CONDUCTING HIGH RESOLUTION 2D/3D SEISMIC REFLECTION SURVEYS UNDER NQA-1

Abstract

Assessing seismic hazards for critical facilities such as nuclear power plants is challenging and requires using the highest quality data for analysis and interpretation. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Company and their consultant, Fugro Consultants, Inc. (FCL) have been acquiring high resolution seismic reflection surveys (SRS) along Central California to image potential onshore and offshore faults and geologic structures near the PG&E Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP). The objective of the Central Coastal California Seismic Imaging Project (CCCSIP) is to acquire SRS under a qualified Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA-1) program, recognized by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission under 10 CFR 50, Appendix B; NQA-1-1994; and 10 CFR 21. FCL implemented their NQA-1 QA program for equipment calibrations, field data acquisition and data processing. High and low energy 2D and 3D high-resolution SRS data were acquired in onshore areas of DCPP region using multiple energy sources (Vibroseis and Accelerated Weight Drop [AWD]) and receiver arrays (Nodes and conventional cabled geophones). Low energy 2D and 3D offshore data were collection from 2011 through 2012 using PCable methodologies to image fault intersections and paleochannels along the central coast. Data processing software were validated and used to process the onshore and offshore data sets for future interpretation.