Simple Estimation Method of S-wave Velocity by Using One 3-Component Seismometer with P-wave Reflection Profiling

Two field experiments in the Sacramento basin and one in the Green River basin demonstrate that comparative P-wave and S-wave CDP seismic sections can be used to detect gas directly in sandstone reservoirs. The lines in the Sacramento basin were shot over producing gas fields known to correlate with amplitude anomalies on P-wave sections. Reflections of comparable strength are present on the P-wave and S-wave sections at lithologic boundaries, but gas‐saturated zones correlating with P-wave bright spots show no equivalent S-wave amplitude anomalies. The responses are consistent with laboratory observations that P-wave velocity is more sensitive to the introduction of gas into liquid‐saturated pore space than S-wave velocity. The line in the Green River basin was shot over a relatively deep gas field producing from an overpressured reservoir not associated with a conventional P-wave bright spot. The P-wave reflection strength of the reservoir is about 50 percent greater than the S-wave reflection strength, whereas the P and S strengths of other major reflectors are comparable. The three field tests show that an S-wave section validates a P-wave bright spot attributed to gas saturation when there is no anomalous amplitude at the equivalent S-wave event and that the technique is useful for verification of subtle as well as strong amplitude anomalies.

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Improved estimation method for dynamic bulk moduli of sandstones subjected to hydrostatic stress.

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-3588 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nazanin Nourifard ◽

Elena Pasternak ◽

Maxim Lebedev

Keyword(s):

Hydrostatic Pressure ◽

Wave Velocity ◽

Hydrostatic Stress ◽

Estimation Method ◽

P Wave ◽

S Wave ◽

Dynamic Moduli ◽

Fixed Rate ◽

Wave Velocities ◽

P Wave Velocity

We designed and modified an experimental method to simultaneously measure the stress-strain (static moduli) and stress dependence of S and P-wave velocities of rocks (sandstone) under hydrostatic pressure by a Hoek&#8217;s cell. Dynamic moduli were calculated from the direct measurement of ultrasonic P- and S-wave velocities at a central dominant frequency of 1 MHz, while static moduli was recorded by strain gauges. The hydrostatic pressure was applied with a fixed rate at 1MPa/minute. We observed that the dynamic bulk moduli can be up to 44% higher than the static moduli in sandstones with porosity ranging from 8% to 24%. The results are in agreement with the existing empirical equations for soft rocks. Our experimental results demonstrate that the dynamic bulk&#8217;s modulus ranges from 4-13GPa, while the static bulk modulus ranges from 2-11GPa. We measured dynamic Young&#8217;s modulus and Poisson&#8217;s ratio at four different time periods (before applying the stress, right after the unloading, 20 days, and 60 days after the experiment) to investigate the effect of time on stress relaxation and eventually on the properties of the sandstones. All the samples showed an increase of Young&#8217;s modulus right after the stress application and then a gradual decrease of this value over time because of this relaxation; however, most of the samples could not reach the original state due to irreversible deformation at micro-level. Dynamic moduli show greater sensitivity to the irreversible deformations as compared to static moduli (even within the elastic limits). Dynamic moduli of porous material are also more sensitive to the microstructure than the static ones. Independent P and S-wave measurement for this study showed that the estimation of the S-wave velocity from the recorded P-wave velocity is not an accurate procedure and introduces a big error in the final calculation of the dynamic moduli. It also confirmed that by registering an accurate P-wave velocity the UCS (Unconfined Compressive Strength) value can be accurately estimated for sandstones. This demonstrates the great potential of dynamic studies as a non-destructive method to estimate this value for porous materials.

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Numerical and Theoretical Investigation on the Origin of the Multiple Peaks of the H/V Ratio Curve

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-6904 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wanbo Xiao ◽

Siqi Lu ◽

Yanbin Wang

Keyword(s):

Rayleigh Wave ◽

Wave Velocity ◽

Subsurface Layer ◽

P Wave ◽

Theoretical Formula ◽

S Wave ◽

Multiple Peaks ◽

Ratio Curve ◽

Multiple Layer ◽

Wave Resonance

Despite the popularity of the horizontal to vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) method in site effect studies, the origin of the H/V peaks has been controversial since this method was proposed. Many previous studies mainly focused on the explanation of the first or single peak of the H/V ratio, trying to distinguish between the two hypotheses &#8212; the S-wave resonance and ellipticity of Rayleigh wave. However, it is common both in numerical simulations and practical experiments that the H/V ratio exhibits multiple peaks, which is essential to explore the origin of the H/V peaks.The cause for the multiple H/V peaks has not been clearly figured out, and once was simply explained as the result of multi subsurface layers. Therefore, we adopted numerical method to simulate the ambient noise in various layered half-space models and calculated the H/V ratio curves for further comparisons. The peak frequencies of the H/V curves accord well with the theoretical frequencies of S-wave resonance in two-layer models, whose frequencies only depend on the S wave velocity and the thickness of the subsurface layer. The same is true for models with varying model parameters. Besides, the theoretical formula of the S-wave resonance in multiple-layer models is proposed and then supported by numerical investigations as in the cases of two-layer models. We also extended the S-wave resonance to P-wave resonance and found that its theoretical frequencies fit well with the V/H peaks, which could be an evidence to support the S-wave resonance theory from a new perspective. By contrast, there are obvious differences between the higher orders of the H/V ratio peaks and the higher orders of Rayleigh wave ellipticity curves both in two-layer and multiple-layer models. The Rayleigh wave ellipticity curves are found to be sensitive to the Poisson&#8217;s ratio and the thickness of the subsurface layer, so the variation of the P wave velocity can affect the peak frequencies of the Rayleigh wave ellipticity curves while the H/V peaks show slight change. The Rayleigh wave ellipticity theory is thus proved to be inappropriate for the explanation of the multiple H/V peaks, while the possible effects of the Rayleigh wave on the fundamental H/V peak still cannot be excluded.Based on the analyses above, we proposed a new evidence to support the claim that the peak frequencies of the H/V ratio curve, except the fundamental peaks, are caused by S-wave resonance. The relationship between the P-wave resonance and the V/H peaks may also find further application.

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Using Seismic Data to Predict Shale Pore Pressure and Overpressure Sweet Spots: A Case Study from the Lower Silurian Longmaxi Formation in Sichuan Basin, China

10.2118/208098-ms ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sheng Chen ◽

Qingcai Zeng ◽

Xiujiao Wang ◽

Qing Yang ◽

Chunmeng Dai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prediction Model ◽

Wave Velocity ◽

Shale Gas ◽

Seismic Data ◽

P Wave ◽

Formation Pressure ◽

S Wave ◽

P Wave Velocity ◽

New Formation ◽

Sweet Spots

Abstract Practices of marine shale gas exploration and development in south China have proved that formation overpressure is the main controlling factor of shale gas enrichment and an indicator of good preservation condition. Accurate prediction of formation pressure before drilling is necessary for drilling safety and important for sweet spots predicting and horizontal wells deploying. However, the existing prediction methods of formation pore pressures all have defects, the prediction accuracy unsatisfactory for shale gas development. By means of rock mechanics analysis and related formulas, we derived a formula for calculating formation pore pressures. Through regional rock physical analysis, we determined and optimized the relevant parameters in the formula, and established a new formation pressure prediction model considering P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity and density. Based on regional exploration wells and 3D seismic data, we carried out pre-stack seismic inversion to obtain high-precision P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity and density data volumes. We utilized the new formation pressure prediction model to predict the pressure and the spatial distribution of overpressure sweet spots. Then, we applied the measured pressure data of three new wells to verify the predicted formation pressure by seismic data. The result shows that the new method has a higher accuracy. This method is qualified for safe drilling and prediction of overpressure sweet spots for shale gas development, so it is worthy of promotion.

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Constraints on the composition of the crust and uppermost mantle in northwestern Canada: Vp/Vs variations along Lithoprobe's SNorCLE transect

Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences ◽

10.1139/e05-028 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 42 (6) ◽

pp. 1205-1222 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Gabriela Fernández-Viejo ◽

Ron M Clowes ◽

J Kim Welford

Keyword(s):

Wave Velocity ◽

Upper Mantle ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

High Ratio ◽

P Wave ◽

S Wave ◽

Uppermost Mantle ◽

Crust And Upper Mantle ◽

Slave Craton ◽

Crustal Composition

Shear-wave seismic data recorded along four profiles during the SNoRE 97 (1997 Slave Northern Cordillera Refraction Experiment) refraction wide-angle reflection experiment in northwestern Canada are analyzed to provide S-wave velocity (Vs) models. These are combined with previous P-wave velocity (Vp) models to produce cross sections of the ratio Vp/Vs for the crust and upper mantle. The Vp/Vs values are related to rock types through comparisons with published laboratory data. The Slave craton has low Vp/Vs values of 1.681.72, indicating a predominantly silicic crustal composition. Higher values (1.78) for the Great Bear and eastern Hottah domains of the Wopmay orogen imply a more mafic than average crustal composition. In the western Hottah and Fort Simpson arc, values of Vp/Vs drop to ∼1.69. These low values continue westward for 700 km into the Foreland and Omineca belts of the Cordillera, providing support for the interpretation from coincident seismic reflection studies that much of the crust from east of the Cordilleran deformation front to the Stikinia terrane of the Intermontane Belt consists of quartzose metasedimentary rocks. Stikinia shows values of 1.781.73, consistent with its derivation as a volcanic arc terrane. Upper mantle velocity and ratio values beneath the Slave craton indicate an ultramafic peridotitic composition. In the Wopmay orogen, the presence of low Vp/Vs ratios beneath the Hottah Fort Simpson transition indicates the presence of pyroxenite in the upper mantle. Across the northern Cordillera, low Vp values and a moderate-to-high ratio in the uppermost mantle are consistent with the region's high heat flow and the possible presence of partial melt.

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Nonlinear two‐dimensional elastic inversion of multioffset seismic data

Geophysics ◽

10.1190/1.1442384 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 52 (9) ◽

pp. 1211-1228 ◽

Cited By ~ 575

Author(s):

Peter Mora

Keyword(s):

Wave Equation ◽

Wave Velocity ◽

A Priori ◽

Gaussian Model ◽

Wave Impedance ◽

P Wave ◽

S Wave ◽

Elastic Wave Equation ◽

Gradient Direction ◽

P Wave Velocity

The treatment of multioffset seismic data as an acoustic wave field is becoming increasingly disturbing to many geophysicists who see a multitude of wave phenomena, such as amplitude‐offset variations and shearwave events, which can only be explained by using the more correct elastic wave equation. Not only are such phenomena ignored by acoustic theory, but they are also treated as undesirable noise when they should be used to provide extra information, such as S‐wave velocity, about the subsurface. The problems of using the conventional acoustic wave equation approach can be eliminated via an elastic approach. In this paper, equations have been derived to perform an inversion for P‐wave velocity, S‐wave velocity, and density as well as the P‐wave impedance, S‐wave impedance, and density. These are better resolved than the Lamé parameters. The inversion is based on nonlinear least squares and proceeds by iteratively updating the earth parameters until a good fit is achieved between the observed data and the modeled data corresponding to these earth parameters. The iterations are based on the preconditioned conjugate gradient algorithm. The fundamental requirement of such a least‐squares algorithm is the gradient direction which tells how to update the model parameters. The gradient direction can be derived directly from the wave equation and it may be computed by several wave propagations. Although in principle any scheme could be chosen to perform the wave propagations, the elastic finite‐ difference method is used because it directly simulates the elastic wave equation and can handle complex, and thus realistic, distributions of elastic parameters. This method of inversion is costly since it is similar to an iterative prestack shot‐profile migration. However, it has greater power than any migration since it solves for the P‐wave velocity, S‐wave velocity, and density and can handle very general situations including transmission problems. Three main weaknesses of this technique are that it requires fairly accurate a priori knowledge of the low‐ wavenumber velocity model, it assumes Gaussian model statistics, and it is very computer‐intensive. All these problems seem surmountable. The low‐wavenumber information can be obtained either by a prior tomographic step, by the conventional normal‐moveout method, by a priori knowledge and empirical relationships, or by adding an additional inversion step for low wavenumbers to each iteration. The Gaussian statistics can be altered by preconditioning the gradient direction, perhaps to make the solution blocky in appearance like well logs, or by using large model variances in the inversion to reduce the effect of the Gaussian model constraints. Moreover, with some improvements to the algorithm and more parallel computers, it is hoped the technique will soon become routinely feasible.

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Shear‐wave velocity and density estimation from PS-wave AVO analysis: Application to an OBS dataset from the North Sea

Geophysics ◽

10.1190/1.1444833 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 65 (5) ◽

pp. 1446-1454 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Side Jin ◽

G. Cambois ◽

C. Vuillermoz

Keyword(s):

Wave Velocity ◽

North Sea ◽

Random Noise ◽

P Wave ◽

S Wave ◽

Data Set ◽

Avo Analysis ◽

The North ◽

Avo Inversion ◽

The North Sea

S-wave velocity and density information is crucial for hydrocarbon detection, because they help in the discrimination of pore filling fluids. Unfortunately, these two parameters cannot be accurately resolved from conventional P-wave marine data. Recent developments in ocean‐bottom seismic (OBS) technology make it possible to acquire high quality S-wave data in marine environments. The use of (S)-waves for amplitude variation with offset (AVO) analysis can give better estimates of S-wave velocity and density contrasts. Like P-wave AVO, S-wave AVO is sensitive to various types of noise. We investigate numerically and analytically the sensitivity of AVO inversion to random noise and errors in angles of incidence. Synthetic examples show that random noise and angle errors can strongly bias the parameter estimation. The use of singular value decomposition offers a simple stabilization scheme to solve for the elastic parameters. The AVO inversion is applied to an OBS data set from the North Sea. Special prestack processing techniques are required for the success of S-wave AVO inversion. The derived S-wave velocity and density contrasts help in detecting the fluid contacts and delineating the extent of the reservoir sand.

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Discussion on the Theoretical Basis for Cross-Over Method Applied to Downhole Wave Velocity Test

Shock and Vibration ◽

10.1155/2021/4133402 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Qing Dong ◽

Zheng-hua Zhou ◽

Su Jie ◽

Bing Hao ◽

Yuan-dong Li

Keyword(s):

Numerical Simulation ◽

Numerical Simulations ◽

Wave Velocity ◽

Theoretical Basis ◽

Influence Factors ◽

P Wave ◽

Engineering Practice ◽

S Wave ◽

Simulation Results ◽

The Cross

At engineering practice, the theoretical basis for the cross-over method, used to obtain shear wave arrival time in the downhole method of the wave velocity test by surface forward and backward strike, is that the polarity of P-wave keeps the same, while the polarity of S-wave transforms when the direction of strike inverted. However, the characteristics of signals recorded in tests are often found to conflict with this theoretical basis for the cross-over method, namely, the polarity of the P-wave also transforms under the action of surface forward and backward strike. Therefore, 3D finite element numerical simulations were conducted to study the validity of the theoretical basis for the cross-over method. The results show that both shear and compression waves are observed to be in 180° phase difference between horizontal signal traces, consistent with the direction of excitation generated by reversed impulse. Furthermore, numerical simulation results prove to be reliable by the analytic solution; it shows that the theoretical basis for the cross-over method applied to the downhole wave velocity test is improper. In meanwhile, numerical simulations reveal the factors (inclining excitation, geophone deflection, inclination, and background noise) that may cause the polarity of the P-wave not to reverse under surface forward and backward strike. Then, as to reduce the influence factors, we propose a method for the downhole wave velocity test under surface strike, the time difference of arrival is based between source peak and response peak, and numerical simulation results show that the S-wave velocity by this method is close to the theoretical S-wave velocity of soil.

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Metode Seismik dalam Pemodelan Fisis Letusan Gunung Lumpur Bledug Kuwu

JURNAL PENDIDIKAN TEKNOLOGI KEJURUAN ◽

10.24036/jptk.v2i2.19423 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 61-66

Author(s):

Ahmad Fauzi Pohan ◽

Rusnoviandi Rusnoviandi

Keyword(s):

Wave Velocity ◽

Physical Modeling ◽

Vertical Component ◽

Dominant Frequency ◽

P Wave ◽

Physical Parameters ◽

S Wave ◽

Interesting Phenomenon ◽

Central Java ◽

P Wave Velocity

Aktivitas gunung lumpur Bledug Kuwu di Jawa Tengah merupakan fenomena yang menarik dikaji menggunakan pemodelan fisis. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui parameter dari medium gunung lumpur Bledug Kuwu. Adapun pemodelan fisis yang dilakukan dengan menggunakan media fisis akuarium berukuran 59 × 59 × 37,3 cm yang diisi material dari lumpur Bledug Kuwu. Sumber letusan dihasilkan dari tekanan kompresor yang dapat diatur kedalaman (10.5, 13, dan 15.5 cm) dan sudut (30o, 45o dan 60o) sumbernya. Sensor yang digunakan geophone komponen vertikal sebanyak 3 buah dengan durasi perekaman selama 5 dan 2,5 detik. Data diambil dengan frekuensi sampel 2 dan 4 kHz untuk masing-masing durasi perekaman. Konfigurasi sumber dan geophone dibuat sesuai dengan pemodelan fisisnya. Pengukuran desnsitas lumpur menunjukkan angka sebesar 1200 kg/m3. Berdasarkan hasil analisis seismogram model fisis diperoleh kecepatan perambatan gelombang-P pada medium lumpur Bledug Kuwu adalah sebesar 48,74 m/s,dan gelombang-S sebesar 28,14 m/s dengan frekuensi dominan antara 20 sampai 25 Hz. Bledug Kuwu mud volcano activity in Central Java is an interesting phenomenon to be studied using both physical modeling. The objective of this study was to determine the physical parameters of the medium of Bledug Kuwu. The Physical model was an aquarium with a dimension of 59 × 59 × 37.3 cm filled with Bledug Kuwu’s mud. The eruption source is generated by a compressor pressure that can be controled both the depth(10.5, 13, and 15.5 cm) and the angel of the source (30o, 45o and 60o). The resulting seismic signals were recorded by using 3 vertical component geophones for 10 and 5 seconds durations at a frequency of 2 and 4 kHz respectivel, mud density 1200 kg/m3 . The physical modeling shows that the P-wave velocity of the Bledug Kuwu’s medium is 48.7 m/s, S-wave velocity of Bledug Kuwu’s is 28,14 m/s with a dominant frequency of 20 to 25 Hz.

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