Innovative seismic imaging of VMS deposits, Neves-Corvo, Portugal: Part I - In-mine array

Geophysics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-76
Author(s):  
Bojan Brodic ◽  
Alireza Malehmir ◽  
Nelson Bruno Monteiro Pacheco ◽  
Christopher Juhlin ◽  
Joao Carvalho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Imaging ◽  
Ground Surface ◽  
Seismic Source ◽  
Massive Sulfide ◽  
Seismic Profiles ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Active Source ◽  
Seismic Experiment ◽  
Rock Mining ◽  
Seismic Acquisition

To evaluate and upscale the feasibility of utilizing exploration tunnels in an operating mine for active-source seismic imaging, a seismic experiment was conducted at the Neves-Corvo mine, in southern Portugal. Four seismic profiles were deployed in exploration drifts ca. 650 m beneath the ground surface, above the world-class Lombador volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposit. In addition to the tunnel profiles, two perpendicular surface seismic profiles were deployed above the exploration tunnels. The survey was possible due to a newly developed prototype GPS-time transmitter enabling accurate GPS synchronization of cabled and nodal seismic recorders, both below and on the surface. Another innovative acquisition aspect was a 1.65 t broadband, linear synchronous motor (LSM) driven - electric seismic vibrator (e-vib) used as the seismic source along two of the exploration tunnels. Challenges and innovations necessary for active-source tunnel seismic acquisition, characterized by high levels of vibrational noise from the mining activities, are discussed. Additionally, the LSM vibrator’s signal and overall seismic data quality in this hard rock mining environment are evaluated. Processing results from the tunnel data and 3D reflection imaging of the Lombador deposit below the exploration tunnels are shown and the results checked for consistency through constant-velocity 3D ray-tracing traveltime forward modeling. For imaging purposes, 3D Kirchhoff pre-stack depth and post-stack time migration algorithms were used, with both successfully imaging the targeted deposit. The results obtained show that active-source seismic imaging using subsurface mining infrastructure of operational mines is possible. However, it requires innovative exploration strategies, a broadband seismic source, an accurate GPS-time system capable of transmitting GPS-time hundreds of meters below the surface and careful processing. The results obtained open up possibilities for similar studies in different mining or tunneling projects.

3D constraints and finite-difference modeling of massive sulfide deposits: The Kristineberg seismic lines revisited, northern Sweden

Geophysics ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. WC69-WC79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahdieh Dehghannejad ◽  
Alireza Malehmir ◽  
Christopher Juhlin ◽  
Pietari Skyttä
Keyword(s):  
Finite Difference ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Massive Sulfide ◽  
Northern Sweden ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Sulfide Deposits ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Massive Sulfide Deposits ◽  
Prestack Time Migration ◽  
Seismic Lines

The Kristineberg mining area in the western part of the Skellefte ore district is the largest base metal producer in northern Sweden and currently the subject of extensive geophysical and geologic studies aimed at constructing 3D geologic models. Seismic reflection data form the backbone of the geologic modeling in the study area. A geologic cross section close to the Kristineberg mine was used to generate synthetic seismic data using acoustic and elastic finite-difference algorithms to provide further insight about the nature of reflections and processing challenges when attempting to image the steeply dipping structures within the study area. Synthetic data suggest processing artifacts manifested themselves in the final 2D images as steeply dipping events that could be confused with reflections. Fewer artifacts are observed when the data are processed using prestack time migration. Prestack time migration also was performed on high-resolution seismic data recently collected near the Kristineberg mine and helped to image a high-amplitude, gently dipping reflection occurring stratigraphically above the extension of the deepest Kristineberg deposit. Swath 3D processing was applied to two crossing seismic lines, west of the Kristineberg mine, to provide information on the 3D geometry of an apparently flat-lying reflection observed in both of the profiles. The processing indicated that the reflection dips about 30° to the southwest and is generated at the contact between metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks, the upper part of the latter unit being the most typical stratigraphic level for the massive sulfide deposits in the Skellefte district.

Implicit interpolation in reverse‐time migration

Geophysics ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 906-917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinming Zhu ◽  
Larry R. Lines
Keyword(s):  
Wave Equation ◽  
Finite Difference ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Seismic Sources ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Difference Wave ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Seismic Acquisition ◽  
Recorded Data

Reverse‐time migration applies finite‐difference wave equation solutions by using unaliased time‐reversed recorded traces as seismic sources. Recorded data can be sparsely or irregularly sampled relative to a finely spaced finite‐difference mesh because of the nature of seismic acquisition. Fortunately, reliable interpolation of missing traces is implicitly included in the reverse‐time wave equation computations. This implicit interpolation is essentially based on the ability of the wavefield to “heal itself” during propagation. Both synthetic and real data examples demonstrate that reverse‐time migration can often be performed effectively without the need for explicit interpolation of missing traces.

3D seismic imaging of volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits in the Flin Flon mining camp, Canada: Part 2 — Forward modeling

Geophysics ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. WC81-WC93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Malinowski ◽  
Ernst Schetselaar ◽  
Donald J. White
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Data ◽  
Massive Sulfide ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Earth Model ◽  
Seismic Modeling ◽  
Volcanogenic Massive Sulfide ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Rock Interaction ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Flin Flon

We applied seismic modeling for a detailed 3D geologic model of the Flin Flon mining camp (Canada) to address some imaging and interpretation issues related to a [Formula: see text] 3D survey acquired in the camp and described in a complementary paper (part 1). A 3D geologic volumetric model of the camp was created based on a compilation of geologic data constraints from drillholes, surface geologic mapping, interpretation of 2D seismic profiles, and 3D surface and grid geostatistical modeling techniques. The 3D modeling methodology was based on a hierarchical approach to account for the heterogeneous spatial distribution of geologic constraints. Elastic parameters were assigned within the model based on core sample measurements and correlation with the different lithologies. The phase-screen algorithm used for seismic modeling was validated against analytic and finite-difference solutions to ensure that it provided accurate amplitude-variation-with-offset behavior for dipping strata. Synthetic data were generated to form zero-offset (stack) volume and also a complete prestack data set using the geometry of the real 3D survey. We found that the ability to detect a clear signature of the volcanogenic massive sulfide with ore deposits is dependent on the mineralization type (pyrite versus pyrrhotite rich ore), especially when ore-host rock interaction is considered. In the presence of an increasing fraction of the host rhyolite rock within the model volume, the response from the lower impedance pyrrhotite ore is masked by that of the rhyolite. Migration tests showed that poststack migration effectively enhances noisy 3D DMO data and provides comparable results to more computationally expensive prestack time migration. Amplitude anomalies identified in the original 3D data, which were not predicted by our modeling, could represent potential exploration targets in an undeveloped part of the camp, assuming that our a priori earth model is sufficiently accurate.

scholarly journals Integrated Geophysical Analyses of Shallow-Water Seismic Imaging With Scholte Wave Inversion: The Northern Adriatic Sea Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Giustiniani ◽  
U. Tinivella ◽  
S. Parolai ◽  
F. Donda ◽  
G. Brancolini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Seismic Data ◽  
Seismic Imaging ◽  
P Wave ◽  
Critical Conditions ◽  
Integrated Analysis ◽  
Northern Adriatic Sea ◽  
Northern Adriatic ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Scholte Waves

The integrated analysis using different seismic wave types in a record is a very efficient approach for a comprehensive characterization of marine sediments, especially in shallow water conditions. The proposed integrated method to analyze seismic data in post-critical conditions consists of: 1) the inversion of Scholte waves to obtain a reliable Vs distribution of the near seafloor; 2) pre-processing of seismic data; 3) construction of the P-wave velocity field by using all available information, including available well data; and 4) the application of the wave equation datuming and post-processing, such as pre-stack time migration. We demonstrate how this approach could be successfully applied on seismic datasets characterized by post-critical conditions and the occurrence of the Scholte waves, which may be exploited to provide fundamental information instead of being only an unwanted effect. The integrated analysis of seismic events can thus help, together with data processing, by providing better seismic imaging, which is a priority for a reliable seismostratigraphic interpretation.

Performance of low-fold scalar migration for downhole seismic imaging of massive sulfide ore deposits at Norman West, Sudbury, Canada

Geophysics ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 77 (5) ◽  
pp. WC3-WC13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christof Mueller ◽  
Gilles Bellefleur ◽  
Erick Adam ◽  
Gervais Perron ◽  
Marko Mah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Data ◽  
Seismic Imaging ◽  
Signal To Noise Ratio ◽  
Massive Sulfide ◽  
Ore Deposits ◽  
Ore Deposit ◽  
Seismic Scattering ◽  
Vertical Seismic Profiling ◽  
Sudbury Igneous Complex ◽  
Sulfide Ore

The Downhole Seismic Imaging consortium conducted two consecutive vertical seismic profiling surveys in the Norman West mining camp (Sudbury, Canada) in 1998 and 1999. These were aimed toward imaging a massive sulfide ore deposit situated within the footwall of the Sudbury Igneous Complex (SIC). Three-component seismic data were acquired in four boreholes with variable signal-to-noise ratio and poor polarization quality. Consequently, the images suffered from strong azimuthal ambiguity. A strike filter, passing only reflections originating from within the SIC, was applied during migration to enhance interpretability of the images obtained. Migrated images showed structures correlating with the known position of an ore deposit located 1800 m away from one borehole (N40). Diffraction coherency migration enhanced the image of the deposit, and suggested strong seismic scattering from within the footwall of the SIC.

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