Controlled-source Electromagnetic Survey Research Articles

Inversion of marine magnetotelluric and controlled source electromagnetic data with site gap and low signal-to-noise ratio

SUMMARY Marine magnetotelluric (MT) and controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) methods have been routinely applied to survey the crustal and upper mantle electrical resistivity structures beneath the sea floor. In practice, there are inevitably site gaps and contamination by noises in the collected data because of lost ocean bottom electromagnetic receivers, unusable data, and difficulties in deploying instruments near deep trenches. So far, it remains unclear to what degree those factors will lower the resolution and the credibility of marine MT and CSEM inversion models. In this paper, we investigate the individual and combined effects of site gaps and data noises on the inversion models through synthetic analyses based on a simple block resistivity model and a realistic resistivity structure derived from the Mariana Trench. The results suggest that data with a sufficiently high signal-to-noise ratio can reasonably recover the subseafloor structures in the area of data gap. The transverse electric mode and tipper data from the MT method are much more sensitive to the structure near the site gap. The joint inversion of MT and CSEM data would improve the model's resolution at the site gap area. The inversion of data with a relatively low signal-to-noise ratio, for example, 10 per cent, can recover the structures with few artefacts if there is no site gap. But if the site gap and noisy data are combined, even a joint inversion cannot correctly recover the burial depths and geometries of the anomalous bodies beneath the site gap where vertical strips are likely present. To improve the model's resolution and suppress inversion artefacts, we propose constraining part of the model with as much a prior information as possible. Specifically, for a survey in the subduction zone, we could reduce the penalties on the model's smoothness at the upper and low interfaces of the resistive subduction slab, or even fix the resistivity of the resistive slab with the help of other information, if any. The inversion models shown in this paper provide valuable references for the site design before marine MT and CSEM surveys as well as for interpreting real data inversion models that may be subject to the same biases introduced by the site gap and noise.

An Efficient Parallel Iterative Solver for Controlled-source Electromagnetic 3-D Adaptive Forward Modeling in General Anisotropic Media

Controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys are moving increasingly toward realistic and complicated scenarios where the survey region may contain undulated topography, complex geometries, and electrical anisotropy media. In this paper, the adaptive finite element numerical method is employed to discrete the total electric field equation, which can provide precise electromagnetic (EM) responses even with a coarse initial mesh. The unstructured tetrahedral grid is employed to effectively address arbitrary irregular geometry and mountain terrain. Then, the flexible generalized minimum residual solver (FGMRES), auxiliary-space Maxwell pre-conditioner, and grid division technique were used to solve the large-scale linear system of equations, which can stably solve ill-conditioned problems using fewer computing resources. Finally, we conducted a numerical experiment via our newly proposed forward modeling scheme on a synthetic model with multi-contrast electrical anisotropy. It validated that accurate EM fields could be obtained against the semi-analytic solutions, and this iterative solver has good robustness for various anisotropic media. As a result, we have developed a state-of-the-art 3D CSEM anisotropic forward modeling engine, which can quickly and accurately deal with large-scale and complex geo-models.

Application of Electromagnetic Methods for Reservoir Monitoring with Emphasis on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage

The Controlled-Source ElectroMagnetic (CSEM) method provides crucial information about reservoir fluids and their spatial distribution. Carbon dioxide (CO2) storage, enhanced oil recovery (EOR), geothermal exploration, and lithium exploration are ideal applications for the CSEM method. The versatility of CSEM permits its customization to specific reservoir objectives by selecting the appropriate components of a multi-component system. To effectively tailor the CSEM approach, it is essential to determine whether the primary target reservoir is resistive or conductive. This task is relatively straightforward in CO2 monitoring, where the injected fluid is resistive. However, for scenarios involving brine-saturated (water-wet) or oil-wet (carbon capture, utilization, and storage—CCUS) reservoirs, consideration must also be given to conductive reservoir components. The optimization of data acquisition before the survey involves analyzing target parameters and the sensitivity of multi-component CSEM. This optimization process typically includes on-site noise measurements and 3D anisotropic modeling. Based on our experience, subsequent surveys tend to proceed smoothly, yielding robust measurements that align with scientific objectives. Other critical aspects to be considered are using magnetotelluric (MT) measurements to define the overall background resistivities and integrating real-time quality assurance during data acquisition with 3D modeling. This integration allows the fine tuning of acquisition parameters such as acquisition time and necessary repeats. As a result, data can be examined in real-time to assess subsurface information content while the acquisition is ongoing. Consequently, high-quality data sets are usually obtained for subsequent processing and initial interpretation with minimal user intervention. The implementation of sensitivity analysis during the inversion process plays a pivotal role in ensuring that the acquired data accurately respond to the target reservoirs’ expected depth range. To elucidate these concepts, we present an illustrative example from a CO2 storage site in North Dakota, USA, wherein the long-offset transient electromagnetic method (LOTEM), a variation of the CSEM method, and the MT method were utilized. This example showcases how surface measurements attain appropriately upscaled log-scale sensitivity. Furthermore, the sensitivity of the CSEM and MT methods was examined in other case histories, where the target reservoirs exhibited conductive properties, such as those encountered in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), geothermal, and lithium exploration applications. The same equipment specifications were utilized for CSEM and MT surveys across all case studies.

3D inversion of multifrequency controlled-source electromagnetic data and its application to geothermal exploration in the Tianzhen region of the northern Datong Basin, China

Owing to its sensitivity to hydrothermal alteration and geothermal fluids, the distribution of subsurface electrical conductivity provides critical information for characterizing geothermal systems. For geothermal exploration, the controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) technique provides a crucial tool to image the subsurface resistivity structures, especially in areas with strong cultural noise. Usually, land-based CSEM surveys are carried out with dozens of operating frequencies to enhance spatial resolution. However, the 3D inversion of multifrequency CSEM data using the commonly used direct solver is challenging with limited computational resources. In this study, we implement a practical inversion strategy for interpreting 3D multifrequency CSEM data. By combining a hybrid direct-iterative solver with the inexact Gauss-Newton optimization, 3D inversion of CSEM data involving multiple frequencies can be performed effectively on typical workstations. First, we test the effectiveness of the developed approach using synthetic multifrequency 3D CSEM data generated for a simplified geothermal model. The inversion strategy is then applied to the multifrequency CSEM field data collected for the geothermal exploration at Tianzhen region in Shanxi Province, China. The comparison between the inversion results using the sparse data set (six frequencies) and the dense data set (12 frequencies) highlights the necessity of using data from more frequencies in the inversion to improve the resolution. The resulting 3D resistivity model clearly delineates the clay alteration layers and shallow thermal reservoirs of the potential high-temperature geothermal system within the study area, while its deep heat source is not revealed owing to the limited investigation depth of the survey.

Shale distribution effects on the joint elastic–electrical properties in reservoir sandstone

AbstractWe investigated the effect of shale distribution on the joint elastic wave and electrical properties of shaly reservoir sandstones using a dataset of laboratory measurements on 75 brine‐saturated (35 g/L salinity) rock samples (63 samples from the literature, 12 newly measured samples). All the data were collected using the ultrasonic (700 kHz) pulse‐echo measurement technique for P‐ and S‐wave velocities (Vp, Vs), attenuations (Qp−1, Qs−1), and a four‐electrode method for resistivity under elevated hydrostatic confining pressures between 10 and 50 MPa (pore fluid pressure 5 MPa). The distribution of volumetric shale content was classified by comparing the calculated dry P‐wave modulus to the modified Upper Hashin–Shtrikman bound for quartz and air mixtures, assuming pore‐filling shale. This scheme in particular allowed us to distinguish between pore‐filling and load‐bearing shale distributions according to idealized definitions, which provides new insight into the joint ultrasonic properties and resistivity behaviour for shaly sandstones. In resistivity–velocity space, the resistivity of load‐bearing shale increases with increasing velocity which form a more distinct trend with steeper gradient compared to those for partial pore‐filling shale and clean sandstones. Moreover, the pore‐filling shale trend straddles the clean sandstone trend and meets the load‐bearing shale trend between 100 and 150 apparent formation factors. In resistivity–attenuation space, the highest attenuations exist when the volumetric shale content is close to the frame porosity (for Qp−1 in particular), at the transition between pore‐filling and load‐bearing shales. The results will inform the development of improved rock physics models to aid reservoir characterization from geophysical remote sensing, particularly for joint seismic and controlled source electromagnetic surveys.

Imaging of a shallow magma conduit system based on a high-power frequency-domain controlled-source electromagnetic survey

Mantle-derived magma may undergo lateral flow and emplacement through horizontal magma conduits; this occurs after magma from a deep source ascends through a vertical conduit. Regardless of this understanding, the characteristics of such shallow magma conduit systems remain unclear. We have developed an image of a shallow (5 km deep) magma conduit system based on the resistivity results of a high-power frequency-domain controlled-source electromagnetic survey in the Kalatongke magmatic-type Ni-Cu deposit. The magma upwelled and ascended along the vertical fault. At shallow depths, the magma moved horizontally along the tuff layer, laterally propagating in a horizontal magma conduit. Magma extending horizontally in the horizontal tuff layer could not break through the upper, conductive, and low-density carbonaceous layer. This image provides a conduit model with vertical magma ascent and lateral magma propagation. The model provides a basis for studying shallow magma conduit systems in orogenic belts on a global scale.

Electromagnetic resolution—a CSEM study based on the Wisting oil field

SUMMARY We consider marine controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) data and demonstrate that a typical CSEM survey is associated with significant data redundancy. Thus, it should be possible to obtain a high-quality inversion result by using only a subset of the original data. Moreover, in survey design, effort should be made to optimize the placement of the receivers. This study therefore investigates the challenges of data decimation and survey design in the case of repeated surveys by use of the data resolution matrix and model resolution matrix. A framework of analysis has been developed to efficiently use these quantities. The feasibility of the proposed approach is demonstrated using both synthetic data computed from an interpreted model of the Wisting oil field in the Barents Sea, as well as actual field data from the same oil field.

Use of structure-guided 3D controlled-source electromagnetic inversion to map karst features in carbonates in offshore northwest Borneo

Fractured and/or karstic carbonates (FKCs) in the subsurface are commonly associated with significant drilling risk or reservoir effectiveness issues. Understanding the distribution of karsts will help avoid drilling into possible voids and also reassess risks associated with reservoir effectiveness. A 2020 3D seismic acquisition in offshore northwest Borneo provided data for identifying new carbonate prospects and an opportunity to revisit a 2010 marine controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) survey that was not designed specifically for FKC mapping but can serve to test new inversion capability for imaging karsted carbonate bodies. A 3D CSEM data were used to detect and characterize the nature (i.e., fractured and/or karsted) of carbonate prospects mapped using 3D seismic data. In one approach, structure tensors computed from these seismic data were used to constrain the 3D CSEM inversion on the Azure cloud platform. In another approach, cross gradients between vertical and horizontal resistivities were used as a structural guide obviating the need for seismic data. The resulting anisotropic resistivity models were validated using resistivity logs from a nearby well; the resistivity results matched the well-logs satisfactorily, providing geologic justification to interpret the presence of karst features in the resistivity volumes. Lateral boundary of the carbonate prospects was mapped based on the resistivity characteristic, in seismic- and nonseismic-guided structure-coupled inversion. Resistivity-depth cross section of the area revealed the presence of resistivity discontinuity at the seismic-inferred boundary of the main carbonate prospect. Also, resistivity depth slices of the models clearly demonstrated that the areal distribution of low and high resistive zones can be mapped and useful deductions such as the presence of FKC and basement characteristics can be made using the 3D inversion of the CSEM data.

A cost-effective three-dimensional marine controlled-source electromagnetic survey: Exploring seafloor massive sulfides

A 3D marine controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) survey for mapping hydrocarbons uses dozens of ocean-bottom electric (OBE) receivers deployed in a grid pattern and several transmitter towlines. This study considers seafloor massive sulfides (SMS) exploration, and the horizontal survey scale of SMS is a few kilometers, which is small compared with hydrocarbon surveys of tens of kilometers. If we apply a 3D CSEM survey using a receiver deployment on grids to map SMS, high survey costs will be incurred despite the small survey size. We have developed a cost-effective 3D marine CSEM survey that uses fewer receivers than the survey with a receiver deployment on grids to reduce survey costs for SMS. This CSEM survey uses a line of OBE receivers in the center of the survey area and several transmitter towlines. Numerical tests demonstrate that our survey (seven OBE receivers) using 80% fewer receivers than the survey with a receiver deployment on grids (35 OBE receivers) is able to accurately map SMS, obtaining a performance similar to that of the receiver deployment on grids. Then, we explore SMS in the Ieyama hydrothermal area off Okinawa, southwest Japan, using our 3D CSEM survey with a line of six OBE receivers and three transmitter towlines. The resulting 3D resistivity distribution from the observed data highlights three potential SMS zones consisting of 0.2 ohm-m low resistivity embedded into 1 ohm-m sediment.

Three-dimensional modelling of controlled source electro-magnetic surveys using non-conforming finite element methods

SUMMARY The controlled source electro-magnetic (CSEM) method is increasingly used for in-land and off-shore subsurface characterization. Given its complex dependence between data and the parameters of interest, there is a crucial need for performant numerical algorithms that can simulate the CSEM response of 3-D geological structures. Here, we present two finite element (FE) algorithms for simulating the CSEM response in 3-D media with isotropic conductivity. A primary/secondary field approach is used to avoid the singularity introduced by the source. The primary field is computed semi-analytically for a horizontally layered model and different sources. The secondary field is obtained by discretizing the diffusive frequency-domain Maxwell’s equations with non-conforming FE. The two numerical algorithms are specifically designed to work on distributed-memory computers: (1) an iterative procedure with domain decomposition and (2) a direct and global algorithm. We evaluate their performance by computing their speed up on parallel processors, and solving problems with realistic conductivity structures. We also compare the accuracy of the solutions with published results on canonical models. The results shown here demonstrate the functionality of the two methodologies presented for specific cases when computing 3-D CSEM solutions.

Finite-element modeling of time-domain controlled-source electromagnetic survey with weighted Laguerre polynomials

To facilitate the modeling of time-domain controlled-source electromagnetic surveys, we have developed an efficient finite-element method with weighted Laguerre polynomials, which indicates a much lower computational complexity than conventional time integration methods. Our method allows sampling the field at arbitrary time steps, and its accuracy is determined by the number of polynomials, instead of the time sampling interval. An analysis is performed regarding the optimization of the polynomial number to be used and the criterion of selecting the time scale factor. We conduct two numerical tests in marine and land survey environments to demonstrate the superiority of our method over the existing backward Euler time integration method. Our method is expected to facilitate the modeling of transient electromagnetic surveys in the geophysical regime.

EM3DANI: A Julia package for fully anisotropic 3D forward modeling of electromagnetic data

Forward modeling is vital for 3D inversion and interpretation of electromagnetic (EM) data in anisotropic media, which is one of the major challenges in the field of EM geophysics. However, there are few freely available 3D codes that are capable of modeling EM responses in fully anisotropic media. In addition, most existing 3D EM codes are written in low-level languages (LLs) such as C and Fortran, making them difficult to read, maintain, and extend. Taking advantage of recent progress in computer technology and numerical methods, we have developed an open-source package for forward modeling of frequency-domain EM fields in a fully 3D anisotropic earth (EM3DANI) using the Julia language, a relatively young, high-level programming language with a focus on high performance. Based on a mimetic finite-volume discretization of the governing equations, the modeling algorithm is expressed in an abstract form in terms of matrices/vectors and thus can be easily implemented by using any high-level language commonly used for numerical computing. Existing libraries written in LLs can be easily integrated into a Julia code without the so-called two-language problem; thus, we have exploited several mature third-party packages to deal with computationally intensive parts of the forward modeling, which guarantees high stability and efficiency. We have elaborated the structure of the package, paying special attention to code usability, readability, and extendability, while striving to retain versatility and high performance. The effectiveness of the code is demonstrated through two 1D synthetic examples for magnetotelluric and controlled-source EM (CSEM) problems, respectively. High accuracy and efficiency can be achieved for both 1D examples. Furthermore, we have developed a 3D example mimicking a marine CSEM survey scenario for hydrocarbon exploration. The simulation results indicate that the effect of the anisotropy on forward responses is significant and can be comparable to that of the target reservoir.

Opportunistic magnetotelluric transects from CSEM surveys in the Barents Sea

Summary Magnetotelluric (MT) data allow for electrical resistivity probing of the Earth's subsurface. Integration of resistivity models in passive margin studies could help disambiguate non-unique interpretations of crustal composition derived from seismic and potential field data, a recurrent issue in the distal domain. In this contribution, we present the first marine MT data in the Barents Sea, derived from industrial controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys. We characterize data quality, dimensionality, depth penetration and elaborate an analysis strategy. The extensive MT database consists of 337 receivers located along 7 regional transects, emanating from ∼70,000 km2 of 3D CSEM surveys acquired for hydrocarbon exploration from 2007 to 2019. High-quality MT data are extracted for periods ranging from 0.5 s to 5000 s. The data show no apparent contamination by the active source nor effects related to large time-gaps in data collection and variable solar activity. Along receiver profiles, abrupt lateral variations of apparent resistivity and phase trends coincide with major structural boundaries and underline the geological information contained in the data. Dimensionality analysis reveals a dichotomy between the western domain of the SW Barents Sea, dominated by a single N-S electromagnetic strike, and the eastern domain, with a two-fold, period-dependent strike. 35 receivers show 3D distortion caused by nearby bathymetric slopes, evidenced by elevated skew values. We delineate geographical areas where the 2D assumption is tenable and lay the foundation for future MT modelling strategies in the SW Barents Sea. We performed 2D MT inversion along one of the regional transects, a ∼220 km-long, E-W profile encompassing a major structural high and sedimentary basin approaching the continent-ocean transition. The resistivity model reveals low crustal resistivity values (1–10 Ω.m) beneath the deep sedimentary basins, in marked contrast with high resistivity values (1000–5000 Ω.m) of the thick crystalline crust on the structural high. We interpret this abrupt lateral resistivity variation as a rapid transition from a thick, dry continental crust to a hyperextended and hydrated crustal domain. Integration of resistivity with seismic velocity, density and magnetic susceptibility models may further refine these structural models and the underlying tectonic processes in the SW Barents Sea margin. Our methodology is applicable globally where 3D CSEM surveys are acquired and has a large potential for harvesting new knowledge on the electrical resistivity properties of the lithosphere.

Efficient goal-oriented mesh refinement in 3-D finite-element modelling adapted for controlled source electromagnetic surveys

SUMMARY We developed a 3-D forward modelling code, which simulates controlled source electromagnetic problems in frequency domain using edge-based finite elements and a total electric field approach. To evaluate electromagnetic data acquired across complex subsurface structures, software performing accurate 3-D modelling is required, especially for incorporation in inversion approaches. Our modelling code aims at finding a good compromise between the necessary solution accuracy at the points of interest and the general problem size by using a goal-oriented mesh refinement strategy designed for models of variable electric conductivity and magnetic permeability. To formulate an improved error estimator suitable for controlled source electromagnetic problems, we developed literature approaches of mesh refinement further targeting three aspects. First, to generate a roughly homogeneously fine mesh discretization around all receiver sites, our new error estimator weights the adjoint source term by the approximate decay of the electric field with increasing distance from the primal source using the expression for a homogeneous half-space. This causes almost no additional computational cost. Second, the error estimator employed in the refinement approach can be optimized for models with pronounced conductivity and magnetic permeability contrasts as often encountered in, for example, mineral prospecting scenarios by optionally including terms that measure the continuity of the normal component of current flow and the tangential component of the magnetic field across interfaces of abutting elements. Third, to avoid amplitude-dependent over-refining of the mesh, we formulate our element-wise error estimators relative to the local amplitude of the electromagnetic field. In this work, we evaluate the implemented adaptive mesh refinement approach and its solution accuracy comparing our solutions for simple 1-D models and a model with 3-D anomalies to semi-analytic 1-D solutions and a second-order finite-element code, respectively. Furthermore, a feasibility study for controlled-source electromagnetic measurements across ferrous mineral deposits is conducted. The numerical experiments demonstrate that our new refinement procedure generates problem-specific finite-element meshes and yields accurate solutions for both simple synthetic models and realistic survey scenarios. Especially for the latter, characteristics of our code, such as the possibility of modelling extended sources as well as including arbitrary receiver distributions and detailed subsurface anomalies, are beneficial.

Towards an open-source landscape for 3-D CSEM modelling

SUMMARY Large-scale modelling of 3-D controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) surveys used to be feasible only for large companies and research consortia. This has changed over the last few years, and today there exists a selection of different open-source codes available to everyone. Using four different codes in the Python ecosystem, we perform simulations for increasingly complex models in a shallow marine setting. We first verify the computed fields with semi-analytical solutions for a simple layered model. Then we validate the responses of a more complex block model by comparing results obtained from each code. Finally, we compare the responses of a real-world model with results from the industry. On the one hand, these validations show that the open-source codes are able to compute comparable CSEM responses for challenging, large-scale models. On the other hand, they show many general and method-dependent problems that need to be faced for obtaining accurate results. Our comparison includes finite-element and finite-volume codes using structured rectilinear and octree meshes as well as unstructured tetrahedral meshes. Accurate responses can be obtained independently of the chosen method and the chosen mesh type. The runtime and memory requirements vary greatly based on the choice of iterative or direct solvers. However, we have found that much more time was spent on designing the mesh and setting up the simulations than running the actual computation. The challenging task is, irrespective of the chosen code, to appropriately discretize the model. We provide three models, each with their corresponding discretization and responses of four codes, which can be used for validation of new and existing codes. The collaboration of four code maintainers trying to achieve the same task brought in the end all four codes a significant step further. This includes improved meshing and interpolation capabilities, resulting in shorter runtimes for the same accuracy. We hope that these results may be useful for the CSEM community at large and that we can build over time a suite of benchmarks that will help to increase the confidence in existing and new 3-D CSEM codes.

Three-Dimensional Inversion of Controlled-Source Electromagnetic Data in Fanchang Region, Anhui Province

Fanchang area of Anhui Province is an important link in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. To study the distribution of rock mass near the surface of the area and the contact relationship between the strata, and to determine the possible ore body space, we carry out a 15km controlled-source electromagnetic(CSEM) survey. The observed data is the electric field amplitude data simulating wide-area electromagnetic. For the single-section electric field amplitude data of controlled source, because of the lack of magnetic field data, the impedance data needed for audio geomagnetic inversion cannot be formed. This paper uses the limited memory quasi-Newton(L-BFGS) method to perform a three-dimensional inversion with the source directly. The theoretical model test results show that the inversion method can recover the underground resistivity structure and obtain better anomalous body resolution. The three-dimensional inversion of the CSEM data in Fanchang area shows that we could get the best inversion results when the grid size is about 1/3~1/2 of the dot pitch, the background resistivity is 100 Ω·m, and the error level is 5%. The inversion result of the full-section data, including two sources, shows that the south and north end of the profile is high-resistivity, and the intermediate resistivity is low. However, in the middle of the profile, the resistivity is significantly higher than the two sides. Combined with geological data, this change reflects the distribution of strata/rock masses on the surface of the work area and the contact relationship between them. This consistency verifies the feasibility and necessity of three-dimensional source inversion for the CSEM field amplitude |Ex| data of multi-source and single profile. The underground three-dimensional resistivity structure can be effectively obtained by using the L-BFGS method with the controlled source.

Feasibility study on marine CSEM monitoring of CO2 flow in a regional fault in the North Sea

In this study, we investigate how we could monitor any CO2 flow along the Vette Fault in the Smeaheia site by means of marine controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) survey. From experimental work it is demonstrated that the electrical resistivity is sensitive to detect CO2 flow through a naturally-fractured shale core. Field-scale time-lapse CSEM survey targeting fault zone monitoring has not yet been realized in the North Sea setting. To gain more knowledge on how the CSEM data may interact with the CO2 flow along a fault zone, we simulate a synthetic geological model, including the Vette-like fault, and perform a parametric study to explore the feasibility of monitoring CO2 flow using CSEM data. The results show that it is feasible for EM data to detect CO2 flow through the Vettel fault under the scenarios considered in the study (e.g. rather high CO2 saturation accumulated close to seabed). Through this study, we also identify the issues and factors that the CSEM technique should be improved further in order to contribute to the CO2 storage projects in the North Sea. It is learned that the vertical electric field is much more sensitive to CO2 flow along fault than the horizontal electric field. Hence, reducing noise in the former would be critical for successful monitoring of CO2 flow.

3D multinary inversion of controlled-source electromagnetic data based on the finite-element method with unstructured mesh

In controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) inversion with conventional regularization, the reconstructed conductivity image is usually blurry and only has limited resolution. To effectively obtain more compact conductivity models, we apply the concept of multinary transformation to CSEM inversion based on the finite-element method with an unstructured tetrahedral mesh. Within the framework of multinary inversion, the model conductivities are allowed to be clustered only within the designed values, which are usually obtained from other a priori information or from conventional inversion. Synthetic studies show that multinary inversion produces conductivity images with clearer model boundaries compared to the maximum smoothness inversion and the focusing inversion for realistic geoelectric models. We further apply the developed method to a land CSEM survey for mineral exploration. The multinary inversion results are closer to the ground truth compared to the conventional maximum smoothness inversion and the focusing inversion. The developed method and the numerical algorithm provide a new approach and workflow for CSEM inversion when the models need to have clear boundaries and clustering model values. Such geoelectric models could be very useful for geologic interpretation in oil and mineral exploration when a priori information (such as the estimated conductivity values) of the exploration targets is known.

Prediction of CO₂ Saturation Spatial Distribution Using Geostatistical Inversion of Time-Lapse Geophysical Data

Carbon dioxide sequestration in deep saline aquifers and depleted reservoirs relies on numerical models for the prediction of the spatial distribution of CO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> saturation during injection and migration. Due to the limited knowledge of the rock and fluid properties before injection, model predictions are often uncertain and must be updated when new measurements are available. The spatial distribution of CO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> saturation and the plume location can be monitored using time-lapse geophysical data, such as seismic and controlled source electromagnetic surveys. We propose a geostatistical inversion approach for the prediction of the time-dependent spatial distribution of CO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> saturation from geophysical data. The methodology is based on the application of a stochastic optimization method, the Ensemble Smoother, for the solution of the inverse problem, using rock physics and geophysical models. The inversion is applied to the difference in the geophysical data acquired before and during injection. The predicted models of CO <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sub> saturation are obtained by updating an ensemble of geostatistically generated prior realizations, based on the misfit between geophysical model predictions and measured data. The novelty of the approach is the integration of geostatistical algorithms and stochastic optimization methods for the joint inversion of geophysical data. The proposed approach allows including hydrological constraints in the prior model and quantifying the prediction uncertainty due to the noise and resolution of the data and approximations in the physical relations. The method is applied to the Johansen formation model, offshore Norway, using synthetic seismic and electromagnetic data.

Technological development and challenges for the advancement of 3D marine CSEM survey

In recent years, Marine controlled source electromagnetic （CSEM） technology has played an effective role to reduce the exploration risk in marine area. Meanwhile, the application of Marine CSEM is not easy due to its expensive survey cost and difficulty of quality control for data acquisition and analysis. Therefore, authors constituted the research consortium and advances the Marine CSEM technological development based on the know-how cultivated at university and research institute. In this paper, we discuss current status and future technological development of the consortium.