High-resolution Seismic Imaging Research Articles

Deep learning for high-resolution seismic imaging

Seismic imaging techniques play a crucial role in interpreting subsurface geological structures by analyzing the propagation and reflection of seismic waves. However, traditional methods face challenges in achieving high resolution due to theoretical constraints and computational costs. Leveraging recent advancements in deep learning, this study introduces a neural network framework that integrates Transformer and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures, enhanced through Adaptive Spatial Feature Fusion (ASFF), to achieve high-resolution seismic imaging. Our approach directly maps seismic data to reflection models, eliminating the need for post-processing low-resolution results. Through extensive numerical experiments, we demonstrate the outstanding ability of this method to accurately infer subsurface structures. Evaluation metrics including Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Correlation Coefficient (CC), and Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) emphasize the model's capacity to faithfully reconstruct subsurface features. Furthermore, noise injection experiments showcase the reliability of this efficient seismic imaging method, further underscoring the potential of deep learning in seismic imaging.

Fracture network characterisation of the Balmuccia peridotite using drone-based photogrammetry, implications for active-seismic site survey for scientific drilling

The presence of discontinuities (e.g. faults, fractures, veins, layering) in crystalline rocks can be challenging for seismic interpretations because the wide range of their size, orientation, and intensity, which controls the mechanical properties of the rock and elastic wave propagation, resulting in equally varying seismic responses at different scales. The geometrical characterisation of adjacent outcrop discontinuity networks allows a better understanding of the nature of the subsurface rocks and aids seismic interpretation. In this study, we characterise the discontinuity network of the Balmuccia peridotite (BP) in the Ivrea–Verbano Zone (IVZ), northwestern Italy. This geological body is the focus of the Drilling the Ivrea–Verbano zonE (DIVE), an international continental scientific drilling project, and two active seismic surveys, SEismic imaging of the Ivrea ZonE (SEIZE) and high-resolution SEIZE (Hi-SEIZE), which aim to resolve the subsurface structure of the DIVE drilling target through high-resolution seismic imaging. For fracture characterisation, we developed two drone-based digital outcrop models (DOMs) at two different resolutions (10–3–10 m and 10–1–103 m), which allowed us to quantitatively characterise the orientation, size, and intensity of the main rock discontinuities. These properties affect the seismic velocity and consequently the interpretation of the seismic data. We found that (i) the outcropping BP discontinuity network is represented by three more sets of fractures with respect to those reported in the literature; (ii) the discontinuity sizes follow a power-law distribution, indicating similarity across scales, and (iii) discontinuity intensity is not uniformly distributed along the outcrop. Our results help to explain the seismic behaviour of the BP detected by the SEIZE survey, suggesting that the low P-wave velocities observed can be related to the discontinuity network, and provide the basic topological parameters (orientation, density, distribution, and aperture) of the fracture network unique to the BP. These, in turn, can be used for interpretation of the Hi-SEIZE seismic survey and forward modelling of the seismic response.

Local uncertainty quantification for 3-D time-domain full-waveform inversion with ensemble Kalman filters: application to a North Sea OBC data set

SUMMARY Full-waveform inversion (FWI) has emerged as the state-of-the art high resolution seismic imaging technique, both in seismology for global and regional scale imaging and in the industry for exploration purposes. While gaining in popularity, FWI, at an operational level, remains a heavy computational process involving the repeated solution of large-scale 3-D wave propagation problems. For this reason it is a common practice to focus the interpretation of the results on the final estimated model. This is forgetting FWI is an ill-posed inverse problem in a high dimensional space for which the solution is intrinsically non-unique. This is the reason why being able to qualify and quantify the uncertainty attached to a model estimated by FWI is key. To this end, we propose to extend at an operational level the concepts introduced in a previous study related to the coupling between ensemble Kalman filters (EnKFs) and FWI. These concepts had been developed for 2-D frequency-domain FWI. We extend it here to the case of 3-D time-domain FWI, relying on a source subsampling strategy to assimilate progressively the data within the Kalman filter. We apply our strategy to an ocean bottom cable field data set from the North Sea to illustrate its feasibility. We explore the convergence of the filter in terms of number of elements, and extract variance and covariance information showing which part of the model are well constrained and which are not. Analysing the variance helps to gain insight on how well the final estimated model is constrained by the whole FWI workflow. The variance maps appears as the superposition of a smooth trend related to the geometrical spreading and a high resolution trend related to reflectors. Mapping lines of the covariance (or correlation matrix) to the model space helps to gain insight on the local resolution. Through a wave propagation analysis, we are also able to relate variance peaks in the model space to variance peaks in the data space. Compared to other posterior-covariance approximation scheme, our combination between EnKF and FWI is intrinsically scalable, making it a good candidate for exploiting the recent exascale high performance computing machines.

PsfDeconNet: High-Resolution Seismic Imaging Using Point-Spread Function Deconvolution With Generative Adversarial Networks

PsfDeconNet: High-Resolution Seismic Imaging Using Point-Spread Function Deconvolution With Generative Adversarial Networks

Reflection seismic imaging of subsurface geologic structures in the Bayan Obo mining area, China

A dense 2D seismic reflection survey was conducted at the Bayan Obo rare-earth-elements-Nb-Fe deposit in China to explore its geologic features and mineral endowment. A composite processing workflow was established for prestack depth imaging of this data set, which involved static correction to compensate for shifts caused by lateral inhomogeneities in near-surface layers and rugged topography. Standard methods were used to attenuate different types of noise and improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the data. A velocity model in the depth domain was obtained from refraction tomography and velocity analysis, and then used in migration. The preliminary interpretation of the final image revealed the mapping of mineralization at its true position in depth, indicating a relatively deep extension (approximately1.5 km). The results demonstrate the potential of seismic imaging as a complementary exploration tool to gravity and electromagnetic methods for mineral exploration purposes in the Bayan Obo mining area, providing a high-resolution seismic image and allowing for depth characterization of the mineral deposits. In addition, the images provide important information for guiding the selection of drilling borehole locations for deep exploration.

Coherence-enhancing anisotropic diffusion filter for 3D high-resolution reconstruction of P-wave velocity and density using full-waveform inversion: Application to a North Sea ocean bottom cable data set

Regularization is a central topic in the study of the solutions of ill-posed inverse problems. High-resolution seismic imaging using full-waveform inversion (FWI) belongs to this category of problems. Regularization through anisotropic diffusion, a technique that emerged in the field of image processing, is an interesting alternative to conventional regularization strategies. Exploiting the structural information of a given image, it has the capability to smooth this image along its main structures. The main difficulty is how to design the anisotropic diffusion operator. The concept of coherence enhancing proposed in 2D is extended in 3D and applied so as to filter and enhance the structural coherence of the model updates within an FWI algorithm. The benefits of this strategy are investigated on a 2D synthetic experiment before considering the multiparameter inversion of a 3D field data set from the North Sea up to 10 Hz. From this data, the vertical velocity and the density are simultaneously reconstructed. Compared with a conventional nonstationary Gaussian regularization strategy, the models obtained using the coherence-enhancing anisotropic diffusion strategy indicate an enhanced resolution, especially for the density model. The high-resolution reflectivity image computed from the impedance volume clearly illustrates the benefit this filtering approach can deliver in terms of structural interpretation.

Structural evolution of the North Himalaya domes as revealed by crustal-scale seismic-reflection surveying

As the typical products of collisional orogeny, gneiss domes are important geological units with which to decipher the crustal deformation and evolutionary history of continental collision. However, their formation mechanisms remain poorly understood. This issue is well illustrated by the debate surrounding the origin of the North Himalaya gneiss dome zone, which has been attributed to middle-crustal channel flow, thrust-duplex development, extensional detachment faulting, or diapiric flow related to partial crustal melting. These models predict different internal structures within individual domes that can be tested by high-resolution seismic imaging. Here, we present newly acquired seismic-reflection data collected along an ∼120-km-long north-south traverse across the central segment of the North Himalaya gneiss dome zone. Analysis and interpretation of the seismic data constrained by surface geology observations imply that (1) the subducting Indian lower crust is decoupled from the deformed middle and upper crust in the North Himalaya, (2) a crustal-scale stack of antiformal duplexes with a structural thickness of ∼35 km defines the cores of the gneiss domes imaged by the seismic survey, and (3) highly reflective, sheetlike bodies imaged in our seismic profile are best interpreted as leucocratic intrusions developed synchronously during gneiss dome development. As a whole, our work suggests that the North Himalaya gneiss dome zone was created by coeval crustal shortening and partial melting of orogenic crust.

A 3D Seismic Survey Designing to Visualize the Oil Reservoir in West Kifl and Al-Marjan Fields, Central Iraq

Marjan fields west of Kifl, represent the underground geological structures that contain oil-producing reservoirs in central Iraq. The objective of this study is to identify the most important acquisition criteria that can design an optimal 3D reflection seismic survey to obtain high-resolution seismic images of four major reservoirs. Hartha, Zubair, Najma, and Churra chine in Marjan fields, west of Kifl as oil reservoirs within the study area, for which a three-dimensional design is required. Generally, it is found that a specific container size of 25×25 m is suitable for sampling the field of the reflected waves in the study area. The group interval and the survey resource interval determined this size of 50 m was adopted for the time interval of the source and receiver. A dip of 30, and a maximum frequency of 70 H, were used to create the survey design. The migration aperture is calculated using the variation of velocity with depth and is 2450 m. All these computational and statistical parameters were performed using MESA Expert v11.02 software.

Insights into dike nucleation and eruption dynamics from high-resolution seismic imaging of magmatic system at the East Pacific Rise.

Models of magmatic systems suggest that the architecture of crustal magma bodies plays an important role in where volcanic eruptions occur, but detailed field observations are needed to evaluate them. We present ultrahigh-resolution reflection images of magma bodies beneath a region of multiple eruptions along the East Pacific Rise derived from three-dimensional seismic surveying. The observations reveal magma bodies with elongate ridges and troughs vertically aligned with seafloor eruptive fissures that we interpret as remnant dike root zones where repeat dikes nucleate. We document a triangular feeder zone to the axially centered magma body from the off-axis source for a newly forming seamount of the Lamont chain and infer bottom-up eruption triggering due to recharge from this deeper source. The findings indicate that magma bodies are sculpted by both processes of magma recharge from below and magma extraction to the surface, leaving a morphological imprint that contributes to localization of dike nucleation and eruption sites at the East Pacific Rise.

Upper-plate conduits linked to plate boundary that hosts slow earthquakes

In shallow subduction zones, fluid behavior impacts various geodynamic processes capable of regulating slip behaviors and forming mud volcanoes. However, evidence of structures that control the fluid transfer within an overriding plate is limited and the physical properties at the source faults of slow earthquakes are poorly understood. Here we present high-resolution seismic velocity models and reflection images of the Hyuga-nada area, Japan, where the Kyushu-Palau ridge subducts. We image distinct kilometer-wide columns in the upper plate with reduced velocities that extend vertically from the seafloor down to 10–13 km depth. We interpret the low-velocity columns as damaged zones caused by seamount subduction and suggest that they serve as conduits, facilitating vertical fluid migration from the plate boundary. The lateral variation in upper-plate velocity and seismic reflectivity along the plate boundary correlates with the distribution of slow earthquakes, indicating that the upper-plate drainage system controls the complex pattern of seismic slip at subduction faults.

Lithospheric structures of the eastern Himalayas as revealed by receiver function analysis

Although the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen is a result of compressional tectonics, the orogen also hosts active rifts accommodating east-west extension orthogonal to the north-south India-Asia convergence. In this study we address the question of how the north-trending rifts were formed by conducting high-resolution seismic imaging survey across southeastern Tibet where the Cona rift is exposed. Our work shows that the crustal structures of this youngest rift in southern Tibet was constructed by multiple-scale structures that are decoupled with depth and long rift trend. We suggest this deformation style to have resulted from eastward extrusion of the middle and upper crust with increasing speeds to the north towards the Yarlunbg-Zangpo suture. The differential eastward extrusion in turn may have contributed to the formation and evolution of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis.

High-resolution shallow crustal shear wave velocity structure of Anyuan mining area and its adjacent region in Jiangxi Province, China

High-resolution seismic image is critically important for mining minerals. In this study, we collected seismic data from a local dense seismic array consisting of 154 stations around the Anyuan mining area and its adjacent region of Pingxiang City, Jiangxi Province in South China, and applied the ambient noise tomography (ANT) method to image the shear wave velocity structure in the study area. Shallow crustal velocities at depths less than 3.3 km were determined by direct inversion of Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion curves at the period range of 0.5–5.0 s. Overall, the S-wave velocity structure has a tight correlation with surface geological and tectonic features in the study area. The shear wave velocity structure in the shallow crust of the Anyuan Mine and its adjacent areas displayed distinct low-velocity anomalies, which can be attributed to the depression of sedimentary structures and coal mining activities in the Pingxiang-Leping region. The zones surrounding the Anyuan fault (AYF) and Wangkeng fault (WKF) zones exhibited low-velocity anomalies from the ground surface to ~ 3.3 km underground. And the low-velocity anomalies at depths less than 1.2 km could be related to the sedimentary environment of coal mine and the coal mining activities, while the low-velocity anomalies at depths below 1.2 km are caused by the presence of fracture medium, oil and gas in the fault zone. The shear wave velocity changes sharply across the AYF, and the characteristics of the velocity change interface indicate that the AYF is inclined toward the northwest, with its extension reaching depths of approximately 3 km underground.Graphical

Frequency-Domain Reverse-Time Migration with Analytic Green's Function for the Seismic Imaging of Shallow Water Column Structures in the Arctic Ocean.

Seismic oceanography can provide a two- or three-dimensional view of the water column thermocline structure at a vertical and horizontal resolution from the multi-channel seismic dataset. Several seismic imaging methods and techniques for seismic oceanography have been presented in previous research. In this study, we suggest a new formulation of the frequency-domain reverse-time migration method for seismic oceanography based on the analytic Green's function. For imaging thermocline structures in the water column from the seismic data, our proposed seismic reverse-time migration method uses the analytic Green's function for numerically calculating the forward- and backward-modeled wavefield rather than the wave propagation modeling in the conventional algorithm. The frequency-domain reverse-time migration with analytic Green's function does not require significant computational memory, resources, or a multifrontal direct solver to calculate the migration seismic images as like conventional reverse-time migration. The analytic Green's function in our reverse-time method makes it possible to provide a high-resolution seismic water column image with a meter-scale grid size, consisting of full-band frequency components for a modest cost and in a low-memory environment for computation. Our method was applied to multi-channel seismic data acquired in the Arctic Ocean and successfully constructed water column seismic images containing the oceanographic reflections caused by thermocline structures of the water mass. From the numerical test, we note that the oceanographic reflections of the migrated seismic images reflected the distribution of Arctic waters in a shallow depth and showed good correspondence with the anomalies of measured temperatures and calculated reflection coefficients from each XCDT profile. Our proposed method has been verified for field data application and accuracy of imaging performance.

Seismic velocity inversion transformer

Velocity model inversion is one of the most challenging tasks in seismic exploration, and an accurate velocity model is essential for high-resolution seismic imaging. Recently, velocity inversion methods based on deep learning (DL), particularly convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have attracted considerable attention from the seismic exploration community. These researchers aim to directly estimate the velocity model from raw seismograms using a well-trained model. Although CNN-based velocity inversion methods have demonstrated remarkable performance in terms of intelligence and automation, their inversion performance is often constrained by a limited long-range dependence. Specifically, when conducting a convolutional operation on raw seismic data using small kernels (i.e., 1 × 1, 3 × 3, 5 × 5, and 7 × 7), CNN-based methods extract only the local features and neglect the weak spatial correlation between different local features that reflect the information of the same interface. This correlation could assist CNN in providing an overview of the seismic data and promote inversion performance when using DL. Furthermore, the time-varying properties of seismic data pose a challenge to the weight sharing of CNNs. Here, we have developed a new DL framework based on a transformer, called the seismic velocity inversion transformer (SVIT), to address the problem of velocity inversion. SVIT uses a self-attention mechanism to capture the long-range dependence of seismic data, rather than stacking multiple convolutional layers as in CNNs. Thus, SVIT can provide more informative remote features for building velocity models. The validity and reliability of the proposed method are demonstrated through numerical experiments using synthetic models. Compared with the conventional full-waveform inversion method and an existing CNN-based velocity inversion method, our SVIT indicates greater consistency with the target in terms of the velocity value, subsurface structures, and geologic interfaces and is expected to provide a new DL-based solution to resolve inversion problems.

Three-dimensional glacial isostatic adjustment modeling reconciles conflicting geographic trends in North American marine isotope stage 5a relative sea level observations

Abstract Glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) simulations using earth models that vary viscoelastic structure with depth alone cannot simultaneously fit geographic trends in the elevation of marine isotope stage (MIS) 5a relative sea level (RSL) indicators across continental North America and the Caribbean and yield conflicting estimates of global mean sea level (GMSL). We present simulations with a GIA model that incorporates three-dimensional (3-D) variation in North American viscoelastic earth structure constructed by combining high-resolution seismic tomographic imaging with a new method for mapping this imaging into lateral variations in lithospheric thickness and mantle viscosity. We pair this earth model with a global ice history based on updated constraints on ice volume and geometry. The GIA prediction provides the first simultaneous reconciliation of MIS 5a North American and Caribbean RSL highstands and strengthens arguments that MIS 5a peak GMSL reached values close to that of the Last Interglacial. This result highlights the necessity of incorporating realistic 3-D earth structure into GIA predictions with continent-scale RSL data sets.

Seismic imaging of reservoir heterogeneity using a network with high station density at The Geysers geothermal reservoir, CA, USA

We analyze results of high-resolution seismic imaging at The Geysers geothermal reservoir in northern California, USA, using a dense seismic network to image the spatial heterogeneity of the reservoir structure and flow paths. The project uses 92 seismic stations spaced at approximately 500 m over a 5 km × 5 km study area. Microseismic data for more than 17,000 earthquakes have been acquired over a period of 13 months and automatically processed for P- and S-wave phase arrival times. The data are subsequently inverted using a joint inversion approach to image the spatial heterogeneity of the reservoir including the 3D P- and S-wave velocity structure and [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] ratio, and to locate earthquake hypocenters. The resulting tomographic images are appraised by integration into The Geysers’ 3D reservoir model and by a spatial correlation to the injection and production wells. Spatial correlation of P-wave velocity images to water injection and steam production wells reveal higher velocities below injection wells, due to higher water saturation, and lower velocities in the vicinity of steam-producing wells, due to the presence of steam in the surrounding reservoir rocks. The spatial correlation of [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] to steam in the reservoir indicates decreased estimates in the vicinity of steam production wells. In contrast, the [Formula: see text]/[Formula: see text] ratio reveals high values in the reservoir for regions near water injection wells and along the potential flow path of water through the reservoir. The estimates of shear modulus indicate high values in a region of competent graywacke, which is known for a lack of fractures and steam production, and low values in a region that is dominated by water flow, suggesting that fractured rock created a pathway for the water through the reservoir. The heterogeneity observed in the S-wave velocities indicates a compartmentalized reservoir, which correlates spatially with fault projections in the 3D reservoir model.

High-resolution seismic imaging of shallow structure at proposed IODP drilling sites, Kane oceanic core complex, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Two 500-m-deep holes are proposed to be drilled at the Kane oceanic core complex (OCC), one aimed at a serpentinized peridotite massif and the other at a gabbroic body. Ocean drilling is vital to validate lithological interpretation derived from seismic structures. Utilizing a long marine streamer, seismic imaging can effectively delineate the dominant lithologies within the OCCs. This study applied a suite of techniques, including downward-continued multi-channel seismic data, full waveform inversion, and reverse time migration, to obtain detailed fine-scale shallow structures beneath the Kane OCC. Through the downward continuation method, refracted seismic data at near offsets were utilized, thus doubling the resolution at shallow depths. Compared to previous findings, our results greatly enhance the understanding of shallow subseafloor structures, revealing a more precise morphology of the gabbroic bodies and well-imaged very shallow low velocities caused by seawater percolation in the shallow fissure due to footwall rotation extension. We present reference drilling hole velocities and link them to the likely composition, considering potential alteration processes such as serpentinization of mantle peridotite. Our investigation suggests that the lower crustal melt fluxes of the Kane OCC represent a transitional phase from low to medium accretion, providing valuable insights for future scientific ocean drilling projects in this region.

Seismic characterization of geologically complex geothermal reservoirs by combining structure-oriented filtering and attributes analysis

In geothermal systems, the geologic structure is a decisive factor in controlling fluid flow. Several geothermal systems around the world are located in complex geological structures, such as closely spaced and intersecting faults and fractures, folds, and dykes. Seismic data provides high-resolution images of complex structures that can be used to explore geothermal reservoirs. In fact, faults and fractures have subtle geologic edges that produce significant lateral variations in seismic data. Volumetric seismic attributes are quite effective for detecting these discontinuities in seismic data but are sensitive to noise and velocity accuracy. In North China, a deeply buried carbonate structure presents a geologically complex system with fault-controlled geothermal circulation. However, due to the deep burial depth and structural complexity, seismic reflection beneath the buried-hill has a low-quality, making it difficult to detect the characteristics of the fault edges. In this study, we first develop a structural architecture of the buried-hill carbonate reservoirs to show the development characteristics in vertical and plane directions. Next, we propose an intelligent workflow based on structure-oriented filtering and sensitive seismic attributes to investigate structural complexity (faults and fractures) in the basin for geothermal reservoir exploration. The results show that by combining the proposed structure-oriented filtering and sensitive volumetric seismic attributes, we can generate high-resolution seismic images to characterize fault edges, geometries, and fracture anomalies in structurally complex settings in order to identify upflow locations along the faults and fractures in geothermal systems. We further validated the fracture networks distribution by superimposing the extracted attributes with seismic fault networks and fracture density map using multilayer feedforward neural network. This workflow provides a reliable basis for the characterization of geothermal reservoirs in deep-buried and structurally controlled geothermal fields.

Large earthquakes along slow converging plate margins: Calabrian Arc paleoseismicity based on the submarine turbidite record

The Calabrian Arc subduction-rollback system hosts seismogenic faults capable of generating earthquakes exceeding magnitude 7. Since earthquakes are the result of long-term geodynamic processes, documenting seismic activity during a sufficiently long time interval is of fundamental importance for hazard scenarios. Instrumental and historical data provide critical information on seismogenesis, but they cover time periods shorter than the recurrence times of large earthquakes, especially in areas with low deformation rates such as Calabria. If onshore paleoseismological studies are fundamental to compile earthquake catalogs, they are sometime affected by the relatively poor continuity of sedimentation in the subaerial environment.In this study we applied the paleoseismological approach to the submarine environment to reconstruct the record of high-energy sedimentary events triggered by seismic activity. We analyzed three gravity cores collected in disconnected sedimentary basins to reconstruct resedimentation processes during the Holocene, integrating inland information for a better assessment of tectonic activity and seismogenesis. Multiproxy analyses of the sedimentary record constrained by radiometric dating allowed reconstructing event stratigraphy and linking resedimented deposits to specific earthquakes.Onshore and offshore data allow to identify large-magnitude earthquakes in the central Calabrian Arc subduction system during the Holocene, with inferred epicenters located either along normal faults onshore and/or related to the slab dynamics. The turbidite record reveals 20 major events during the last 10 ka, with sources including crustal faults in Calabria (i.e. Lakes, Rossano and Cittanova faults). Analyses of sediment samples and high-resolution seismic reflection images allowed identification of different types of resedimented deposits during the last 30–50 ka. The basin-wide occurrence of three megaturbidites/homogenites suggests they are related to megatsunamis sourced by far field earthquakes along the Hellenic Arc. Megaturbidites with a more limited spatial extent are interpreted as subduction-type events in the Calabrian Arc, while thinner seismo-turbidites record the activity of crustal structures including faults onshore. Results suggest a recurrence time of 2–3 ka for major Calabrian Arc events that needs to be considered for a reliable hazard assessment in the Mediterranean region.

Shallow subduction of Indian slab and tectono-magmatic control on post-collisional porphyry mineralization in southeastern Tibet

The 1500-km long Gangdese belt in southern Tibet shows uneven distribution of giant to large porphyry deposits over 45 Mt Cu mainly in the middle-east segment between longitude 87–92°E. However, the western (80–86°E) and eastern end (92–96°E) is generally barren. The recent discovery of Demingding, Cuibaizi and Tangbula porphyry deposits in the east of 92°E has attracted great attention on their origin. Recent high-resolution seismic imaging shows the torn Indian lithosphere subducts with diverse angle. In contrast to the middle-east segment with moderate angle Indian plate subduction, the southeastern Tibet is characterized with a shallow dip of subduction (eastern of Comei rift), where Demingding, Cuibaizi and Tangbula deposits are located. To reveal the formation mechanism of these deposits as well as the Indian slab motion pattern beneath them, we compiled reported whole rock major and trace elements, Sr and Nd isotope signature, zircon trace element, U-Pb ages and Hf isotope data of Miocene ore-related adakitic rocks from Demingding and Tangbula to the north, and Oligocene ore-barren adakitic rocks from Linchi to the south. There is a clear negative correlation between zircon U-Pb ages of rocks and their distance to Indus-Yarlung Zangbo suture: Linchi is around 20 km away from the suture, with an average U-Pb age of 27.1 Ma, while Demingding and Tangbula rocks are 50 and 90 km away from the suture, with ages of 20.3 and 19.7 Ma respectively. Granitoids from Linchi have less compatible element Ni and Cr contents of 4.07 and 5.84 ppm on average respectively, while those of Demingding (20.1 and 43.4 ppm) and Tangbula (5.52 and 7.90 ppm) are much higher. Ni and Cr as compatible elements are concentrated in mafic minerals, and are thus proper indicators for mantle imprint indicators. In addition, as shown by Sr-Nd isotopes, Linchi granitoids have features of ancient crust [(87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.7059 to 0.7085, εNd(t) = − 6.20 to −2.90], while Demingding and Tangbula granitoids show less radiogenic features [(87Sr/86Sr)i = 0.7059 to 0.7068, εNd(t) = − 3.27 to −1.70], which are more similar to coexisting juvenile arc. Demingding and Tangbula granitoids also show signature of high fO2 and hydrous melt condition, as indicated by calculated fO2 of ΔFMQ + 2, and amphibole fractionation indicated by decreasing Dy/Yb with SiO2, since amphibole favors MREE (Dy) rather than HREE (Yb). Combining above, our work shows that the Indian slab constantly subducted shallowly beneath these deposits, given no mantle-like signature of near-suture Oligocene adakitic rocks. We suggest the cause to the formation of Demingding, Tangbula and Cuibaizi deposits is the reactivation of pre-enriched arc root materials, triggered by constant northward migration of Indian slab. This is supported by similar isotope signature between Miocene Demingding and Tangbula ore-related porphyries and coexisting arc, and absence of coeval pre-collisional porphyry deposits. The essential components for these porphyry deposits, high fO2 and water content, were also likely contributed from the pre-enriched juvenile arc root.