Seismic Reflection Survey Research Articles

Stratigraphy of architectural elements in a buried volcanic system and implications for hydrocarbon exploration

The interaction between magmatism and sedimentation creates a range of petroleum plays at different stratigraphic levels due to the emplacement and burial of volcanoes. This study characterizes the spatio-temporal distribution of the fundamental building blocks (i.e., architectural elements) of a buried volcano and enclosing sedimentary strata to provide insights for hydrocarbon exploration in volcanic systems. We use a large data set of wells and seismic reflection surveys from the offshore Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, compared with outcropping volcanic systems worldwide to demonstrate the local impacts of magmatism on the evolution of the host sedimentary basin and petroleum system. We discover the architecture of Kora volcano, a Miocene andesitic polygenetic stratovolcano that is currently buried by more than 1000 m of sedimentary strata and hosts a subcommercial discovery within volcanogenic deposits. The 22 individual architectural elements have been characterized within three main stratigraphic sequences of the Kora volcanic system. These sequences are referred to as premagmatic (predate magmatism), synmagmatic (defined by the occurrence of intrusive, eruptive, and sedimentary architectural elements), and postmagmatic (degradation and burial of the volcanic structures after magmatism ceased). Potential petroleum plays were identified based on the distribution of the architectural elements and on the geologic circumstances resulting from the interaction between magmatism and sedimentation. At the endogenous level, emplacement of magma forms structural traps, such as drag folds and strata jacked up above intrusions. At the exogenous level, syneruptive, intereruptive, and postmagmatic processes mainly form stratigraphic and paleogeomorphic traps, such as interbedded volcano-sedimentary deposits, and upturned pinchout of volcanogenic and nonvolcanogenic coarse-grained deposits onto the volcanic edifice. Potential reservoirs are located at systematic vertical and lateral distances from eruptive centers. We have determined that identifying the architectural elements of buried volcanoes is necessary for building predictive models and for derisking hydrocarbon exploration in sedimentary basins affected by magmatism.

Temporal evolution of fault systems in the Upper Jurassic of the Central German Molasse Basin: case study Unterhaching

The structural evolution of faults in foreland basins is linked to a complex basin history ranging from extension to contraction and inversion tectonics. Faults in the Upper Jurassic of the German Molasse Basin, a Cenozoic Alpine foreland basin, play a significant role for geothermal exploration and are therefore imaged, interpreted and studied by 3D seismic reflection data. Beyond this applied aspect, the analysis of these seismic data help to better understand the temporal evolution of faults and respective stress fields. In 2009, a 27 km2 3D seismic reflection survey was conducted around the Unterhaching Gt 2 well, south of Munich. The main focus of this study is an in-depth analysis of a prominent v-shaped fault block structure located at the center of the 3D seismic survey. Two methods were used to study the periodic fault activity and its relative age of the detected faults: (1) horizon flattening and (2) analysis of incremental fault throws. Slip and dilation tendency analyses were conducted afterwards to determine the stresses resolved on the faults in the current stress field. Two possible kinematic models explain the structural evolution: One model assumes a left-lateral strike slip fault in a transpressional regime resulting in a positive flower structure. The other model incorporates crossing conjugate normal faults within a transtensional regime. The interpreted successive fault formation prefers the latter model. The episodic fault activity may enhance fault zone permeability hence reservoir productivity implying that the analysis of periodically active faults represents an important part in successfully targeting geothermal wells.

Geometry and slip rates of active blind thrusts in a reactivated back-arc rift using shallow seismic imaging: Toyama basin, central Japan

Active blind thrust faults, which can be a major seismic hazard in urbanized areas, are commonly difficult to image with seismic reflection surveys. To address these challenges in coastal plains, we collected about 8km-long onshore high-resolution two-dimensional (2D) seismic reflection data using a dense array of 800 geophones across compressionally reactivated normal faults within a failed rift system located along the southwestern extension of the Toyama trough in the Sea of Japan. The processing of the seismic reflection data illuminated their detailed subsurface structures to depths of about 3km. The interpreted depth-converted section, correlated with nearby Neogene stratigraphy, indicated the presence of and along-strike variation of previously unrecognized complex thrust-related structures composed of active fault-bend folds coupled with pairs of flexural slip faults within the forelimb and newly identified frontal active blind thrusts beneath the alluvial plain. In addition, growth strata and fold scarps that deform lower to upper Pleistocene units record the recent history of their structural growth and fault activity. This case shows that shallow seismic reflection imaging with densely spaced seismic recorders is a useful tool in defining locations, recent fault activity, and complex geometry of otherwise inaccessible active blind thrust faults.

Fore‐arc seafloor unconformities and geology: Insight from 3‐D seismic geomorphology analysis, Peru

AbstractNew 3‐D seismic data collected over 4870 km2 in the 3°45′S–12°30′S Peruvian segment of the East Pacific subduction system image seafloor erosional surfaces that can be mapped across the fore‐arc basins. Fore‐arc basins experience various stresses, from their base where basal tectonic erosion acts to the seafloor which is influenced by aerial, shallow, and deep water currents driven by waves or thermohaline oceanic currents. Previously there has been little interest in stresses on the upper layer and there is a lack of documentation of unconformities and the erosive processes in certain bathymetric domains in fore‐arc basins. We address this with the study of examples sourced from 3‐D seismic reflection surveys of the seafloor offshore Peru. Unconformities occur in two distinctive bathymetric domains associated with the continental shelf and the upper slope of the margin. Identification and characterization of unconformity surfaces yield estimates of the amount of erosion at the modern seafloor that range from 18 to 100%. Regional physical oceanography allows us to calibrate potential candidates for these two distinctive domains. The first control on erosion is the dynamics of deep to intermediate oceanic currents related to the Humboldt‐Peru Chile water masses, while the second is wave action in the shallower erosional surfaces. This study illustrates the unseen landscape of the fore‐arc basins of South America and helps to highlight the importance of erosive surficial processes in subduction landscapes.

Low Velocity Layer Characterization in the Niger Delta: Implications for Seismic Reflection Data Quality

ABSTRACT The problems of poor data quality and statics in seismic surveys have been attributed to lack of proper understanding of the low velocity layer characteristics of the area from which such data was acquired. Downhole seismic refraction survey was therefore conducted at twenty (20) borehole locations within parts of Niger Delta, Nigeria to determine the low velocity layer characteristics of the area using the Geometrics Stratavisor NZ11 instrument. The data was processed using Udysys software with spatial representation of the results presented. Static corrections were carried out on reflection seismic data acquired from the study area using Geoscribe II software to determine the effects of the low velocity layer on reflection seismic data in the area. Results of the study revealed that the velocity of the low velocity layer ranged between 144 and 996m/s with a regional average of 407m/s. The thickness of the low velocity layer varied between 3.0 and 9.6m with a mean value of 5.0m. Similarly, the velocity of the consolidated layer ranged between 1449 and 1812m/s with a mean value of 1738m/s. Results of the static correction carried out on the seismic reflection data revealed a substantial improvement in the resolution of the data after static correction. Based on these findings, it is therefore, recommended that shots for reflection seismic survey should be located at a minimum depth of 9.6m in the area to eliminate the effects associated with the low velocity layer.

Monocline formation during growth of segmented faults in the Taranaki Basin, offshore New Zealand

Precursor monoclines or fault propagation folds are commonly associated with normal faults. Many previous studies have analysed these structures at outcrop or in analogue models but there are few natural examples which have been studied in detail in 3D. Here we present the results of analysis of two monoclines imaged in a 3D seismic reflection survey in the Taranaki Basin, offshore New Zealand. The monoclines formed in response to Miocene-Recent extensional reactivation of underlying basement normal faults of Cretaceous age. The Miocene structures have associated growth strata that allows their geometrical evolution to be established. The two monoclines initiated at the same time (~3.4Ma). The smaller of the two monoclines has only limited associated faulting while the larger structure was cross-cut by upward propagation of the basement fault as a segmented array of normal faults. Variations in fold amplitudes and fault displacements within the growth strata associated with the larger structure record the progressive transition from folding to faulting, with folding limited to the relay zones between fault segments in the later stages of growth. This structure demonstrates spatial and temporal complementary relationships between folding and faulting so that together they define a single kinematically coherent structure. Although the monoclines widen upwards with geometries consistent with the trishear model of forced folding, there is also a positive correlation between monocline amplitude and wavelength measured along the length of the structure which suggests that the wavelengths of these structures increased as they grew.

Variations in seismic velocity distribution along the Ryukyu (Nansei-Shoto) Trench subduction zone at the northwestern end of the Philippine Sea plate

The Ryukyu (Nansei-Shoto) island arc-trench system, southwest of Japan, is formed by the subduction of the Philippine Sea (PHS) plate. Among the subduction zones surrounding the Japan Islands, the Ryukyu arc-trench system is unique in that its backarc basin, the Okinawa Trough, is the area with current extensively active rifting. The length of the trench is around 1400 km, and the geological and geophysical characteristics vary significantly along the trench axis. We conducted multichannel seismic (MCS) reflection and wide-angle seismic surveys to elucidate the along-arc variation in seismic structures from the island arc to the trench regions, shooting seven seismic lines across the arc-trench system and two along-arc lines in the island arc and the forearc areas. The obtained P-wave velocity models of the Ryukyu arc crust were found to be heterogeneous (depending on the seismic lines), but they basically consist of upper, middle, and lower crusts, indicating a typical island arc structure. Beneath the bathymetric depressions cutting the island arc—for example, the Kerama Gap and the Miyako Saddle—the MCS record shows many across-arc normal faults, which indicates the presence of an extensional regime along the island arc. In the areas from the forearc to the trench, the subduction of the characteristic seafloor features on the PHS plate affects seismic structures; the subducted bathymetric high of the Amami Plateau is detected in the northern trench: the Luzon–Okinawa fracture zone beneath the middle and southern trenches. There are low-velocity (<~4.5 km/s) wedges along the forearc areas, except for off Miyako-jima Island. The characteristic high gravity anomaly at the forearc off Miyako-jima Island is caused not by a bathymetric high of a large-scale accretionary wedge but by shallower materials with a high P-wave velocity of ~4.5 km/s.Graphical Position of the seismic survey lines in the Ryukyu arc-trench system (right) and P-wave velocity models for the lines perpendicular to the trench axis (left). The contour interval is 2.5 km/s. The vertical blue line shows the position of the trench axis.

Processing and quality-control strategies for consistent time-lapse seismic attributes: A case history on an internal blowout using vintage data

Many vintage reflection seismic surveys exist that have nonrepeated acquisition geometries or final-stacked/migrated sections are obtained using different or nonconsistent processing flows. This may lead to derived time-lapse attributes that are not internally consistent or even conflicting. For instance, we have focused on a subsurface gas blowout that occurred in 1989 in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea. The 2D site survey data were acquired in 1988 and 1990, and the 3D data were acquired in 1991 and 2005. The various sets of legacy data are plagued by poor repeatability among data acquisitions, application of different processing strategies, missing prestack data, and the presence of multiples. All of these factors severely complicate even qualitative interpretation of the gas migration associated with the underground blowout. Careful time-lapse processing may provide useful information even from such challenging legacy data by first computing numerous attributes including instantaneous amplitude differences, time shifts, time-lapse attenuation, and impedance inversions. Then, judicious quality control, invoked by comparing the various attributes, was used to check for internally consistent results.

High resolution seismic evidence for Ghaggar lineament and paleo-Saraswathi River

Geophysical data are needed to correlate the lineaments at the surface to the structural mapping of underlying bedrock. High resolution seismic survey is one of the most suitable geophysical methods for mapping of shallow features. In this study, 2D high resolution seismic reflection survey (HRSS) has been carried out across the Ghaggar, a seasonal river in Haryana, India. The survey is carried out for a profile distance of 10 km across the lineament along the course of Ghaggar River. Ground checks along the river have shown sediments containing alternate layers of alluvium deposits with yellowish silty clay and fine-grained gray sand of variable thickness. Several structural disturbances along the profile are identified. During the quantitative analyses, the results exhibit disturbances in the reflector representing the bedrock. Also, regional gravity data study does not report any major tectonic feature indicating the absence of seismicity associated with the lineament. The present study resulted in that (a) the1.5-km wide zone of disturbance is more likely to be a fracture rather than a major fault across the basement in the depth and (b) the meandering drainage pattern of the Ghaggar River which indicates that it is a basement-controlled lineament.

Rediscussion on the geodynamics of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake: New seismic reflection evidence for crustal structure of the Longmenshan

New evidence concerning the middle and upper crustal structure of the Longmen Shan range where the May 12, 2008 M7.9 Wenchuan earthquake occurred is presented on the basis of seismic reflection surveys. The results of seismic reflection profiles clearly show a relatively complete stratigraphic sequence of the Upper Yangtze Basin since the Cambrian. Folding deformation, along with movements along numerous detachment layers, took place in the strata among the Wenchuan–Maoxian Fault (WMF), the Yingxiu–Beichuan Fault (YBF), and the Guanxian–Anxian Fault (GAF). The WMF is steep in the shallow strata, turning gentler gradually from a depth of 4km, and more so at depths beyond 7km. The WMF imbricates with the YBF and GAF, and they do not converge within the top 15km of the crust. This interpretation disagrees with the viewpoint that the YBF and GAF extend with subvertical trend to a depth of 20km with a robust relationship between the hypocenters and the subsurface faults and fold geometries. We conclude that the sub-horizontal detachment layers where most aftershocks occurred are the major causative fault, instead of the YBF. The YBF might be an earthquake-propagating fault according to our seismic reflection data and the distribution of aftershocks. The overlying rigid and rootless Pengguan complex (∼3–4km) might aggravate the damage to the YBF. Furthermore, there exists a new high-angle, listric structures vertical coseismic fault, which is able to link the seismogenic detachment layer and the shallow YBF together and resulted in huge damage of the YBF.

Enhancing the detection of small coal structures by seismic diffraction imaging

Faults are the most important geological structures that need to be detected in any modern underground coal mining project. Even a fault with a throw of a few metres can create safety issues and lead to costly delays in mine production. While seismic surveys are usually successful at locating faults with throws greater than 5-10m, reliable techniques for resolving more subtle faults, dykes and other minor features are yet to be developed.In seismic data, there are two types of seismic energy signatures that can be used for subsurface imaging: specular reflections and diffractions. Specular reflections are created by relatively smooth surfaces between layers of differing impedance contrasts such as at coal-rock interfaces. Specular reflections are used in conventional seismic reflection surveys. Diffractions are generated by local discontinuities caused by surface roughness, faults, dykes and fractures. In this paper, we describe the use of a moving average error filter which, along with a process of reflection event flattening for accommodation of dips and undulations of coal seam reflections, can be used to effectively extract diffraction signals from post-stack reflection seismic data. By identifying diffractions, small faults and other minor features that are elusive using conventional seismic reflection processing can be detected, suggesting that diffraction imaging may be a superior method to seismic reflection imaging. Both synthetic and real (2D and 3D) coal seismic data are used to illustrate the feasibility of diffraction imaging for small fault detection. It is demonstrated from synthetic examples that the extracted diffractions can be used to detect faults with a throw of 1m while a real data example shows that it is possible to detect igneous dykes with widths of just 4m.

Bottom currents and sediment waves on a shallow carbonate shelf, Northern Carnarvon Basin, Australia

The modern seafloor of the Australian Northwest Shelf between Exmouth and Dampier was analyzed for large scale sedimentary bedforms on 3D seismic reflection data. The Carnarvon MegaSurvey of Petroleum Geo-Services (PGS), a merged dataset of multiple industrial 3D seismic reflection surveys with a total size of 49,717km2, offers an extensive view of the continental shelf, slope and rise of the Northern Carnarvon Basin. Over the shelf two fields of large scale sediment waves were observed in water depths between 55–130m, where the seafloor may be influenced by different processes including internal waves, tides and storms. Based on the dimensions and orientations of the sediment waves the dominant direction and approximate strength of local bottom currents could be estimated. Information on local sediment grain-size distribution was provided by the auSEABED database allowing a classification of the observed sediment waves into sand- or mudwaves. The first sediment wave field is positioned northwest of the Montebello Islands where the shelf is comparatively narrow and local sediment is mainly sand-sized. It most likely formed by increased bottom currents induced by the diversion of tidal flows around the islands. The second sediment wave field is located north of the Serrurier and Bessieres Islands within a local seafloor depression. Local sediments are poorly sorted, containing significant amounts of mud and gravel in addition to the mainly sand-sized grains. The coarser sediment fraction could have been reworked to sandwaves by cyclone-induced bottom currents. Alternatively, the finer sediment fraction could form mudwaves shaped by less energetic along-slope oriented currents in the topographic depression. The sediment waves consist partially of carbonate grains such as ooids and peloids that formed in shallow water during initial stages of the post glacial sea-level rise. These stranded carbonate grains thus formed in a different environment than the sediment waves in which they were redeposited. In fossil examples of similar high-energy ramp systems this possible out-of-equilibrium relationship between grains and bedforms has to be taken into account for the interpretation of the depositional environment.

Structure of Northeastern Sakurajima, South Kyushu, Japan, Revealed by Seismic Reflection Survey(＜Special Section＞Sakurajima Special Issue)

Structure of Northeastern Sakurajima, South Kyushu, Japan, Revealed by Seismic Reflection Survey(＜Special Section＞Sakurajima Special Issue)

The kinematics of normal faults in the Ceduna Subbasin, offshore southern Australia: Implications for hydrocarbon trapping in a frontier basin

The geometry and growth of normal faults are fundamental to the evolution and petroleum prospectivity of sedimentary basins, controlling trap development; source, reservoir, and seal rock distribution; and fluid flow. The poorly studied, petroliferous Ceduna Subbasin located offshore southern Australia contains an east–southeast-striking, gravity-driven fault array, which soles out onto a southwest-dipping detachment horizon. These gravity-driven faults displace the White Pointer delta and overlying Hammerhead delta. Within the subbasin, structural closures bound by these gravity-driven faults represent the main exploration targets. Determining when these faults and associated traps formed relative to petroleum generation and migration and, more specifically, if the faults reactivated is thus critical to understanding the prospectivity of the Ceduna Subbasin. In this study, we use a time-migrated two-dimensional (2-D) seismic reflection survey covering the central Ceduna Subbasin to constrain the geometry and kinematics of the fault array. Throw patterns reveal that most faults nucleated in the Cenomanian. Although some faults display evidence for continuous growth by upper tip propagation throughout the Cenomanian to Maastrichtian, it is apparent that other faults were inactive during the Turonian–Santonian, before reactivating and propagating upward or dip-linking with overlying, newly formed faults during the Campanian and/or Maastrichtian. Faults that grew continuously during the Cenomanian to Maastrichtian primarily formed in the center of the study area, whereas reactivated faults developed in landward positions. Faults that formed because of dip linkage developed in seaward positions. We suggest that this spatial variation in fault growth style was controlled by compositional and mechanical heterogeneities in the Tiger and lower Hammerhead supersequences, which mark the boundary between the two delta systems. In addition to providing insights into the petroleum prospectivity of the Ceduna Subbasin, this study shows how 2-D seismic reflection data can be used to probe the kinematics of normal faults.

Estimating the location of baleen whale calls using dual streamers to support mitigation procedures in seismic reflection surveys.

In order to mitigate against possible impacts of seismic surveys on baleen whales it is important to know as much as possible about the presence of whales within the vicinity of seismic operations. This study expands on previous work that analyzes single seismic streamer data to locate nearby calling baleen whales with a grid search method that utilizes the propagation angles and relative arrival times of received signals along the streamer. Three dimensional seismic reflection surveys use multiple towed hydrophone arrays for imaging the structure beneath the seafloor, providing an opportunity to significantly improve the uncertainty associated with streamer-generated call locations. All seismic surveys utilizing airguns conduct visual marine mammal monitoring surveys concurrent with the experiment, with powering-down of seismic source if a marine mammal is observed within the exposure zone. This study utilizes data from power-down periods of a seismic experiment conducted with two 8-km long seismic hydrophone arrays by the R/V Marcus G. Langseth near Alaska in summer 2011. Simulated and experiment data demonstrate that a single streamer can be utilized to resolve left-right ambiguity because the streamer is rarely perfectly straight in a field setting, but dual streamers provides significantly improved locations. Both methods represent a dramatic improvement over the existing Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) system for detecting low frequency baleen whale calls, with ~60 calls detected utilizing the seismic streamers, zero of which were detected using the current R/V Langseth PAM system. Furthermore, this method has the potential to be utilized not only for improving mitigation processes, but also for studying baleen whale behavior within the vicinity of seismic operations.

Time-Depth Curve Evaluation Method for Conversion Time to Depth at Penobscot Field, Nova-Scotia, Canada

Oil and natural gas as a fossil fuel that is essential for human civilization, and included in nonrenewable energy, making this energy source is not easy for updated availability. So that it is necessary for exploration and exploitation reliable implementation. Seismic exploration becomes the method most widely applied in the oil, in particular reflection seismic exploration. Data wells (depth domain) and seismic data (time domain) of reflection seismic survey provides information wellbore within the timescale. As for the good interpretation needed information about the state of the earth and is able to accurately describe the actual situation (scale depth). Conversion time domain into the depth domain into things that need to be done in generating qualified exploration map. Method of time-depth curve to be the method most preferred by the geophysical interpreter, in addition to a fairly short turnaround times, also do not require a large budget. Through data information check-shot consisting of the well data and seismic data, which is then exchanged plotted, forming a curve time-depth curve, has been able to produce a map domain depth fairly reliable based on the validation value obtained in the range of 54 - 176m difference compared to the time domain maps previously generated.Keywords: Energy nonrenewable, survei seismik, peta domain waktu, peta domain kedalaman, time-depth curve

Geophysical imaging of subsurface structures in volcanic area by seismic attenuation profiling

Geophysical imaging by using attenuation property of multichannel seismic reflection data was tested to map spatial variation of physical properties of rocks in a volcanic area. The study area is located around Miyakejima volcanic island, where an intensive earthquake swarm was observed associated with 2000 Miyakejima eruption. Seismic reflection survey was conducted five months after the swarm initiation in order to clarify crustal structure around the hypocenters of the swarm activity. However, the resulting seismic reflection profiles were unable to provide significant information of deep structures around the hypocenters. The authors newly applied a seismic attribute method that focused seismic attenuation instead of reflectivity to the volcanic area, and designed this paper to assess the applicability of this method to subsurface structural studies in poorly reflective volcanic areas. Resulting seismic attenuation profiles successfully figured out attenuation structures around the Miyakejima volcanic island. Interestingly, a remarkable high-attenuation zone was detected between Miyakejima and Kozushima islands, being well correlated with the hypocenter distribution of the earthquake swarm in 2000. The high-attenuation zone is interpreted as a fractured area that was developed by magma activity responsible for the earthquake swarms that have been repeatedly occurring there. The present study can be one example showing the applicability of seismic attenuation profiling in a volcanic area.Graphical .

反射法地震探査および重力探査から明らかになった仙台平野南部の伏在活断層

The southern part of the Sendai Plain is located between the Futaba active fault zone and the Nagamachi-Rifu active fault zone. In the existing research, only 6.5km long of the active fault trace was estimated along the eastern foot of Medeshima Hills because the geomorphic surface of the Medeshima Hills is warping toward east. Besides the above, no other active fault trace had been clearly identified in this area. To reveal the subsurface structure, we conducted 5.3-km-long of seismic reflection survey across the southern part of the Sendai Plain, near the mouth of the Abukuma river, which is the northern extension of Futaba active fault zone. The result of seismic profile analyzed with a standard CMP method shows the existence of concealed active fault beneath the Sendai Plain and 30-40m of dislocations in seismic reflectors from Miocene to Quaternary layer. The activity of the concealed fault is estimated as a C-class (Long-term rate of faulting, 0.01-0.1mm/yr). The survey of relative gravity measurement at intervals of 200 m was also conducted, including the seismic reflection survey line. Steep gradient of the Bouguer gravity anomaly were observed in the vicinity of the concealed active fault that is revealed from the seismic reflection survey. Analysis with the 2-D density structure analysis demonstrates that steep gradient of Bouguer gravity anomaly was responsible for large deformation of pre-Miocene basement rocks by repeated faulting of the concealed active fault. In addition, to discuss a tectonic evolution of the Sendai Plain, we made topographic profiles, using 1m-DEM and 2m-DEM data across the plain. Topographies of these profiles show that discontinuity of 1.5-2.2m on both sides of the westernmost beach ridge in the southern part of the Sendai Plain. Active faulting of the concealed fault has possibly contributed to these topographic discontinuities.

Interlobate esker architecture and related hydrogeological features derived from a combination of high-resolution reflection seismics and refraction tomography, Virttaankangas, southwest Finland

A novel high-resolution (2–4 m source and receiver spacing) reflection and refraction seismic survey was carried out for aquifer characterization and to confirm the existing depositional model of the interlobate esker of Virttaankangas, which is part of the Säkylänharju-Virttaankangas glaciofluvial esker-chain complex in southwest Finland. The interlobate esker complex hosting the managed aquifer recharge (MAR) plant is the source of the entire water supply for the city of Turku and its surrounding municipalities. An accurate delineation of the aquifer is therefore critical for long-term MAR planning and sustainable use of the esker resources. Moreover, an additional target was to resolve the poorly known stratigraphy of the 70–100-m-thick glacial deposits overlying a zone of fractured bedrock. Bedrock surface as well as fracture zones were confirmed through combined reflection seismic and refraction tomography results and further validated against existing borehole information. The high-resolution seismic data proved successful in accurately delineating the esker cores and revealing complex stratigraphy from fan lobes to kettle holes, providing valuable information for potential new pumping wells. This study illustrates the potential of geophysical methods for fast and cost-effective esker studies, in particular the digital-based landstreamer and its combination with geophone-based wireless recorders, where the cover sediments are reasonably thick.

Joint inversion of seismic, vertical seismic profiling, and crosswell data — A case study from China

Three-dimensional poststack and prestack seismic inversion results such as P- and S-impedance are commonly used for reservoir characterization. However, the frequency bandwidth of surface-based reflection seismic surveys usually ranges from 10 to 70 Hz, and these surveys have limited vertical resolution. The frequency bandwidth of vertical seismic profiling (VSP) and crosswell data is much wider than that of surface reflection seismic data, and it can give a detailed illumination of the subsurface around the borehole. We test a joint inversion method that integrated surface reflection seismic, VSP, and crosswell data. To better constrain the inversion results, we further integrate a posteriori information on the reflectivity obtained from petrophysics data into the inversion procedure. The a posteriori distribution we use is a modified-Cauchy distribution obtained from the statistical analysis of petrophysics data. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithm, we applied our inversion strategy to a 2D synthetic model and a real seismic data set, and an uncertainty assessment was also performed. The joint inversion method can detect the thin layers that surface seismic inversion fail to, demonstrating the higher resolution of the method.