Virtual Sources and Receivers in the Real Earth: Considerations for Practical Applications

Joeri Brackenhoff,Jan Thorbecke,Kees Wapenaar

doi:10.1029/2019jb018485

Joeri Brackenhoff, Jan Thorbecke + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1029/2019jb018485

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Abstract

AbstractTo enhance monitoring of the subsurface, virtual sources and receivers inside the subsurface can be created from seismic reflection data at the surface of the Earth using the Marchenko method. The response between these virtual sources and receivers can be obtained through the use of homogeneous Green's function retrieval. A homogeneous Green's function is a superposition of a Green's function and its time reversal. The main aim of this paper is to obtain accurate homogeneous Green's functions from field data. Classical homogeneous Green's function retrieval requires an unrealistic enclosing recording surface; however, by using a recently proposed single‐sided retrieval scheme, this requirement can be avoided. We first demonstrate the principles of using the single‐sided representation on synthetic data and show that different source signatures can be taken into account. Because the Marchenko method is sensitive to recording limitations of the reflection data, we study five cases of recording limitations with synthetic data and demonstrate their effects on the final result. Finally, the method is demonstrated on a preprocessed field data set that fulfills the requirements for applying the single‐sided Green's function retrieval scheme. The scheme has the potential to be used in future applications, such as source localization.

Highlights

Seismic data can be used in a variety of ways to monitor and explore the subsurface of the Earth
The response between these virtual sources and receivers can be obtained through the use of homogeneous Green's function retrieval
Marchenko Method We use the Marchenko method to retrieve the focusing functions and Green's functions required for the representations for homogeneous Green's function retrieval

Summary

Introduction

The receivers measure the full wavefield, that is, both primary and multiply scattered events These measurements are often used to obtain information about the structure of the subsurface and its properties (Yilmaz, 2001). Data can be acquired using a passive source, which is a source of the wavefield that occurs naturally in the subsurface of the Earth In this setup, the wavefield is recorded by a continuously recording receiver array, usually at the surface of the Earth. The wavefield is recorded by a continuously recording receiver array, usually at the surface of the Earth These measurements can contain additional information about processes in the subsurface, such as induced seismicity (Grigoli et al, 2017). These types of measurements are receiving more attention because of the potentially damaging effects of induced seismicity in residential areas (Magnani et al, 2017; van Thienen-Visser & Breunese, 2015)

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