Topology of ray surfaces in low-velocity zones

1979 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-378
Author(s):  
George A. McMechan

abstract Plotting of three-dimensional ray surfaces in p-Δ-z space provides a means of determining p-Δ curves for any focal depth. A region of increasing velocity with depth is represented in p-Δ-z space by a trough, and a region of decreasing velocity, by a crest. Two sets of ray trajectories, the arrivals refracted outside a low-velocity zone, and the guided waves inside the zone, can be merged into a single set along the ray that splits into two at the top of the low-velocity zone. This ray is common to both sets. This construction provides continuity of the locus of ray turning points through the low-velocity zone and thus allows definition of p-Δ curves inside as well as outside the low-velocity zone.

Geophysics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. T509-T521
Author(s):  
Owen Huff ◽  
Bin Luo ◽  
Ariel Lellouch ◽  
Ge Jin

Guided waves that propagate in deep low-velocity zones can be described using the displacement-stress eigenfunction theory. For a layered subsurface, these eigenfunctions provide a framework to calculate guided-wave properties at a fraction of the time required for fully numerical approaches for wave-equation modeling, such as the finite-difference approach. Using a 1D velocity model representing the low-velocity Eagle Ford Shale, an unconventional hydrocarbon reservoir, we verify the accuracy of the displacement eigenfunctions by comparing with finite-difference modeling. We use the amplitude portion of the Green’s function for source-receiver eigenfunction pairs as a proxy for expected guided-wave amplitude. These response functions are used to investigate the impact of the velocity contrast, reservoir thickness, and receiver depth on guided-wave amplitudes for discrete frequencies. We find that receivers located within the low-velocity zone record larger guided-wave amplitudes. This property may be used to infer the location of the recording array in relation to the low-velocity reservoir. We also study guided-wave energy distribution between the different layers of the Eagle Ford model and find that most of the high-frequency energy is confined to the low-velocity reservoir. We corroborate this measurement with field microseismic data recorded by distributed acoustic sensing fiber installed outside of the Eagle Ford. The data contain high-frequency body-wave energy, but the guided waves are confined to low frequencies because the recording array is outside the waveguide. We also study the energy distribution between the fundamental and first guided-wave modes as a function of the frequency and source depth and find a nodal point in the first mode for source depths originating in the middle of the low-velocity zone, which we validate with the same field data. The varying modal energy distribution can provide useful constraints for microseismic event depth estimation.


2013 ◽  
Vol 712-715 ◽  
pp. 1268-1273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heng Zhou ◽  
Zhi Guo Luo ◽  
Tao Zhang ◽  
Jun Jie Sun ◽  
Li Hao Han ◽  
...  

A three-dimensional mathematical model is developed to describe the influence of AGD beams on gas distribution in COREX-3000 shaft furnace. The calculated result shows that with AGD beams installed, the pressure drop in furnace is decreased while the volume of low velocity zone at bottom of furnace is enlarged. AGD channels can lead reduction gas into shaft center, and increase the gas velocity at slots level, but it have little effect on gas distribution at upper part of the furnace. AGD beams are also good at restraining down pipe gas, and the volume fraction of down pipe gas declines from 9.89 % to 6.41 %, decreases about 35.2%. 2#COREX furnace with AGD beams is better at achieving uniform gas distribution.


2012 ◽  
Vol 337-338 ◽  
pp. 25-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf T.J. Hansen ◽  
Michael G. Bostock ◽  
Nikolas I. Christensen

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
JD Eccles ◽  
AK Gulley ◽  
PE Malin ◽  
CM Boese ◽  
John Townend ◽  
...  

© 2015. American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved. Fault Zone Guided Waves (FZGWs) have been observed for the first time within New Zealand's transpressional continental plate boundary, the Alpine Fault, which is late in its typical seismic cycle. Ongoing study of these phases provides the opportunity to monitor interseismic conditions in the fault zone. Distinctive dispersive seismic codas (~7-35Hz) have been recorded on shallow borehole seismometers installed within 20m of the principal slip zone. Near the central Alpine Fault, known for low background seismicity, FZGW-generating microseismic events are located beyond the catchment-scale partitioning of the fault indicating lateral connectivity of the low-velocity zone immediately below the near-surface segmentation. Initial modeling of the low-velocity zone indicates a waveguide width of 60-200m with a 10-40% reduction in S wave velocity, similar to that inferred for the fault core of other mature plate boundary faults such as the San Andreas and North Anatolian Faults.


1978 ◽  
Vol 41 (4) ◽  
pp. 670-683 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Wyllie

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