Marine transient electromagnetic sounding of deep buried hydrocarbon reservoirs: principles,methodologies and limitations

The possibility of a time‐domain electromagnetic sounding method using excitation and measurement of vertical electric fields to search for and identify deeply buried reservoirs of hydrocarbons offshore is investigated. The method operates on source–receiver offsets, which are several times less than the depth of the reservoir. Geoelectric information is obtained from the transient responses recorded in the pauses between the pulses of electric current in the absence of the source field. The basics of the method, as well as its sensitivity, resolution, and the highest accessible depth of soundings for various geological conditions in a wide range of sea depths, are analyzed. For the analysis, 1D and 3D geoelectric models of hydrocarbon reservoirs are used. It is shown that under existing technologies of excitation and measurement of vertical electric fields, the highest accessible depth of soundings can be up to 4 km. Technology for the inversion and interpretation of transient responses is demonstrated on experimental data.     

基于改进的接收点插值算法的频率域海洋可控源电磁法2.5维正演

在海洋可控源电磁法勘探中,接收站常置于海底.在进行海洋电磁场模拟时,由于海水和海底介质存在显著电性差异,这给海底接收点处场值的求取带来困难.本文提出一种新的接收点插值算法,该算法考虑到海底电场法向分量不连续性问题,用法向电流分量进行插值以准确求取海底任意接收点处电磁场值.本文利用交错网格有限差分法实现了二维介质中频率域海洋可控源法(CSEM)正演.对构造走向做傅里叶变换,将三维电磁模拟问题转换为波数域2.5维问题,即三维场源激励下针对二维地电模型的电磁模拟问题.使用交错网格有限差分法,基于一次场/二次场分离方法导出波数域二次电场离散形式,并进一步求得波数域电磁场.采用本文提出的改进的插值算法可求得海底任意接收点处波数域电磁场,采用傅里叶逆变换对波数域电磁场进行积分可得到接收点处空间域电磁场.模型算例表明,与常规的线性插值和严格插值算法相比,本文提出的改进的插值算法具有更高的精度.     

Transient electromagnetic surveys with unimodal transverse magnetic field: ideas and results

The theory behind transient electromagnetic surveys can be well described in terms of transverse magnetic and transverse electric modes. Soundings using transverse magnetic and transverse electric modes require different source configurations. In this study, we consider an alternating transverse magnetic field excitation by a circular electric dipole. The circular electric dipole transmitter is a horizontal analogue of the vertical electric dipole. Offshore surveys using circular electric dipole might represent an alternative to the conventional marine controlled‐source electromagnetic method at shallow sea and/or for exploring relatively small targets. Field acquisition is carried out by recording either electric or magnetic responses. Electric responses bear information on the 1D structure of a layered earth and successfully resolve high‐resistivity targets in marine surveys. Land‐based circular electric dipole soundings are affected by induced polarisation. On the contrary, magnetic responses are absent on the surface of a 1D earth, and as a result, they are very sensitive to any and even very small 3D conductivity perturbations. In addition, they are sensitive to induced polarisation or some other polarisation effects in the subsurface. At present, circular electric dipole transmitters and magnetic receivers are successfully used in on‐land mineral and petroleum exploration.     

Signal detectability of marine electromagnetic methods in the exploration of resistive targets

We compare selected marine electromagnetic methods for sensitivity to the presence of relatively thin resistive targets (e.g., hydrocarbons, gas hydrates, fresh groundwater, etc.). The study includes the conventional controlled‐source electromagnetic method, the recently introduced transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines method, and the novel marine circular electric dipole method, which is still in the stage of theoretical development. The comparison is based on general physical considerations, analytical (mainly asymptotic) analysis, and rigorous one‐dimensional and multidimensional forward modelling. It is shown that transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines and marine circular electric dipole methods represent an alternative to the conventional controlled‐source electromagnetic method at shallow sea, where the latter becomes less efficient due to the air‐wave phenomenon. Since both former methods are essentially short‐offset time‐domain techniques, they exhibit a much better lateral resolution than the controlled‐source electromagnetic method in both shallow sea and deep sea. The greatest shortcoming of the transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines and marine circular electric dipole methods comes from the difficulties in accurately assembling the transmitter antenna within the marine environment. This makes these methods significantly less practical than the controlled‐source electromagnetic method. Consequently, the controlled‐source electromagnetic method remains the leading marine electromagnetic technique in the exploration of large resistive targets in deep sea. However, exploring laterally small targets in deep sea and both small and large targets in shallow sea might require the use of the less practical transient electromagnetic prospecting with vertical electric lines and/or marine circular electric dipole method as a desirable alternative to the controlled‐source electromagnetic method.     

Deep exploration using long-offset transient electromagnetics: interpretation of field data in time and frequency domain

In the framework of the Deep Electromagnetic Soundings for Mineral Exploration project, we conducted ground-based long-offset transient-electromagnetic measurements in a former mining area in eastern Thuringia, Germany. The large-scale survey resulted in an extensive dataset acquired with multiple high-power transmitters and a high number of electric and magnetic field receivers. The recorded data exhibit a high data quality over several decades of time and orders of magnitude. Although the obtained subsurface models indicate a strong multi-dimensional subsurface with variations in resistivity over three orders of magnitude, the electrical field step-on transients are well fitted using a conventional one-dimensional inversion. Due to superimposed induced polarization effects, the transient step-off data are not interpretable with conventional electromagnetic inversion. For further interpretation in one and two dimensions, a new approach to evaluate the long-offset transient-electromagnetic data in frequency domain is realized. We present a detailed workflow for data processing in both domains and give an overview of technical obstructions that can occur in one domain or the other. The derived one-dimensional inversion models of frequency-domain data show strong multi-dimensional effects and are well comparable with the conventional time domain inversion results. To adequately interpret the data, a 2.5D frequency-domain inversion using the open source algorithm MARE2DEM (Modeling with Adaptively Refined Elements for 2-D EM) is carried out. The inversion leads to a consistent subsurface model with shallow and deep conductive structures, which are confirmed by geology and additional geophysical surveys.     

Numerical analysis of multicomponent responses of surface-hole transient electromagnetic method

We calculate the multicomponent responses of surface-hole transient electromagnetic method. The methods and models are unsuitable as geoelectric models of conductive surrounding rocks because they are based on regular local targets. We also propose a calculation and analysis scheme based on numerical simulations of the subsurface transient electromagnetic fields. In the modeling of the electromagnetic fields, the forward modeling simulations are performed by using the finite-difference time-domain method and the discrete image method, which combines the Gaver–Stehfest inverse Laplace transform with the Prony method to solve the initial electromagnetic fields. The precision in the iterative computations is ensured by using the transmission boundary conditions. For the response analysis, we customize geoelectric models consisting of near-borehole targets and conductive wall rocks and implement forward modeling simulations. The observed electric fields are converted into induced electromotive force responses using multicomponent observation devices. By comparing the transient electric fields and multicomponent responses under different conditions, we suggest that the multicomponent-induced electromotive force responses are related to the horizontal and vertical gradient variations of the transient electric field at different times. The characteristics of the response are determined by the varying the subsurface transient electromagnetic fields, i.e., diffusion, attenuation and distortion, under different conditions as well as the electromagnetic fields at the observation positions. The calculation and analysis scheme of the response consider the surrounding rocks and the anomalous field of the local targets. It therefore can account for the geological data better than conventional transient field response analysis of local targets.     

Three-dimensional em modeling

Three-dimensional (3D) interpretation of electromagnetic (EM) dsta is still in its infancy, due to a lack of practical numerical solutions for the forward problem. However, a number of algorithms for simulating the responses of simple 3D models have been developed over the last ten years, and they have provided important new insight. Integral equation methods have been more successful than differential equation methods, because they require calculating the electric field only in small anomalous regions, rather than throughout the earth. Utilizing a vector-scalar potential approach and incorporating symmetry through group theory improves the general 3D integral equation solution. Thin-sheet integral equation formulations have been particularly useful. Much recent research has focused on hybrid methods, which are finite element differential equation solutions within a mesh of limited extent, with boundary values determined by integrating over the interior fields. An elegant eigencurrent technique has been developed for calculating the transient response of a thin 3D sheet in free space, but general 3D time domain responses have only been calculated by Fourier transforming frequency domain results. Direct time domain calculations have been carried out only for 2D bodies.     

基于站间天然电磁场单位脉冲响应的大地电磁时间序列去噪方法

针对天然大地电磁场信号在人文活动密集地区易受噪声干扰的问题,本文提出利用两个同步测点天然电磁场时间序列之间的单位脉冲响应,合成本地点受干扰时段的数据,从而去除大地电磁噪声.首先,选择高信噪比时段的数据,采用最小二乘法,估算本地点与参考点之间的单位脉冲响应,再根据卷积定律,结合参考磁场合成本地点的磁场和电场.最后用合成数据替换含噪声时段数据,实现时间域去噪.实测高信噪比数据和含噪数据的处理结果表明,该方法可以高精度合成本地点磁场与电场信号,有效去除本地点电场和磁场噪声,包括相关噪声,提高大地电磁数据质量.     

双轴各向异性介质多分量感应测井响应快速计算

为研究双轴各向异性介质多分量感应测井响应特征,本文基于三重傅里叶变换,推导任意方向偶极子源的谱域电磁场解析式;采用围线积分方法,自适应截断积分区间,结合谱域电磁场周期特性,实现三重傅里叶变换的精确快速积分;进而,针对双轴各向异性倾斜地层,模拟研究不同纵横向各向异性条件多分量感应测井响应特征.结果表明:利用谱域内电磁场在周向的周期特性简化解析式,可将计算速度提高4倍;自适应截断积分区间方法保证了计算精度,并极大地减少了积分节点数.对于倾斜双轴各向异性介质,倾角较大时,共面分量可反映地层横向各向异性,同轴分量可反映地层纵向各向异性;倾角较小时,同轴分量可反映地层横向各向异性,共面分量可反映地层纵向各向异性.     

海底油气藏及天然气水合物的时频电磁辨识

提出了伪随机多频海洋电磁法观测方案.采用伪随机多频信号作为激励场源,多偏移距同线偶极-偶极同时观测,相关辨识海底地电系统的频率特性和冲激响应,可以在时间域和频率域同时辨识海底高阻薄层.在时间域,瞬变冲激时刻可以直接指示海底地层电导率的变化;在频率域,利用多个频率的电场响应计算的频散率及其道闻变化量,相对相位道间变化量对高阻薄层有很好的反映.从而实现对海底油气及天然气水合物的多参数辨识.     

3D magnetotelluric modelling including surface topography

An edge finite‐element method has been applied to compute magnetotelluric (MT) responses to three‐dimensional (3D) earth topography. The finite‐element algorithm uses a single edge shape function at each edge of hexahedral elements, guaranteeing the continuity of the tangential electric field while conserving the continuity of magnetic flux at boundaries. We solve the resulting system of equations using the biconjugate gradient method with a Jacobian preconditioner. The solution gives electric fields parallel to the slope of a surface relief that is often encountered in MT surveys. The algorithm is successfully verified by comparison with other numerical solutions for a 3D‐2 model for comparison of modelling methods for EM induction and a ridge model. We use a 3D trapezoidal‐hill model to investigate 3D topographic effects, which are caused mainly by galvanic effects, not only in the Zxy mode but also in the Zyx mode. If a 3D topography were approximated by a two‐dimensional topography therefore errors occurring in the transverse electric mode would be more serious than those in the transverse magnetic mode.     

瞬变电磁场的直接时域数值分析

为了深入了解瞬变电磁场的勘探原理,直接在时间域对负阶跃脉冲激发的二维瞬态场进行了数值分析.采用的方法是从反映电磁场基本规律的麦克斯韦方程组出发,导出时域电场的齐次扩散方程,对所研究的空间区域作差分离散,源作为初始条件加入,利用准静态近似处理空中边界,然后进行时间的逐步递推,由此展现瞬变电磁场在地下扩散随时间发展的全过程.通过模拟计算不同时刻瞬态电场在地下的分布形态及地面上感生电动势相应的变化,揭示了低阻异常体对感应涡流的聚集作用,低阻覆盖层对瞬变场扩散的减速作用,及瞬变场的延时效应.因此,瞬变电磁法对低阻体是敏感的,有上覆低阻层时探测同样的深度需要较长的时间,而延时效应瞬变场的晚期时段可反映埋藏较浅的异常体.     

GEOPHYSICAL MAPPING BY STATIONARY ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELD COMPONENTS: A COMBINATION OF POTENTIAL GRADIENT MAPPING AND MAGNETOMETRIC RESISTIVITY (MMR) METHODS*

A combined application of two independent direct current geoelectric methods, potential gradient mapping (PM) and magnetometric resistivity (MMR), is proposed for the investigation of high-resistivity basement structures. From a one-dimensional relation between horizontal electric and magnetic fields (due to currents originating from point electrodes placed on the surface of a two-layered half-space having a high-resistivity basement) several advantages of the combined PM-MMR method are shown for two-dimensional and three-dimensional basement structures. Three-dimensional models have been studied by analogue modeling experiments. This new mapping method embraces two parameters: the horizontal electric conductance map, derived from the ratio of the related electric and magnetic components, and the gradient map of their product. A close relation between structural forms and anomaly maps is obtained by using two orthogonal source-electrode layouts. Based on model results a two-channel measuring instrument was developed. The method and the instrument were tested near Sopron where a gradual deepening of, and faults in, the Paleozoic basement were found.     

Elimination of the water-layer response from multi-component source and receiver marine electromagnetic data

This paper presents the theory to eliminate from the recorded multi‐component source, multi‐component receiver marine electromagnetic measurements the effect of the physical source radiation pattern and the scattering response of the water‐layer. The multi‐component sources are assumed to be orthogonally aligned above the receivers at the seabottom. Other than the position of the sources, no source characteristics are required. The integral equation method, which for short is denoted by Lorentz water‐layer elimination, follows from Lorentz' reciprocity theorem. It requires information only of the electromagnetic parameters at the receiver level to decompose the electromagnetic measurements into upgoing and downgoing constituents. Lorentz water‐layer elimination replaces the water layer with a homogeneous half‐space with properties equal to those of the sea‐bed. The source is redatumed to the receiver depth. When the subsurface is arbitrary anisotropic but horizontally layered, the Lorentz water‐layer elimination scheme greatly simplifies and can be implemented as deterministic multi‐component source, multi‐component receiver multidimensional deconvolution of common source gathers. The Lorentz deconvolved data can be further decomposed into scattering responses that would be recorded from idealized transverse electric and transverse magnetic mode sources and receivers. This combined electromagnetic field decomposition on the source and receiver side gives data equivalent to data from a hypothetical survey with the water‐layer absent, with idealized single component transverse electric and transverse magnetic mode sources and idealized single component transverse electric and transverse magnetic mode receivers. When the subsurface is isotropic or transverse isotropic and horizontally layered, the Lorentz deconvolution decouples into pure transverse electric and transverse magnetic mode data processing problems, where a scalar field formulation of the multidimensional Lorentz deconvolution is sufficient. In this case single‐component source data are sufficient to eliminate the water‐layer effect. We demonstrate the Lorentz deconvolution by using numerically modeled data over a simple isotropic layered model illustrating controlled‐source electromagnetic hydrocarbon exploration. In shallow water there is a decrease in controlled‐source electromagnetic sensitivity to thin resistors at depth. The Lorentz deconvolution scheme is designed to overcome this effect by eliminating the water‐layer scattering, including the field's interaction with air.     

各向异性层状介质中视电阻率与磁场响应研究

针对任意各向异性地层,利用极向型和环向型标量位函数,导出相应的直流电视电阻率和磁电阻率的磁场响应关系.计算了各向异性地层的直流电视电阻率和磁电阻率响应特征,重点分析了电阻率测深方法与磁电阻率探测方法对地下各向异性介质的探测能力.文中采用状态矩阵的分析方法,首先采用极向型和环向型标量位构造了各向异性层状介质电场与磁场的通解,利用各层界面电场、磁场的连续性及地面激励源的耦合条件,推导了不同层之间电磁场的状态矩阵,建立了空间电场与磁场的递归计算关系.其次,针对递归计算中指数项数值计算的不稳定性,借用状态矩阵的性质,导出了将不稳定指数计算项转化为稳定的指数项的转换关系.针对横向各向同性(TI)介质中极向位与环向位解耦的特点,导出了电磁场的直接积分解.最后,采用解析解验证了算法的正确性,给出了多层各向异性地层模型的视电阻率和磁场响应曲线,分析了直流电法探测裂缝性地层、估计裂缝分布性状的可能性.     

地形对长偏移距瞬变电磁测深的影响研究(英文)

用基于张量格林函数的体积分方程法对三维异常体进行瞬变电磁响应的正演模拟,首先在频率域内计算电磁场分量的频率域响应,然后利用快速数字滤波技术将计算结果转换到时间域。设计和计算了水平电偶极子源激发下层状水平地层模型背景下的常见地形如山谷、山峰地形的模型,并考察分别把源和接收器放于这些地形中的瞬变电磁场响应,详细分析了这些地形对长偏移距瞬变电磁测深(LOTEM)的影响。结果表明,山谷和山峰地形对LOTEM的结果均有不同程度的影响。当电偶极子源放在山谷谷底时,地形对观测异常场的畸变非常严重;当接收器放在山谷中时,接收器处地形的影响强烈但该影响在空间和时间上只是局部的。总体来讲,不论山峰地形位于何处,其对LOTEM的影响相对较小。当地形处于发射源与接收器之间时,地形对LOTEM的影响非常小,表明在进行LOTEM勘探时,选择发射源的放置比接收器的位置更加重要,野外勘探是尽量把发射源选择在开阔的平坦位置。     

Processing of magnetotelluric data

The processing of magnetotelluric data involves concepts from electromagnetic theory, time series analysis and linear systems theory for reducing natural electric and magnetic field variations recorded at the earth's surface to forms suitable for studying the electrical properties of the earth's interior.The electromagnetic field relations lead to either a scalar transfer impedance which couples an electric component to an orthogonal magnetic component at the surface of a plane-layered earth, or a tensor transfer impedance which couples each electric component to both magnetic components in the vicinity of a lateral inhomogeneity.A number of time series spectral analysis methods can be used for estimating the complex spectral coefficients of the various field quantities. These in turn are used for estimating the nature of the transfer function or tensor impedance. For two dimensional situations, the tensor impedance can be rotated to determine the principal directions of the electrical structure.In general for real data, estimates of the apparent resistivity are more stable when calculated from the tensor elements rather than from simple orthogonal field ratios (Cagniard estimates), even when the fields are measured in the principal coordinates.