• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.118-127
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• 2010

Resistivity logging instruments are designed to measure the electrical resistivity of a formation, and this can be directly interpreted to provide a water-saturation profile. However, resistivity logs are sensitive to borehole and shoulder-bed effects, which often result in misinterpretation of the results. These effects are emphasised more in the presence of tool eccentricity. For precise interpretation of short- and long-normal logging measurements in the presence of tool eccentricity, we simulate and analyse eccentricity effects by combining the use of a Fourier series expansion in a new system of coordinates with a 2D goal-oriented high-order self-adaptive hp finite-element refinement strategy, where h denotes the element size and p the polynomial order of approximation within each element. The algorithm automatically performs local mesh refinement to construct an optimal grid for the problem under consideration. In addition, the proper combination of h and p refinements produces highly accurate simulations even in the presence of high electrical resistivity contrasts. Numerical results demonstrate that our algorithm provides highly accurate and reliable simulation results. Eccentricity effects are more noticeable when the borehole is large or resistive, or when the formation is highly conductive.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.66-74
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• 2012

This paper presents development of a three-dimensional marine controlled-source electromagnetic (mCSEM) modeling algorithm and its application to a salt and reservoir model to examine detectability of mCSEM for a reservoir under complex subsurface structures. The algorithm is based on the finite difference method, and employs the secondary field formulation for an accurate and fast calculation of modeling responses. The algorithm is verified for a two-layer model by comparing solutions not only with analytic solutions but also with those from other 3D modeling algorithm. We calculate and analyze electric and magnetic fields and their normalized responses for a salt and reservoir model due to three sources located at boundaries between a salt, a reservoir, and background. Numbers and positions of resistive anomalies are informed by normalized responses for three sources, and types of resistive anomalies can be informed when there is a priori information about a salt by seismic exploration.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.92-101
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• 2012

Three-dimensional finite-difference simulation in a small-scale half-sphere basin with planar free-surface is performed for an arbitrary shear-dislocation point source. A new scheme to deal with free-surface boundary condition is presented. Then basin parameters are examined to understand main characteristics on ground-motion response in the basin. To analyze the frequency content of ground motion in the basin, spectral amplitudes are compared with each other for four sites inside and outside the basin. Also particle motions for those sites are examined to find which kind of wave plays a dominant role in ground-motion response. The results show that seismic energy is concentrated on a marginal area of the basin far from the source. This focusing effect is mainly due to constructive interference of the direct Swave with basin-edge induced surface waves. Also, ground-motion amplification over the deepest part of the basin is relatively lower than that above shallow basin edge. In the small-scale basin with relatively simple bedrock interface, therefore, the ground-motion amplification may be more related to the source azimuth or direction of the incident waves into the basin rather than depth of it.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.102-115
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• 2012

The purpose of this paper is to review several different methods calculating gas hydrate saturations. There are three methods using downhole log data, core data (including pressure core), and seismic velocity data. Archie's equation using electrical resistivity of downhole log data is widely used for saturation calculation. In this case, Archie's parameters should be defined accurately. And the occurrence types of gas hydrate significantly affect to saturation calculation. Thus saturation calculation should be carefully conducted. The methods using chlorinity and pressure core data are directly calculated from core sample. So far, the saturation calculated from pressure core gives accurate and quantitative values. But this method is needed much more time and cost. Thus acquisition of the continuous data with sediment depth is realistically hard. The recent several results show that the saturation calculated from resistivity data is the highest values, while the value calculated from pressure core is the lowest. But this trend is not always absolutely. Thus, to estimate accurate gas hydrate saturation, the values calculated from several methods should be compared.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2012

The sea layer in marine Controlled-Source Electromagnetic (mCSEM) survey changes the conventional definition of apparent resistivity which is used in the land CSEM survey. Thus, the development of a new algorithm, which computes apparent resistivity for mCSEM survey, can be an initiative of mCSEM data interpretation. First, we compared and analyzed electromagnetic responses of the 1D stratified gas hydrate model and the half-space model below the sea layer. Amplitude and phase components showed proper results for computing apparent resistivity than real and imaginary components. Next, the amplitude component is more sensitive to the subsurface resistivity than the phase component in far offset range and vice versa. We suggested the induction number as a selection criteria of amplitude or phase component to calculate apparent resistivity. Based on our study, we have developed a numerical algorithm, which computes appropriate apparent resistivity corresponding to measured mCSEM data using grid search method. In addition, we verified the validity of the developed algorithm by applying it to the stratified gas hydrate models with various model parameters. Finally, by constructing apparent resistivity pseudo-section from the mCSEM responses with 2D numerical models simulating gas hydrate deposits in the Ulleung Basin, we confirmed that the apparent resistivity can provide the information on the geometric distribution of the gas hydrate deposit.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

We studied the heavy minerals in 46 surface sediments collected from the Central Yellow Sea Mud (CYSM) to characterize the type, abundance, mineralogical properties and distribution pattern using the stereo-microscopy, field-Emission scanning electron microscopy (FE SEM) and chemical analysis through the energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Heavy mineral assemblages are primarily composed of epidote group, amphibole group, garnet group, zircon, rutile and sphene in descending order. Epidote group and amphibole group minerals account for more than 50% of total heavy minerals. The minerals in epidote group, amphibole group and garnet group in studied area are epidote, edenite and almandine, respectively. When we divided the CYSM into two regions by $124^{\circ}E$, the eastern region contain higher contents of epidote and (zircon + rutile), which are more resistant to weathering but lower of amphibole, which is less resistant to weathering than the western region. Based on this results, it is possible to estimate that the eastern region sediments are transported for a long distance while western region sediments are transported for a short distance from the source area. In the future, the additional study on the heavy minerals in river sediments flowing into the Yellow Sea and much more samples for marine sediments must be carried out to interpret exactly the provenance and sedimentation process.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.145-153
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• 2013

High-resolution chirp profiles were analyzed to investigate the echo types of near-surface sediments in the Yellow Sea off the Baegryeong Island. On the basis of seafloor morphology and subbottom echo characters, 7 echo types were identified. Flat seafloor with no internal reflectors or moderately to well-developed subbottom reflectors (echo type 1-1 and 1-2) is mainly distributed in the southern part of the study area. Flat seafloor with superposed wavy bedforms (echo type 1-3) is also distributed in the middle part. Mounded seafloor with either smooth surface or superposed bedforms (echo type 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3) occurs in the middle part of the study area. Irregular and eroded seafloor with no subbottom reflectors (echo type 3-1) is present in the northern part of the study area off the Baegryeong Island. According to the distribution pattern and sedimentary facies of echo types, depositional environments can be divided into three distinctive areas: (1) active erosional zone due to strong tidal currents in the northern part; (2) formation of tidal sand ridges in response to tidal currents associated with sea-level rise distributed in the middle part; and (3) transgressive sand sheets in the southern part. Such a depositional pattern, including 7 echo types, in this area reflects depositional process related to the sea-level rise and strong tidal currents during the Holocene transgression.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.154-162
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• 2013

Vertical electrical sounding and 2D electrical resistivity survey were applied for evaluating the characteristics of alluvial layers at a groundwater artificial recharge site. The fine particles in alluvial layer, main target layer of groundwater artificial recharge, may cause clogging phenomena. In this case, electrical resistivity method is an effective technique to verify the spatial distribution of low-resistivity layers, such as saturated silts and clays. On the other hand, much attention should be paid to interpret the resistivity data in unconsolidated layers, because thick clayey overburden sometimes produces a masking effect on underlying interbedded resistive sands and gravels. Considering these points, we designed 35 points arranged in a grid form for vertical electrical sounding and 10 lines for 2D electrical resistivity survey, and concentrated our effort on enhancing the vertical and horizontal resolution of resistivity images. According to the results, 15 meters thick layers consisting of sands and gravels are located in 30 meters below ground. And the spatial distribution of silts and clays are mapped, which may cause clogging. Consequently, this approach can contribute to design and determine the location and depth of injection and observation wells for groundwater artificial recharge.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2013

The amplitude variation with offset of seismic data can detect fluids in the sediment and resolve the petrophysical properties of hydrocarbons in the subsurface. We analyzed and described the amplitude variation in deep sea seismic data obtained from the Ulleung Basin, East Sea. By inspecting seismic CDP-offset and CDP-angle gathers which show a bright reflection event, we decided a target zone for amplitude variation analysis. From the seismic angle gather at the middle of Ulleung Basin, we recognized amplitude increase or decrease versus offset on the intercept-gradient curve. Using the product attribute and Poisson's ratio change attribute computed in terms of intercept with gradient, the top and the base of gas saturated sediments were described. The area of amplitude variation suggestive of the presence of gas saturated sediments is shown at the depth of 3 s traveltime. Anomalous features of seismic amplitude in the Ulleung Basin were classified by the crossplot of intercept and gradient. The background trend of crossplot between intercept and gradient shows an inverse proportional relation that is common for wet sediments. Anomalous amplitudes of Class III fall into the first and the third quadrants on crossplots. We inferred regional gas/water saturated area with the horizontal dimension of 150 m in the Ulleung Basin by cross-section with respect to cross-plot anomaly.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.171-179
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• 2013

An automated ultrasonic velocity measurement system adopting pulse-echo-overlap (PEO) method has been constructed, which is known to be a precise and versatile method. It has been applied to velocity measurements for 5 kinds of engineering plastic cores and compared to first arrival picking (FAP) method. Because it needs multiple reflected waves and waves travel at least 4 times longer than FAP, PEO has basic restriction on sample length measurable. Velocities measured by PEO showed slightly lower than that by FAP, which comes from damping and diffusive characteristics of the samples as the wave travels longer distance in PEO. PEO, however, can measure velocities automatically by cross-correlating the first echo to the second or third echo, so that it can exclude the operator-oriented errors. Once measurable, PEO shows essentially higher repeatability and reproducibility than FAP. PEO system can diminish random noises by stacking multiple measurements. If it changes the experimental conditions such as temperature, saturation and so forth, the automated PEO system in this study can be applied to monitoring the velocity changes with respect to the parameter changes.