrupt downdip termination of seismicity and the low-velocity zone suggest that they are caused by weakening via grain-size and volume reduction associated with eclogitization of the lower crustal gabbro layer.

Crosswell seismic imaging in a contaminated basalt aquifer

Geophysics ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Daley ◽  
Ernest L. Majer ◽  
John E. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Source ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
S Waves ◽  
High Attenuation ◽  
Well Spacing ◽  
Simultaneous Acquisition ◽  
Environmental Laboratory ◽  
New Type ◽  
Borehole Seismic

Multiple seismic crosswell surveys have been acquired and analyzed in a fractured basalt aquifer at Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory. Most of these surveys used a high‐frequency (1000–10,000 Hz) piezoelectric seismic source to obtain P‐wave velocity tomograms. The P‐wave velocities range from less than 3200 m/s to more than 5000 m/s. Additionally, a new type of borehole seismic source was deployed as part of the subsurface characterization program at this contaminated groundwater site. This source, known as an orbital vibrator, allows simultaneous acquisition of P‐ and S‐waves at frequencies of 100 to 400 Hz, and acquisition over larger distances. The velocity tomograms show a relationship to contaminant transport in the groundwater; zones of high contaminant concentration are coincident with zones of low velocity and high attenuation and are interpreted to be fracture zones at the boundaries between basalt flows. The orbital vibrator data show high Vp/Vs values, from 1.8 to 2.8. In spite of the lower resolution of orbital vibrator data, these data were sufficient for constraining hydrologic models at this site while achieving imaging over large interwell distances. The combination of piezoelectric data for closer well spacing and orbital vibrator data for larger well spacings has provided optimal imaging capability and has been instrumental in our understanding of the site aquifer's hydrologic properties and its scale of heterogeneity.

Velocity anisotropy in shale determined from crosshole seismic and vertical seismic profile data

Geophysics ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 470-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. F. Winterstein ◽  
B. N. P. Paulsson
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Profile ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Isotropic Model ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Vertical Seismic Profile ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
S Waves ◽  
Velocity Anisotropy ◽  
Wave Velocities ◽  
Late Tertiary

Crosshole and vertical seismic profile (VST) data made possible accurate characterization of the elastic properties, including noticeable velocity anisotropy, of a near‐surface late Tertiary shale formation. Shear‐wave splitting was obvious in both crosshole and VSP data. In crosshole data, two orthologonally polarrized shear (S) waves arrived 19 ms in the uppermost 246 ft (75 m). Vertically traveling S waves of the VSP separated about 10 ms in the uppermost 300 ft (90 m) but remained at nearly constant separation below that level. A transversely isotropic model, which incorporates a rapid increase in S-wave velocities with depth but slow increase in P-wave velocities, closely fits the data over most of the measured interval. Elastic constants of the transvesely isotropic model show spherical P- and [Formula: see text]wave velocity surfaces but an ellipsoidal [Formula: see text]wave surface with a ratio of major to minor axes of 1.15. The magnitude of this S-wave anisotropy is consistent with and lends credence to S-wave anisotropy magnitudes deduced less directly from data of many sedimentary basins.

scholarly journals MORE ABOUT THE WILSONIAN ANALYSIS ON THE PIONLESS NEFT

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (16n17) ◽  
pp. 3191-3225 ◽  
Author(s):  
KOJI HARADA ◽  
HIROFUMI KUBO ◽  
ATSUSHI NINOMIYA
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Points ◽  
Scattering Amplitude ◽  
Flow Equation ◽  
Effective Field ◽  
P Wave ◽  
P Waves ◽  
S Waves ◽  
Partial Waves ◽  
The One ◽  
Power Divergence

We extend our Wilsonian renormalization group (RG) analysis on the pionless nuclear effective field theory in the two-nucleon sector in two ways; on the one hand, (1) we enlarge the space of operators up to including those of [Formula: see text] in the S waves, and, on the other hand, (2) we consider the RG flows in higher partial waves (P and D waves). In the larger space calculations, we find, in addition to nontrivial fixed points, two "fixed lines" and a "fixed surface" which are related to marginal operators. In the higher partial wave calculations, we find similar phase structures to that of the S waves, but there are two relevant directions in the P waves at the nontrivial fixed points and three in the D waves. We explain the physical meaning of the P-wave phase structure by explicitly calculating the low-energy scattering amplitude. We also discuss the relation between the Legendre flow equation which we employ and the RG equation by Birse, McGovern and Richardson, and possible implementation of power divergence subtraction in higher partial waves.

Imaging beneath a high‐velocity layer using converted waves

Geophysics ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 57 (11) ◽  
pp. 1444-1452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy W. Purnell
Keyword(s):  
High Velocity ◽  
Energy Partitioning ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Converted Wave ◽  
P Waves ◽  
Lower Velocity ◽  
S Waves ◽  
High Velocity Layer ◽  
The Waves ◽  
Velocity Layer

High‐velocity layers (HVLs) often hinder seismic imaging of deeper reflectors using conventional techniques. A major factor is often the unusual energy partitioning of waves incident at an HVL boundary from lower‐velocity material. Using elastic physical modeling, I demonstrate that one effect of this factor is to limit the range of dips beneath an HVL that can be imaged using unconverted P‐wave arrivals. At the same time, however, partitioning may also result in P‐waves outside the HVL coupling efficiently with S‐waves inside. By exploiting some of the waves that convert upon transmission into and/or out of the physical‐model HVL, I am able to image a much broader range of underlying dips. This is accomplished by acoustic migration tailored (via the migration velocities used) for selected families of converted‐wave arrivals.

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