Focal Mechanism Determination using High Frequency, Full Waveform Information

In this research, we use high frequency waveform information to determine the focal mechanisms of small local earthquakes at an oil reservoir. During the waveform inversion, we maximize both the phase and amplitude matching between the observed and synthetic waveforms. In addition, we use the polarities of the first P-wave arrivals and the S/P amplitude ratios to better constrain the matching between the synthetic and observed waveforms. The objective function is constructed to include all four criteria. Due to the complexity in the objective function, it is almost impossible to directly perform an inversion with derivative techniques. Instead, an optimized grid search method is used to search over all possible ranges of fault strike, dip and rake, as well as a predetermined range of earthquake locations. To speed up the algorithm, a library of Green‟s functions is pre-calculated for each of the moment tensor components and possible earthquake locations. Careful optimizations in filtering and cross-correlation are performed to further improve the grid search algorithm, such that no filtering and cross correlations are performed in searching through the parameter space of strike, dip, and rake. Consequently, speed is boosted tenfold by these optimizations in filtering and cross correlation. We apply the new method to induced seismic events in an oil reservoir. Satisfactory matching between synthetic and observed seismograms is obtained, as well as reasonable focal mechanisms, considering the local geological structure and possible causes for induced seismicity.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laborator

Focal Mechanism Determination Using High Frequency Waveform Matching and Its Application to Small Magnitude Induced Earthquakes

We present a new method using high frequency full waveform information to determine the focal mechanisms of small, local earthquakes monitored by a sparse surface network. During the waveform inversion, we maximize both the phase and amplitude matching between the observed and modeled waveforms. In addition, we use the polarities of the first P-wave arrivals and the average S/P amplitude ratios to better constrain the matching. An objective function is constructed to include all four criteria. An optimized grid search method is used to search over all possible ranges of source parameters (strike, dip and rake). To speed up the algorithm, a library of Green’s functions is pre-calculated for each of the moment tensor components and possible earthquake locations. Optimizations in filtering and cross-correlation are performed to further speed the grid search algorithm. The new method is tested on a 5-station surface network used for monitoring induced seismicity at a petroleum field. The synthetic test showed that our method is robust and efficient to determine the focal mechanism when using only the vertical component of seismograms in the frequency range of 3 to 9 Hz. The application to dozens of induced seismic events showed satisfactory waveform matching between modeled and observed seismograms. The majority of the events have a strike direction parallel with the major NE-SW faults in the region. The normal faulting mechanism is dominant, which suggests the vertical stress is larger than the horizontal stress.Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laborator

An improved method for hydrofracture induced microseismic event detection and phase picking

The ability to detect small microearthquakes and identify their P and S phase arrivals is a key issue in hydrofracture downhole monitoring because of the low signal-to-noise ratios. We apply an array-based waveform correlation approach (matched filter) to improve the detectability of small magnitude events with mechanisms and locations similar to a nearby master event. After detecting the weak events, we use a transformed spectrogram method to identify the phase arrivals. We have tested the technique on a downhole monitoring dataset of the microseismic events induced by hydraulic fracturing. We show that, for this case, one event with a signal-to-noise ratio around 6dB, which is barely detectable using an array-stacked short-time average/long-time average (STA/LTA) detector under a reasonable false alarm rate, is readily detected on the array-stacked correlation traces. The transformed spectrogram analysis of the detected events improves P and S phase picking.Halliburton Compan

Full-waveform Based Microseismic Event Detection and Signal Enhancement: The Subspace Approach

Microseismic monitoring has proven to be an invaluable tool for optimizing hydraulic fracturing stimulations and monitoring reservoir changes. The signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the recorded microseismic data varies enormously from one dataset to another, and it can often be very low especially for surface monitoring scenarios. Moreover, the data are often contaminated by correlated noises such as borehole waves in the downhole monitoring case. These issues pose a significant challenge for microseismic event detection. On the other hand, in the downhole monitoring scenario, the location of microseismic events relies on the accurate polarization analysis of the often weak P-wave to determine the event azimuth. Therefore, enhancing the microseismic signal, especially the low SNR P-wave data, has become an important task. In this study, a statistical approach based on the binary hypothesis test is developed to detect the weak events embedded in high noise. The method constructs a vector space, known as the signal subspace, from previously detected events to represent similar, yet significantly variable microseismic signals from specific source regions. Empirical procedures are presented for building the signal subspace from clusters of events. The distribution of the detection statistics is analyzed to determine the parameters of the subspace detector including the signal subspace dimension and detection threshold. The effect of correlated noise is corrected in the statistical analysis. The subspace design and detection approach is illustrated on a dual-array hydrofracture monitoring dataset. The comparison between the subspace approach, array correlation method, and array short-time average/long-time average (STA/ LTA) detector is performed on the data from the far monitoring well. It is shown that, at the same expected false alarm rate, the subspace detector gives fewer false alarms than the array STA/LTA detector and more event detections than the array correlation detector. The additionally detected events from the subspace detector are further validated using the data from the nearby monitoring well. The comparison demonstrates the potential benefit of using the subspace approach to improve the microseismic viewing distance. Following event detection, a novel method based on subspace projection is proposed to enhance weak microseismic signals. Examples on field data are presented indicating the effectiveness of this subspace-projection-based signal enhancement procedure.Halliburton Compan

Passive Seismic Tomography Using Induced Seismicity at a Petroleum Field in Oman

A borehole network consisting of 5 monitoring wells was used to monitor the induced seismicity at a producing petroleum field for a period of about 11 months. Nearly 5400 microseismic events were analyzed and utilized in imaging the reservoir based on a new doubledifference (DD) seismic tomography. The DD tomography method simultaneously solves for event locations and Vp, Vs, and Vp/Vs models using absolute and differential P, S and S-P arrival times. Microseismicity in the field was primarily caused by compaction of the reservoir in and above the gas bearing formation and was distributed along the two major northeastsouthwest (NE-SW) faults in the field. The model resolution analysis based on the checkerboard test and the resolution matrix showed that the central part of the model was relatively well resolved for the depth range of 0.7 to 1.1 km. Clear velocity contrasts were imaged across most parts of the two NE-SW faults. Vp/Vs ratio estimations from the tomographic inversion were low (<1.75) in the shallow depth range, likely due to lithology and gas content, whereas they were large (>1.75) in the deeper part of the model, likely due to fluid saturated formation. In this study seismic tomography showed a great potential for reservoir imaging and property estimation using induced seismicity.Petroleum Development Oma

Improved Methods for Hydrofrac Event Detection and Phase Picking

The ability to detect small microseismic events and identify their P and S phase arrivals is a key issue in hydraulic fracture monitoring because of the low signal-to-noise ratios. We propose a array-based waveform correlation approach to detect small magnitude events with similar mechanisms and locations as a nearby master event. For the phase picking part, a transformed spectrogram method is used to identify the weak P arrivals. We have applied the technique to a downhole monitoring dataset of the microseismic events induced by hydraulic fracturing. The results show a better phase identification

Probabilistic seismic hazard maps for the sultanate of Oman

This study presents the results of the first probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA) in the framework of logic tree for Oman. The earthquake catalogue was homogenized, declustered, and used to define seismotectonic source model that characterizes the seismicity of Oman. Two seismic source models were used in the current study; the first consists of 26 seismic source zones, while the second is expressing the alternative view that seismicity is uniform along the entire Makran and Zagros zones. The recurrence parameters for all the seismogenic zones were determined using the doubly bounded exponential distribution except the zones of Makran, which were modelled using the characteristic distribution. Maximum earthquakes were determined and the horizontal ground accelerations in terms of geometric mean were calculated using ground-motion prediction relationships developed based upon seismic data obtained from active tectonic environments similar to those surrounding Oman. The alternative seismotectonic source models, maximum magnitude, and ground-motion prediction relationships were weighted and used to account for the epistemic uncertainty. Hazard maps at rock sites were produced for 5 % damped spectral acceleration (SA) values at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 1.0 and 2.0 s spectral periods as well as peak ground acceleration (PGA) for return periods of 475 and 2,475 years. The highest hazard is found in Khasab City with maximum SA at 0.2 s spectral period reaching 243 and 397 cm/s[superscript 2] for return periods 475 and 2,475 years, respectively. The sensitivity analysis reveals that the choice of seismic source model and the ground-motion prediction equation influences the results most.Oman Ministerial Cabinet (project number 22409017

National assessment of sea level rise using topographic and census data for Turkish coastal zone

PubMedID: 18720019Turkish coastal zone elevation to sea level rise was illustrated by using digital elevation model and Geographical information systems methods. It was intended to determine several parameters such as population, settlements, land use, wetlands, contribution to national agricultural production and taxes at risk by using high resolution SRTM topographic, orthorectified Landsat Thematic Mapper Mosaics and census data with GIS methods within 0 - 10 m elevation of national level. All parameters were examined for coastal cities, coastal districts, settlements and villages' status. As a result of the analysis of data set, it was found that approximately 7,319 km2 of land area lies below 10 m contour line in Turkey, and is hence highly vulnerable to sea-level rise. 28 coastal cities, 191 districts and 181 villages or towns are located below 10 m contour line in study area. In the short term, for the struggle of negative impact of sea level rise, the findings suggest that the Ministry of Environment should declare new areas as protection areas and develop special environmental programs for national level. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008.National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationLandsat data was provided through NASA’s Earth Science Enterprise Scientific Data purchase Program Produced, under NASA contract, by Earth Satellite Corporation. Data set title is Geo-Cover Orthorectified Landsat Thematic Mappe

Automatic detection of shoreline change on coastal Ramsar wetlands of Turkey

This research focuses on the shoreline change rate analysis by automatic image analysis techniques using multi-temporal Landsat images and Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) along the coastal Ramsar wetlands of Turkey. Five wetlands were selected for analysis: Yumurtalik Ramsar, the Goksu Ramsar, Kizilirmak and Yesilirmak wetlands and Gediz wetlands. Accretion or erosion processes were observed on multi-temporal satellite images along the areas of interest. Landsat images were geometrically and radiometrically corrected for the quantitative coastline delineation analysis. DSAS (Digital Shoreline Analysis System) was used as a reliable statistical approach for the rate of coastline change. For the detection of coastal change in Aegean part (Gediz wetland) of the study, zonal change detection method was used. As a result of the analysis, in some parts of research area remarkable shoreline changes (more than 765 m withdrawal and -20.68 m/yr erosion in Yumurtalik, 650 m withdrawal and -25.99 m/yr erosion in Goksu, 660 m withdrawal and -16.10 m/yr erosion in Kizilirmak and 640 m withdrawal and -4.91 m/yr erosion in Yesilirmak) were observed for three periods (1989, 1999 and 2009). Wetland in Gediz delta which is 35.57 km2 was converted to sea or salt pan for the period 1975 and 2009. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved