Detection of sharp lateral discontinuities through the analysis of surface-wave propagation

Geophysics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. EN77-EN90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Bergamo ◽  
Laura Valentina Socco

Surface-wave (SW) techniques are mainly used to retrieve 1D velocity models and are therefore characterized by a 1D approach, which might prove unsatisfactory when relevant 2D effects are present in the investigated subsurface. In the case of sharp and sudden lateral heterogeneities in the subsurface, a strategy to tackle this limitation is to estimate the location of the discontinuities and to separately process seismic traces belonging to quasi-1D subsurface portions. We have addressed our attention to methods aimed at locating discontinuities by identifying anomalies in SW propagation and attenuation. The considered methods are the autospectrum computation and the attenuation analysis of Rayleigh waves (AARW). These methods were developed for purposes and/or scales of analysis that are different from those of this work, which aims at detecting and characterizing sharp subvertical discontinuities in the shallow subsurface. We applied both methods to two data sets, synthetic data from a finite-element method simulation and a field data set acquired over a fault system, both presenting an abrupt lateral variation perpendicularly crossing the acquisition line. We also extended the AARW method to the detection of sharp discontinuities from large and multifold data sets and we tested these novel procedures on the field case. The two methods are proven to be effective for the detection of the discontinuity, by portraying propagation phenomena linked to the presence of the heterogeneity, such as the interference between incident and reflected wavetrains, and energy concentration as well as subsequent decay at the fault location. The procedures we developed for the processing of multifold seismic data set showed to be reliable tools in locating and characterizing subvertical sharp heterogeneities.

2014 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 781-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Paatero ◽  
S. Eberly ◽  
S. G. Brown ◽  
G. A. Norris

Abstract. The EPA PMF (Environmental Protection Agency positive matrix factorization) version 5.0 and the underlying multilinear engine-executable ME-2 contain three methods for estimating uncertainty in factor analytic models: classical bootstrap (BS), displacement of factor elements (DISP), and bootstrap enhanced by displacement of factor elements (BS-DISP). The goal of these methods is to capture the uncertainty of PMF analyses due to random errors and rotational ambiguity. It is shown that the three methods complement each other: depending on characteristics of the data set, one method may provide better results than the other two. Results are presented using synthetic data sets, including interpretation of diagnostics, and recommendations are given for parameters to report when documenting uncertainty estimates from EPA PMF or ME-2 applications.


Author(s):  
Danlei Xu ◽  
Lan Du ◽  
Hongwei Liu ◽  
Penghui Wang

A Bayesian classifier for sparsity-promoting feature selection is developed in this paper, where a set of nonlinear mappings for the original data is performed as a pre-processing step. The linear classification model with such mappings from the original input space to a nonlinear transformation space can not only construct the nonlinear classification boundary, but also realize the feature selection for the original data. A zero-mean Gaussian prior with Gamma precision and a finite approximation of Beta process prior are used to promote sparsity in the utilization of features and nonlinear mappings in our model, respectively. We derive the Variational Bayesian (VB) inference algorithm for the proposed linear classifier. Experimental results based on the synthetic data set, measured radar data set, high-dimensional gene expression data set, and several benchmark data sets demonstrate the aggressive and robust feature selection capability and comparable classification accuracy of our method comparing with some other existing classifiers.


Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (3) ◽  
pp. R199-R217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xintao Chai ◽  
Shangxu Wang ◽  
Genyang Tang

Seismic data are nonstationary due to subsurface anelastic attenuation and dispersion effects. These effects, also referred to as the earth’s [Formula: see text]-filtering effects, can diminish seismic resolution. We previously developed a method of nonstationary sparse reflectivity inversion (NSRI) for resolution enhancement, which avoids the intrinsic instability associated with inverse [Formula: see text] filtering and generates superior [Formula: see text] compensation results. Applying NSRI to data sets that contain multiples (addressing surface-related multiples only) requires a demultiple preprocessing step because NSRI cannot distinguish primaries from multiples and will treat them as interference convolved with incorrect [Formula: see text] values. However, multiples contain information about subsurface properties. To use information carried by multiples, with the feedback model and NSRI theory, we adapt NSRI to the context of nonstationary seismic data with surface-related multiples. Consequently, not only are the benefits of NSRI (e.g., circumventing the intrinsic instability associated with inverse [Formula: see text] filtering) extended, but also multiples are considered. Our method is limited to be a 1D implementation. Theoretical and numerical analyses verify that given a wavelet, the input [Formula: see text] values primarily affect the inverted reflectivities and exert little effect on the estimated multiples; i.e., multiple estimation need not consider [Formula: see text] filtering effects explicitly. However, there are benefits for NSRI considering multiples. The periodicity and amplitude of the multiples imply the position of the reflectivities and amplitude of the wavelet. Multiples assist in overcoming scaling and shifting ambiguities of conventional problems in which multiples are not considered. Experiments using a 1D algorithm on a synthetic data set, the publicly available Pluto 1.5 data set, and a marine data set support the aforementioned findings and reveal the stability, capabilities, and limitations of the proposed method.


Geophysics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. M41-M48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongwei Liu ◽  
Mustafa Naser Al-Ali

The ideal approach for continuous reservoir monitoring allows generation of fast and accurate images to cope with the massive data sets acquired for such a task. Conventionally, rigorous depth-oriented velocity-estimation methods are performed to produce sufficiently accurate velocity models. Unlike the traditional way, the target-oriented imaging technology based on the common-focus point (CFP) theory can be an alternative for continuous reservoir monitoring. The solution is based on a robust data-driven iterative operator updating strategy without deriving a detailed velocity model. The same focusing operator is applied on successive 3D seismic data sets for the first time to generate efficient and accurate 4D target-oriented seismic stacked images from time-lapse field seismic data sets acquired in a [Formula: see text] injection project in Saudi Arabia. Using the focusing operator, target-oriented prestack angle domain common-image gathers (ADCIGs) could be derived to perform amplitude-versus-angle analysis. To preserve the amplitude information in the ADCIGs, an amplitude-balancing factor is applied by embedding a synthetic data set using the real acquisition geometry to remove the geometry imprint artifact. Applying the CFP-based target-oriented imaging to time-lapse data sets revealed changes at the reservoir level in the poststack and prestack time-lapse signals, which is consistent with the [Formula: see text] injection history and rock physics.


Geophysics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. E293-E299
Author(s):  
Jorlivan L. Correa ◽  
Paulo T. L. Menezes

Synthetic data provided by geoelectric earth models are a powerful tool to evaluate a priori a controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) workflow effectiveness. Marlim R3D (MR3D) is an open-source complex and realistic geoelectric model for CSEM simulations of the postsalt turbiditic reservoirs at the Brazilian offshore margin. We have developed a 3D CSEM finite-difference time-domain forward study to generate the full-azimuth CSEM data set for the MR3D earth model. To that end, we fabricated a full-azimuth survey with 45 towlines striking the north–south and east–west directions over a total of 500 receivers evenly spaced at 1 km intervals along the rugged seafloor of the MR3D model. To correctly represent the thin, disconnected, and complex geometries of the studied reservoirs, we have built a finely discretized mesh of [Formula: see text] cells leading to a large mesh with a total of approximately 90 million cells. We computed the six electromagnetic field components (Ex, Ey, Ez, Hx, Hy, and Hz) at six frequencies in the range of 0.125–1.25 Hz. In our efforts to mimic noise in real CSEM data, we summed to the data a multiplicative noise with a 1% standard deviation. Both CSEM data sets (noise free and noise added), with inline and broadside geometries, are distributed for research or commercial use, under the Creative Common License, at the Zenodo platform.


Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. G1-G21 ◽  
Author(s):  
William J. Titus ◽  
Sarah J. Titus ◽  
Joshua R. Davis

We apply a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo formalism to the gravity inversion of a single localized 2D subsurface object. The object is modeled as a polygon described by five parameters: the number of vertices, a density contrast, a shape-limiting factor, and the width and depth of an encompassing container. We first constrain these parameters with an interactive forward model and explicit geologic information. Then, we generate an approximate probability distribution of polygons for a given set of parameter values. From these, we determine statistical distributions such as the variance between the observed and model fields, the area, the center of area, and the occupancy probability (the probability that a spatial point lies within the subsurface object). We introduce replica exchange to mitigate trapping in local optima and to compute model probabilities and their uncertainties. We apply our techniques to synthetic data sets and a natural data set collected across the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in New Mexico. On the basis of our examples, we find that the occupancy probability is useful in visualizing the results, giving a “hazy” cross section of the object. We also find that the role of the container is important in making predictions about the subsurface object.


Geophysics ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claude F. Lafond ◽  
Alan R. Levander

Prestack depth migration still suffers from the problems associated with building appropriate velocity models. The two main after‐migration, before‐stack velocity analysis techniques currently used, depth focusing and residual moveout correction, have found good use in many applications but have also shown their limitations in the case of very complex structures. To address this issue, we have extended the residual moveout analysis technique to the general case of heterogeneous velocity fields and steep dips, while keeping the algorithm robust enough to be of practical use on real data. Our method is not based on analytic expressions for the moveouts and requires no a priori knowledge of the model, but instead uses geometrical ray tracing in heterogeneous media, layer‐stripping migration, and local wavefront analysis to compute residual velocity corrections. These corrections are back projected into the velocity model along raypaths in a way that is similar to tomographic reconstruction. While this approach is more general than existing migration velocity analysis implementations, it is also much more computer intensive and is best used locally around a particularly complex structure. We demonstrate the technique using synthetic data from a model with strong velocity gradients and then apply it to a marine data set to improve the positioning of a major fault.


Geophysics ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-53
Author(s):  
Sylvain Pasquet ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Po Chen ◽  
Brady A. Flinchum

Surface wave (SW) methods are classically used to characterize shear (S-) wave velocities ( VS) of the shallow subsurface through the inversion of dispersion curves. When targeting 2D shallow structures with sharp lateral heterogeneity, windowing and stacking techniques can be implemented to provide a better description of VS lateral variations. These techniques, however, suffer from the trade-off between lateral resolution and depth of investigation, well-known when using multichannel analysis of surface waves (MASW). We propose a novel methodology aimed at enhancing both lateral resolution and depth of investigation of MASW results through the use of multi-window weighted stacking of surface waves (MW-WSSW). MW-WSSW consists in stacking dispersion images obtained from data segments of different sizes, with a wavelength-based weight that depends on the aperture of the data selection window. In that sense, MW-WSSW provides additional weight to short wavelengths in smaller windows so as to better inform shallow parts of the subsurface, and vice versa for deeper velocities. Using multiple windows improves the depth of investigation, while applying wavelength-based weights enhances shallow lateral resolution. MW-WSSW was implemented within the open-source package SWIP, and applied to the processing of synthetic and real data sets. In both cases we compared it with standard windowing and stacking procedures that are already implemented in SWIP. MW-WSSW provided convincing results with optimized lateral extent, improved shallow resolution, and increased depth of investigation.


Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. V213-V225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaohuan Zu ◽  
Hui Zhou ◽  
Yangkang Chen ◽  
Shan Qu ◽  
Xiaofeng Zou ◽  
...  

We have designed a periodically varying code that can avoid the problem of the local coherency and make the interference distribute uniformly in a given range; hence, it was better at suppressing incoherent interference (blending noise) and preserving coherent useful signals compared with a random dithering code. We have also devised a new form of the iterative method to remove interference generated from the simultaneous source acquisition. In each iteration, we have estimated the interference using the blending operator following the proposed formula and then subtracted the interference from the pseudodeblended data. To further eliminate the incoherent interference and constrain the inversion, the data were then transformed to an auxiliary sparse domain for applying a thresholding operator. During the iterations, the threshold was decreased from the largest value to zero following an exponential function. The exponentially decreasing threshold aimed to gradually pass the deblended data to a more acceptable model subspace. Two numerically blended synthetic data sets and one numerically blended practical field data set from an ocean bottom cable were used to demonstrate the usefulness of our proposed method and the better performance of the periodically varying code over the traditional random dithering code.


2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 7593-7631 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Paatero ◽  
S. Eberly ◽  
S. G. Brown ◽  
G. A. Norris

Abstract. EPA PMF version 5.0 and the underlying multilinear engine executable ME-2 contain three methods for estimating uncertainty in factor analytic models: classical bootstrap (BS), displacement of factor elements (DISP), and bootstrap enhanced by displacement of factor elements (BS-DISP). The goal of these methods is to capture the uncertainty of PMF analyses due to random errors and rotational ambiguity. It is shown that the three methods complement each other: depending on characteristics of the data set, one method may provide better results than the other two. Results are presented using synthetic data sets, including interpretation of diagnostics, and recommendations are given for parameters to report when documenting uncertainty estimates from EPA PMF or ME-2 applications.


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