Scattering of Seismic Waves by Cracks with the Boundary Integral Method

— We develop a new scheme to compute 2-D SH seismograms for media with many flat cracks, based on the boundary integral method. A dry or traction-free boundary condition is applied to crack surfaces although other kinds of cracks such as wet or fluid-saturated cracks can be treated simply by assigning different boundary conditions. While body forces are distributed for cavities or inclusions to express scattered wave, dislocations (or displacement discontinuities between the top and the bottom surfaces of each crack) are used as fictitious sources along crack surfaces. With these dislocations as unknown coefficients, the scattered wave is expressed by the normal derivative of Green's function along the crack surface, which is called “double-layer potentials” in the boundary integral method, while we used “single-layer potentials” for cavities or inclusions. These unknowns are determined so that boundary conditions or crack surfaces are satisfied in the least-squared sense, for example, traction-free for dry cracks. Seismograms with plane-wave incidence are synthesized for homogeneous media with many cracks. First, we check the accuracy of our scheme for a medium with one long crack. All the predicted phases such as reflected wave, diffraction from a crack tip and shadow behind the crack are simulated quite accurately, under the same criterion as in the case for cavities or inclusions. Next, we compute seismograms for 50 randomly distributed cracks and compare them with those for circular cavities. When cracks are randomly oriented, waveforms and the strength of scattering attenuation are similar to the cavity case in a frequency range higher than k d $\simeq$ 2 where the size of scatterers d (i.e., crack length or cavity diameter) is comparable with the wavelength considered (k is the wavenumber). On the other hand, the scattering attenuation for cracks becomes much smaller in a lower frequency range (k d<2) because only the volume but not detail geometry of scatterers becomes important with wavelength much longer than each scatterer. When all the cracks are oriented in a fixed direction, the scattering attenuation depends strongly on the incident angle to the crack surface as frequency increases (k d>2): scattering becomes weak for cracks oriented parallel to the direction of the incident wave, while it gets close to the cavity case for cracks aligned perpendicular to the incident wave.     

Attenuation operators and complex wave velocities for scattering in random media

The concept of attenuation operators and complex velocities is applied to scattering attenuation in two and three dimensions, using the minimum-phase assumption for the attenuation operator. Acoustic 2D finite-difference computations of synthetic seismograms show, that the attenuation operator describes well the decay and lowpass filtering of the averaged wave form, which follows from averaging travel-time-corrected wave forms along the wave front. In the case of exponential random media, analytical forms of the attenuation operators and complex velocities are available. The complex velocities are incorporated into the reflectivity method. As an application, synthetic seismograms are presented for theS _n wave, attenuated by lithospheric velocity and density fluctuations. The limitations of attenuation operators and complex velocities for scattering are also discussed. With these quantities it is not possible to model phenomena related to the scattered waves themselves, such as amplitude and travel-time fluctuations along the wave front, codas and precursors.     

Love-Rayleigh wave incompatibility and possible deep upper mantle anisotropy in the Iberian peninsula

Love and Rayleigh wave phase velocities are analyzed with the goal of retrieving information about the anisotropic structure of the Iberian lithosphere. The cross-correlation method is used to measure the interstation phase velocities between diverse stations of the ILIHA network at periods between 20 and 120 s. Despite the 2-D structure of the network, the Love wave data are too few to enable an analysis of phase velocity azimuthal variations. Azimuthal averages of Love and Rayleigh wave phase velocities are calculated and inverted both in terms of isotropic and anisotropic structures. Realistic isotropic models explain the Rayleigh wave and short-period Love wave phase velocities. Therefore no significant anisotropy needs to be introduced in the crust and down to 100 km depth in the upper mantle to explain our data. A discrepancy is observed only at long periods, where the data are less reliable. Love wave data at periods between 80 and 120 s remain 0.15 km/s faster than predicted by isotropic models explaining the long-period Rayleigh wave data. Possibilities of biases in the measurements due to interferences with higher modes are examined but seem unlikely. A transversely isotropic model with 8% of S-wave velocity anisotropy in the upper mantle at depths larger than 100 km can explain the whole set of data. In terms of a classical model of mantle anisotropy, this corresponds to 100% of the crystals perfectly oriented in the horizontal plane in a pyrolitic mantle. This is a rather extreme model, which predicts at time delay between 0 and 2 seconds for split SKS.     

基于分数阶时间导数的黏弹性衰减VTI介质中平面波传播

目前在地震勘探频带范围内通常假设品质因子Q与频率无关,且呈衰减各向同性.事实上,相比较速度各向异性,介质的衰减各向异性同样不可忽视.本文将衰减各向异性和速度各向异性二者与常Q模型相结合,建立了黏弹性衰减VTI介质模型,并基于分数阶时间导数理论,给出了对应的本构关系和波动方程.利用均匀平面波分析和Poynting定理,推...     

Site-specific response spectra from the combination of microzonation with probabilistic seismic hazard assessment—An example for the Cologne (Germany) area

Seismic noise was measured at some 20 sites in the Cologne area (Germany) aligned nearly perpendicular to a graben structure. The H/V spectral noise ratio for each site was used to derive realistic S-wave velocity profiles down to the bedrock by means of a genetic algorithm inversion. Numerical simulations were performed for different combinations of source and propagation path parameters: focal depth, epicentral distance, attenuation and fault mechanism. Synthetic seismograms were produced and converted to Fourier and response spectra. Finally, the site-specific values from response spectral ratios, with their uncertainties, were used to modify attenuation functions entering the logic-tree algorithm of the probabilistic seismic hazard assessment (PSHA). The site-specific response spectra show the significance of taking into account the local S-wave velocity structure in PSHA.     

Calculation of elastic properties in lower part of the Kola borehole from bulk chemical compositions of core samples

In-situ elastic properties in deep boreholes are controlled by several factors, mainly by lithology, petrofabric, fluid-filled cracks and pores. In order to separate the effects of different factors it is useful to extract lithology-controlled part from observedin-situ velocities. For that purpose we calculated mineralogical composition and isotropic crack-free elastic properties in the lower part of the Kola borehole from bulk chemical compositions of core samples. We use a new technique of petrophysical modeling based on thermodynamic approach. The reasonable accuracy of the modeling is confirmed by comparison with the observations of mineralogical composition and laboratory measurements of density and elastic wave velocities in upper crustal crystalline rocks at high confining pressure. Calculations were carried out for 896 core samples from the depth segment of 6840–10535m. Using these results we estimate density and crack-free isotropic elastic properties of 554 lithology-defined layers composing this depth segment. Average synthetic P- wave velocity appears to be 2.7% higher than the velocity from Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP), and 5% higher than sonic log velocity. Average synthetic S-wave velocity is 1.4 % higher than that from VSP. These differences can be explained by superposition of effects of fabric-related anisotropy, cracks aligned parallel to the foliation plain, and randomly oriented cracks, with the effect of cracks being the predominant control. Low sonic log velocities are likely caused by drilling-induced cracking (hydrofractures) in the borehole walls. The calculated synthetic density and velocity cross-sections can be used for much more detailed interpretations, for which, however, new, more detailed and reliable seismic data are required.     

Effect of surface stress on magneto-elastic surface waves in finitely conducting media

This paper deals with the investigation of the effect of surface stress and conductivity on the propagation of surface wave in isotropic, homogeneous, elastic media under the action of a primary magnetic field. Formulation of the general surface wave propagation problem has been made, and the corresponding frequency equation has been derived. Frequency equations for Rayleigh wave, surface shear wave and Stoneley wave have been deduced from that of general surface wave as special cases. The effects of surface stress and magnetic field on the wave velocities and attenuation factors of Rayleigh wave and surface shear wave are shown by numerical calculations and graphs. Some important wave velocity equations, as obtained by other authors, have been deduced as special cases from the wave velocity equation for Stoneley wave. It is found that the combined effect of surface stress and magnetic field modulates the wave velocity ratios and attenuation factors of Rayleigh wave and surface shear wave to a considerable extent.     

Inversion of arrival-times in a region of dilatancy anisotropy

Shear-wave splitting has been identified in many three-component seismograms from two separate field experiments on a section of the North Anatolian Fault in North-West Turkey. These observations are consistent with shear-wave propagation through a zone of extensive-dilitancy anisotropy. A preliminary attempt has been made to confirm this interpretation by simultaneously inverting suites of arrival-times for hypocentral locations and for parameters describing an anisotropic halfspace. Although the inversion procedure is not globally convergent, it is possible to recognize the true solution by systematically varying the initial conditions. Applied to selected data sets, the inversion defines several anisotropic models that fit the data significantly better than a simple isotropic model, and display the anisotropy required by the shear-wave splitting. However, most of these anisotropic models are not superior when they are used to individually locate events in a much larger data set. However, for each experiment, there is a single model that produces clearly superior locations for the larger data sets than those of other anisotropic or simple isotropic models. Both models display similar velocity variations which are characteristic of propagation through distributions of biplanar cracks displaying orthorhombic symmetry. The principal axes of the two models are oriented in similar directions and are within 20° of the principal axis of regional stress derived from fault-plane solutions. The solutions indicate low velocities close to the tensional axis, as would be expected in extensive-dilatancy anisotropy.     

裂隙型单斜介质中多方位地面三分量记录模拟

针对裂隙型储集层中更具代表性的各向异性介质模型,即在各向同性背景介质中含有两组斜交的垂直裂隙所构成的单斜各向异性介质模型,利用时间和空间上可达任意阶的高阶交错网格有限差分技术,对具有不同裂隙填充物性质的单斜介质中波的传播快照进行了模拟.结果证实各向异性介质中波的传播速度随传播方向的不同而产生明显的差异;裂隙填充物的性质对于速度各向异性具有很大的影响.另外,利用坐标旋转法,对水平层状各向异性介质中多方位地面三分量记录进行了模拟,结果表明了方位各向异性介质中,波的传播速度不仅随入射角的变化而变化,同时也随观测方位的不同而产生差异.数值模拟结果为进一步利用地面多方位地震属性进行各向异性参数的反演及裂隙参数的描述提供理论基础.     

New Evidence of Azimuthal Variations at Campi Flegrei: Attenuation and Predominant Frequency

—In this paper we have determined apparent Q from body-wave dispersion and a spectral ratio method for the Campi Flegrei area. A contour map of azimuthal variations of apparent Q (ranging from Q = 4 to Q = 40) reveals that the lower Q (higher attenuation) corresponds to an area that includes the Solfatara Crater (with active fumaroles), near the site of maximum uplift produced during the bradyseismic crisis of 1984, and just over the site evidencing the presence of a magmatic body. A strong azimuthal variation of the predominant frequency of the first pulse of the P wave has been found and is interpreted in terms of a vertical travel time in a surficial resonant layer (～ 1 km thick) over a halfspace. The attenuation maps, the interpretation of the resonant frequencies, and the additional information provided by the P-wave velocity suggest the presence of a circular structure in the area. Not only does the distribution of the thickness of the resonant layer (obtained through the estimation of the contribution of different harmonics) show the circular structure, but it also agrees with the presence of a thin layer of lighter sediments, determined by means of a microgravimetric study, and with the total magnetic map, previously obtained for this area. The results of the azimuthal variation provide new evidence of the structure that can be used to improve the knowledge of the area.     

Anisotropic models of the upper mantle

Long period Rayleigh wave and Love wave dispersion data, particularly for oceanic areas, have not been simultaneously satisfied by an isotropic structure. In this paper available phase and group velocity data are inverted by a procedure which includes the effects of transverse anisotropy, anelastic dispersion, sphericity, and gravity. We assume that the surface wave data represents an azimuthal average of actual velocities. Thus, we can treat the mantle as transversely isotropic. The resulting models for average Earth, average ocean, and oceanic regions divided according to the age of the ocean floor, are quite different from previous results which ignore the above effects. The models show a low-velocity zone with age dependent anisotropy and velocities higher than derived in previous surface wave studies. The correspondence between the anisotropy variation with age and a physical model based on flow aligned olivine is suggestive. For most of the Earth SH > SV in the vicinity of the low-velocity zone. Neat the East Pacific Rise, however, SV > SH at depth, consistent with ascending flow. Anisotropy is as important as temperature in causing radial and lateral variations in velocity. The models have a high velocity nearly isotropic layer at the top of the mantle that thickens with age. This layer defines the LID, or seismic lithosphere. In the Pacific, the LID thickens with age to a maximum thickness of ～50 km. This thickness is comparable to the thickness of the elastic lithosphere. The LID thickness is thinner than derived using isotropic or pseudo-isotropic procedures. A new model for average Earth is obtained which includes a thin LID. This model extends the fit of a PREM, type model to shorter period surface waves.     

Elastic constants and velocity surfaces of indurated anisotropic shales

The velocities of two Devonian-Mississippian shales have been measured to confining pressures of 200 MPa in a laboratory study of anisotropy and wave propagation. Both samples were found to be transversely isotropic at elevated pressures with the main symmetry axis perpendicular to bedding. The elastic constants of the shales were used to calculate phase and group velocity surfaces as a function of angle to the bedding normal. Multiple velocity measurements in non-symmetry directions, not undertaken in previously published studies of shales, have been used to confirm features observed on calculated velocity surfaces. It is demonstrated that velocities measured in non-symmetry directions are phase velocities. Group velocities were found to be significantly lower than the corresponding phase velocities of the shales due to their high anisotropies. Shear wave splitting was found to be negligible for propagation directions within approximately 30° of the bedding normals.     

基于非饱和Biot-Stoll模型的海底沉积物介质声频散特性研究

利用含气非饱和Biot-Stoll模型研究了声波在海底表层沉积物介质中的传播,讨论了骨架耗散、含气饱和度对快纵波、慢纵波和横波速度和衰减的影响,并与Biot模型的结果进行了对比.研究结果表明:孔隙流体黏滞耗散与骨架耗散共同影响声波传播速度和衰减,低频情况下骨架耗散引起的衰减占主要地位,高频情况下骨架耗散引起的衰减较小;少量气体(<1%)的引入显著改变了快纵波速度,气体含量的变化对快纵波衰减影响很大,低频情况下气体对慢纵波速度的影响不大,而对横波速度的影响较大,气体含量的变化对慢纵波和横波衰减影响较小.利用超声波测量系统测量了一例杭州湾海底沉积物样品的纵波速度和衰减,当含气量趋近0%时,Biot-Stoll模型预测的纵波速度和实验测量结果较为一致.     

Anisotropic azimuthal surface-wave inversion for a vertically fractured and transverse isotropy medium: Theory and examples from a controlled field experiment

Fractures in elastic media add compliance to a rock in the direction normal to the fracture strike. Therefore, elastic wave velocities in a fractured rock will vary as a function of the energy propagation direction relative to the orientation of the aligned fracture set. Anisotropic Thomson–Haskell matrix Rayleigh-wave equations for a vertically transverse isotropic media can be used to model surface-wave dispersion along the principal axes of a vertically fractured and transversely isotropic medium. Furthermore, a workflow combining first-break analysis and azimuthal anisotropic Rayleigh-wave inversion can be used to estimate P-wave and S-wave velocities, Thomsen's ε, and Thomsen's δ along the principal axes of the orthorhombic symmetry. In this work, linear slip theory is used to map our inversion results to the equivalent vertically fractured and transversely isotropic medium coefficients. We carried out this inversion on a synthetic example and a field example. The synthetic data example results show that joint estimation of S-wave velocities with Thomsen's parameters ε and δ along normal and parallel to the vertical fracture set is reliable and, when mapped to the corresponding vertically fractured and transversely isotropic medium, provides insight into the fracture compliances. When the inversion was carried out on the field data, results indicated that the fractured rock is more compliant in the azimuth normal to the visible fracture set orientation and that the in situ normal fracture compliance to tangential fracture compliance ratio is less than half, which implies some cementation may have occurred along the fractures. Such an observation has significant implications when modelling the transport properties of the rock and its strength. Both synthetic and field examples show the potential of azimuthal anisotropic Rayleigh-wave inversion as the method can be further expanded to a more general case where the vertical fracture set orientation is not known a priori.     

Velocity anisotropy and attenuation of shale in under- and overpressured conditions

The seismic velocity and attenuation of fully saturated shales were measured for the first time under overpressured conditions, using the ultrasonic reflection technique. Shale cores from naturally overpressured horizons in the North Sea were tested in the laboratory, at confining and pore pressures relevant to in situ conditions.
A single-frequency tone-burst pulse wave was used to determine the seismic wave velocities and quality factors of the shale samples, with errors less than 0.3% and 0.1 dB/cm, respectively, at a frequency of 0.75 MHz. Sample length changes with varying confining and pore pressure were measured and the pore pressure equilibration time was monitored for each sample.
The anisotropy of the seismic attributes ( V _p, V _s, Q _p and Q _s) was determined over a range of differential pressures from 5 to 60 MPa, with respect to the predominant foliation. The ultrasonic velocity data followed a transversely isotropic pattern depending on the direction of wave propagation with respect to the laminations. The Poisson's ratio was found to rise by 5% as the shale material progressed from a normally pressured to an overpressured state. The quality factor ( Q ) characteristics were interpreted in terms of pore geometry and connectivity as well as the directional permeability of the transversely isotropic shale material. The results were converted to bulk and shear loss modulus defects, and a positive bulk loss was observed for waves propagating perpendicular to the lamination plane even above differential pressures of 20 MPa. This indicates different levels of Biot-flow and squirt-flow attenuation mechanisms acting within the shale structure, depending on the wave propagation and vibration directions.     

Effects of pore fluid pressure on the seismic response of a fractured carbonate reservoir

An effective medium model for the stress-dependent seismic properties of fractured reservoirs is developed here on the basis of a combination of a general theory of viscoelastic waves in rock-like composites with recently published formulae for deformation of communicating and interacting cavities (interconnected pores/cracks and fractures at finite concentration) under drained loading. The inclusion-based model operates with spheroidal cavities at two different length scales; namely, the microscopic scale of the pores and (grain-boundary) cracks, and the mesoscopic scale of the fractures (controlling the flow of fluid). The different cavity types can in principle have any orientation and aspect ratio, but the microscopic pores/cracks and mesoscopic fractures were here assumed to be randomly and vertically oriented, respectively. By using three different aspect ratios for the relatively round pores (representing the stiff part of the pore space) and a distribution of aspect ratios for the relatively flat cracks (representing the compliant part of the pore space), we obtained a good fit between theoretical predictions and ultrasonic laboratory measurements on an unfractured rock sample under dry conditions. By using a single aspect ratio for the mesoscopic fractures, we arrived at a higher-order microstructural model of fractured porous media which represents a generalization of the first-order model developed by Chapman et al. (2002,2003). The effect of cavity size was here modelled under the assumption that the characteristic time for wave-induced (squirt) flow at the scale of a particular cavity (pore/crack vs. fracture) is proportional with the relevant scale-size. In the modelling, we investigate the effect of a decreasing pore pressure with constant confining pressure (fixed depth), and hence, increasing effective pressure. The analysis shows that the attenuation-peak due to the mesoscopic fractures in the reservoir will move downward in frequency as the effective pressure increases. In the range of seismic frequencies, our modelling indicates that the P-wave velocities may change by more than 20% perpendicular to the fractures and close to 10% parallel to the fractures. In comparison, the vertical S-wave velocities change by only about 5% for both polarization directions (perpendicular and parallel to the fractures) when the effective pressure increases from 0 to 15 MPa. This change is mainly due to the overall change in porosity with pressure. The weak pressure dependence is a consequence of the fact that the S waves will only sense if the fractures are open or not, and since all the fractures have the same aspect ratio, they will close at the same effective pressure (which is outside the analysed interval). Approximate reflection coefficients were computed for a model consisting of the fractured reservoir embedded as a layer in an isotropic shale and analysed with respect to variations in Amplitude Versus Offset and aZimuth (AVOZ) properties at seismic frequencies for increasing effective pressure. For the P-P reflections at the top of the reservoir, it is found that there is a significant dependence on effective pressure, but that the variations with azimuth and offset are small. The lack of azimuthal dependence may be explained from the approximate reflection coefficient formula as a result of cancellation of terms related to the S-wave velocity and the Thomson’s anisotropy parameter δ. For the P-S reflection, the azimuthal dependence is larger, but the pressure dependence is weaker (due to a single aspect ratio for the fractures). Finally, using the effective stiffness tensor for the fractured reservoir model with a visco-elastic finite-difference code, synthetic seismograms and hodograms were computed. From the seismograms, attenuation changes in the P wave reflected at the bottom of the reservoir can be observed as the effective pressure increases. S waves are not much affected by the fractures with respect to attenuation, but azimuthal dependence is stronger than for P waves, and S-wave splitting in the bottom reservoir P-S reflection is clearly seen both in the seismograms and hodograms. From the hodograms, some variation in the P-S reflection with effective pressure can also be observed.     

青藏高原中部Quasi-Love波的识别及其转换点揭示的东西向方位各向异性变化

目前人们利用4种基本的地震波现象研究地震各向异性,如横波双折射、面波散射、与传播方向有关的走时异常和PS转换波震相.本文利用面波散射产生的Quasi-Love（QL）波研究青藏高原上地幔顶部的各向异性结构特征.首先利用中国地震台网昌都（CAD）台记录的地震波形资料识别出产生QL波的路径,并利用合成地震记录和垂直偏振极性分析证实所观测到的为QL波,而不是高阶振型的Rayleigh波或其他体波震相;然后由Rayleigh波、Love波和QL波的群速度估算了各向异性结构横向变化的转换点;不同周期时,转换点的位置不同,这种频率依赖性还需要进一步的模拟研究.Love波向Rayleigh波耦合（产生QL波）的转换点位置揭示了青藏高原面波方位各向异性变化特征,并以南北向构造带的东西分段性、上地幔流引起的地球内力诱导岩石形变解释了青藏高原各向异性的东西向差异性.     

Approximate Solutions to the Boundary–Volume Integral Equation for Wave Propagation in Piecewise Heterogeneous Media

Piecewise heterogeneous media that the earth presents are composed of large-scale boundary structures and small-scale volume heterogeneities. Wave propagation in such piecewise heterogeneous media can be accurately superposed through the generalized Lippmann–Schwinger integral equation (GLSIE). Two different Born series modeling schemes are formulated for the boundary–volume integral equation with 2-D antiplane motion (SH waves). Both schemes decompose the resulting boundary–volume integral equation matrix into two parts: the self-interaction operator handled with a fully implicit manner, and the extrapolation operator approximated by a Born series. The first scheme associates the self-interaction operator with each boundary itself and the volume itself, and interprets the extrapolation operator as the cross-interaction between each boundary and other boundaries/volume scatterers in a subregion. The second scheme relates the self-interaction operator to each boundary itself and its cross-interaction with the volume scatterers on both sides, and expresses the extrapolation operator as both the direct and indirect (through the volume scatterers) cross-interactions between different boundaries in a subregion. By eliminating the displacement field from the volume scatterers, the second scheme reduces the dimension of the resulting boundary-volume integral equation matrix, leading to a faster convergence than the first scheme. Both the numerical schemes are validated by dimensionless frequency responses to a heterogeneous alluvial valley with the velocity perturbed randomly in the range of ca 5–20 %. The schemes are applied to wave propagation simulation in a heterogeneous multilayered model by calculating synthetic seismograms. Numerical experiments, compared with the full-waveform numerical solution, indicate that the Born series modeling schemes significantly improve computational efficiency, especially for high frequencies.     

Seismological Studies of a Fluid Injection in Sedimentary Rocks, East Texas

—?Induced microseismicity data from a large volume fluid injection into sedimentary rock was analyzed to study the fracture system, fluid pathways, and state of stress in the lower Frio formation in east Texas. Seismicity data are from two arrays of 25 3-component geophone packages sited in two monitoring boreholes. From a total of 2,894 event triggers, a subset of 54 microearthquakes was chosen for their high quality seismograms and clear P and S arrivals. Arrival times were picked with a precision of 0.5 to 1.0?ms, and microearthquakes were located with hypocentral uncertainties estimated as less than 10–20?m. Hypocenters farthest from the injection well define a nearly horizontal tube of seismicity approximately aligned in the direction of the injection well. A simultaneous inversion of arrival times for transverse isotropic velocity structure and hypocenters yielded P-wave anisotropy of ?14% and S-wave anisotropy of ?2%. Thus, velocities along vertical ray paths are higher than those along horizontal paths, probably because of lithologic differences. Single-event focal mechanisms were determined for 47 events, and many of them are normal fault type. The minimum principal stress derived from the focal mechanisms is nearly horizontal and trends approximately north-south, consistent with the regional stress state. An imaging analysis of the seismograms shows the presence of strong seismic scatterers at positions that correlate with boundaries seen in the hypocenters; both features probably result from a similar set of heterogeneities. This study demonstrates the abundance of information that can be extracted from induced seismicity data and underscores the value of induced seismicity monitoring for studying the fluid and fracture systems created by fluid injections.     

MODELLING CHANNEL WAVES WITH SYNTHETIC SEISMOGRAMS IN AN ANISOTROPIC IN-SEAM SEISMIC SURVEY1

In-seam seismic surveys with channel waves have been widely used in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to map coal-seams and to detect anomalous features such as dirt bands, seam thinning and thickening, and particularly in-seam faulting. Although the presence of cleat-induced anisotropy has been recognized in the past, almost all previous analyses have assumed homogeneous isotropic or transversely isotropic coal-seams. Channel waves, however, exhibit properties which cannot be fully explained without introducing anisotropy into the coal-seam. In particular, Love-type channel waves are observed for recording geometries where, in a homogeneous isotropic or transversely isotropic structure, the source would not be expected to excite transverse motion. Similarly, modes of channel-wave propagation display the coupled three-component motion of generalized modes in anisotropic substrates, which would not be expected for Rayleigh and Love wave motion in isotropy or in transversely isotropic media with azimuthal isotropy. We model the observed in-seam seismic channel waves with synthetic seismograms to gain an understanding of the effects of cleat-induced anisotropy on the behaviour of channel waves. The results show a reasonable good match with the observations in traveltime, relative amplitudes, dispersion characteristics and particle motions. We demonstrate that anisotropy in the surrounding country rocks contributes significantly to the coupling of channel wave particle motion, although its effect is not as strong as the anisotropy in the coal-seam. We conclude that the effects of cleat- and stress-induced anisotropy are observed and can be modelled with synthetic seismograms, and that anisotropy must be taken into account for the detailed interpretation of channel waves.