• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2007

The MH21 Research Consortium has conducted a high-resolution 3D seismic survey and a seafloor geochemical survey, to explore methane hydrate reservoirs in the eastern Nankai Trough, offshore Japan. Excellent geological information about shallow formations was obtained from the high-resolution 3D seismic survey, which was designed to image the shallow formations where methane hydrates exist. The information is useful in constructing a geological and geochemical model, and especially to understand the complex geology of seafloor, including geochemical manifestations and the structure of migration conduits for methane gas or methane-bearing fluid. By comparing methane seep sites observed by submersibles with seismic sections, some significant relationships between methane hydrate reservoirs, free gas accumulations below the seafloor, and seafloor manifestations are recognised. Bathymetric charts and seafloor reflection amplitude maps, constructed from seismic reflections from the seafloor, are also useful in understanding the relationships over a vast area. A new geochemical seafloor survey targeted by these maps is required. The relationships between methane hydrate reservoirs and seafloor manifestations are becoming clearer from interpretation of high-resolution 3D seismic data. The MH21 Research Consortium will continue to conduct seafloor geochemical surveys based on the geological and geochemical model constructed from high-resolution 3D seismic data analysis. In this paper, we introduce a basis for exploration of methane hydrate reservoirs in Japan by fusion of 3D seismic exploration and seafloor geochemical surveys.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.145-149
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• 2002

The static correction, which is classified into refraction based static correction and reflection based residual static correction, removes distortions caused by irregularities of thickness or velocity in near-surface. Generally, refraction statics is a time consuming process because of high dependence on the interpreter's analysis. Therefore, for huge 3D seismic data, automatic static correction which minimizes the interpreter's analysis is required. In this research, we introduce an efficient method of refraction static correction for land 3D seismic survey.

• Journal of Korean Tunnelling and Underground Space Association
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.247-258
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• 2004

Two 3-dimensional data processing techniques to predict the fractured zone ahead of a tunnel face by the tunnel seismic survey were proposed so that the geometric formation of the fractured zone could be estimated. The first 3-dimensional data processing technique was developed based on the principle of ellipsoid, The input data needed for the 3D migration can be obtained from the 2-dimensional tunnel seismic prediction (TSP) test where the TSP test should be performed in each sidewall of a tunnel. The second 3-dimensional migration technique that was developed based on the concept of wave travel plane was proposed. This technique can be applied when the TSP is operated with sources in one sidewall of a tunnel while the receivers are installed in both sidewalls. New migration technique was applied to an in-situ tunnelling site. The 3-dimensional migration was performed using measured TSP data and its results were compared with the geological investigation results that were monitored during tunnel construction. This comparison revealed that the proposed migration technique could reconstruct the discontinuity planes reasonably well.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.673-681
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• 2014

Recently, many countries in the world try to develop alternative energy sources, however, traditional hydrocarbon resources are still occupying most of the energy resources. Exploration demands for high technologies are increasing in the development of limited oil & gas resources field owing to the exhaustion of hydrocarbon resources for access area. Therefore, an effort for the development and the application of new technologies such as azimuth seismic survey, ocean-bottom seismic survey and marine controlled-source electromagnetic survey is necessary as well as an understanding of the existing technologies such as 2D/3D seismic survey. This dissertation is designed with the purpose of introducing marine hydrocarbon exploration technologies and analyzing their internalexternal researches, development and science information. In this study, we analised total 616 dissertations for the marine petroleum exploration released in the Sci-expanded DB of 'web of science' during the 2001~2014 periods.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.71-77
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• 2002

We developed a modeling and visualization software that can analyze 3-dimensional seismic data. The software divides 3 dimensional space into a series of vertical and horizontal polygons, and allows the various seismic attributes and other spatial information to be stored on these polygons. The program can pick a particular pattern in semi-automatic mode, and store the pattern in the spatial DB. The pattern can be modeled and visualized in 3 dimensional space.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2010

Recent trend in petroleum/gas exploration is an application of 3D seismic exploration technique. Unlike the conventional 2D seismic data processing, 3D seismic data processing is considered as the one which requires expensive commercial software systems and high performance computer. This paper propose a practical 3D seismic processing methodology on a personal computer using public domain software such as SU, SEPlib, and SEPlib3D. The applicability of the proposed method has been demonstrated by successful application to a well known realistic 3D synthetic data, SEG/EAGE 3D salt model data.

• Tunnel and Underground Space
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 2008

3D seismic tomography technique was assessed for applicability of developed 3D tomography algorithm based on Fresnel volume in the dam-planned area. Reconstructed 3D tomogram based on Fresnel volume and Fast Marching Method(FMM) reveals similar velocity structure to the other geotechnical survey results. With the correlation analysis between RMR data and seismic velocity information, it could provide reliable information of rock mass rate. The applicability of 3D seismic tomography was verified in this study. It would be expected to apply 3D tomography with new developed first arrival calculation and inversion algorithm to the engineering field economically.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.85-98
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• 2009

The tau-p inversion algorithm is widely employed to generate starting models with most computer programs, which implement refraction tomography. This algorithm emphasises the vertical resolution of many layers, and as a result, it frequently fails to detect even large lateral variations in seismic velocities, such as the decreases which are indicative of shear zones. This study demonstrates the failure of the tau-p inversion algorithm to detect or define a major shear zone which is 50m or 10 stations wide. Furthermore, the majority of refraction tomography programs parameterise the seismic velocities within each layer with vertical velocity gradients. By contrast, the Generalized Reciprocal Method (GRM) inversion algorithms emphasise the lateral resolution of individual layers. This study demonstrates the successful detection and definition of the 50m wide shear zone with the GRM inversion algorithms. The existence of the shear zone is confirmed by a 2D analysis of the head wave amplitudes and by numerous closely spaced orthogonal seismic profiles carried out as part of a later 3D refraction investigation. Furthermore, an analysis of the shot record amplitudes indicates that a reversal in the seismic velocities, rather than vertical velocity gradients, occurs in the weathered layers. The major conclusion reached in this study is that while all seismic refraction operations should aim to provide as accurate depth estimates as is practical, those which emphasise the lateral resolution of individual layers generate more useful results for geotechnical and environmental applications. The advantages of the improved lateral resolution are obtained with 2D traverses in which the structural features can be recognised from the magnitudes of the variations in the seismic velocities. Furthermore, the spatial patterns obtained with 3D investigations facilitate the recognition of structural features such as faults which do not display any intrinsic variation or 'signature' in seismic velocities.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.89-95
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• 2001

The final goal of the seismic method is to verify the spatial characteristic of subsurface media. For this purpose, professional interpreters interprete the discontinuities of seismic events from seismic image. This paper introduces a method for automatic discontinuity extraction from 3D seismic image. The method consists of three steps. The first step is for estimating coherency of seismic events from seismic data. The second step is to express the potential region where discontinuities may exist in the form of binary image. The third step is to locate the discontinuities by thining the region found in the second step.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 1999

The 3-D seismic research vessel, Tamhae II, was built to raise up the probability of the hydrocarbon discovery in the Korean continental shelf and the first test survey was completed in the East Sea. During the survey, the 240 channel 2-D marine seismic data were acquired by the Korean flag vessel for the first time. Tamhae II has been equipped with source, receiver, recording equipment, and navigation equipment as well as an onboard processing system. The source is composed of four subarrays and each subarray has six airguns. Total airgun volume is 4578 $in^3$. The receiver consists of two sets of 3 km long 240 channel streamer. In the first survey, the successful acquisition of 2-D seismic data was accomplished. From the result of the data processing, we confirmed that the high quality seismic data were acquired. For the high quality data acquisition, technology of survey design and planning, operation of vessel and equipments and systematic quality control should be developed.