• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 1999

As a practical developing step of electromagnetic (EM) tomography technique, we quantitatively analyzed the effects of borehole fluid and casing on the borehole EM responses. The EM response turns out to have nothing to do with the property of the borehole fluid except in the close vicinity of the transmitter, which shows the wide perspective of the application of borehole EM. Single-hole responses in the presence of the steel casing throughly reflect those of the casing itself since its extremely high induction number or shallow skin depth. EM responses through steel casing do show the information of the host medium. In the near field region which corresponds to low frequency or the vicinity of the borehole, however, we can not separate the signal containing the information of the host from that of casing. Otherwise, the severe attenuation of energy in the casing at high frequencies renders the signal undetectable. The optimum frequency is, therefore, to be chosen to extract the information of the host considering both the property of the casing and the skin depth of the medium and the practical technique to determine the casing property through single-hole measurements is required.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.86-95
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• 1999

This paper presents an efficient three-dimensional (3-D) modeling algorithm using the extended approximation to an electric field integral equation. Numerical evaluations of Green's tensor integral are performed in the spatial wavenumber domain. This approach makes it possible to reduce computing time, to handle smoothly varying conductivity model and to remove singularity problems encountered in the integration of Green's tensor at a source point. The responses obtained by 3-D modeling algorithm developed in this study are compared with those by the full integral equation for a thin-sheet EM scattering. The extensive analyses on the performance of modeling algorithm are made with the conductivity contrasts and source frequencies. These results show that the modeling algorithm are accurate up to the conductivity contrast of 1:16 and the frequency range of 100 Hz-100 kHz. The extended Born approximation, however, may produce inaccurate results for some source and model configurations in which the electric field is discontinuous across the conductivity boundary. We performed the modeling of a composite model of which conductivity varies continuously and this shows the modeling algorithm developed in this study is efficient for 3-D EM modeling. For a cross-hole source-receiver configuration a composite model of which conductivity varies continuously can be successfully simulated using this algorithm.

• 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.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 1999

Most of saline water inousions have been diagnosed by geophysical or geochemical approach independently. The objective of this study is to provide the effective method to detect the saline water intrusion on the ground water in the vicinity of seashore using these two methods. Schulumberger sounding, frequency domain electromagnetic sounding and geochemical analysis of ground water were carried out to explore saline water intrusion. Schulumberger sounding was implemented in dry surface condition before irrigation water was introduced into the field, while electromagnetic sounding was carried out in wet ground condition after the irrigation. The purpose of duplicated measurements on the equivalent spot at different times was to investigate the variation of anomaly zone depending on the amount of ground water. It was possible to discriminate the anomalous zone due to high water saturation from the low electric resistivity zone by high salt concentrations through this way. For the verification of the geophysical result, the ground water samples in the study area were collected and analysed at the 23 points near the measuring spots. The groundwater at the spot nearest to the sea water intrusion identified by geophysical method indicates higher salinity than the standard limit concentration for agricultural irrigation water (250 mg/1). Isotope analysis of $D({^2}H)$ vs. is ${^18}O$ and PCA analysis were used to discriminate the anthropogenic pollution from those of high salinity from sea water intrusion.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2003

TSP (Tunnel Seismic Profiling) survey is a technique for imaging and characterizing geological structures ahead of a tunnel face. The seismic modeling algorithm and the synthetic data could be helpful for TSP surveys. However, there is few algorithm to describe the propagation of the elastic waves around the tunnel. In this study, existing 2-dimensional seismic modeling algorithm using finite element method was modified to make a suitable algorithm for TSP modeling. Using this algorithm, TSP modeling was practiced in some models. And the synthetic data was analyzed to examine the propagation characteristics of the elastic waves. First of all, the modeling for the homogeneous tunnel model was practiced to examine the propagation characteristics of the direct waves in the vicinity of the tunnel. And the algorithm was applied to some models having reflector which is perpendicular or parallel to the excavation direction. From these, the propagation characteristics of the reflected waves were examined. Furthermore, two source-receiver arrays were used in respective models to investigate the properties of the two arrays. These modeling algorithm and synthetic data could be helpful in interpreting TSP survey data, developing inversion algorithm and designing new source-receiver arrays.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.40-52
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• 2003

Despite the various opening models of the southwestern part of the East Sea (Japan Sea) between the Korean Peninsula and the Japan Arc, the continental margin of the Korean Peninsula remains unknown in crustal structure. As a result, continental rifting and subsequent seafloor spreading processes to explain the opening of the East Sea have not been adequately addressed. We investigated crustal and sedimentary velocity structures across the Korean margin into the adjacent Ulleung Basin from multichannel seismic reflection and ocean bottom seismometer data. The Ulleung Basin shows crustal velocity structure typical of oceanic although its crustal thickness of about 10 km is greater than normal. The continental margin documents rapid transition from continental to oceanic crust, exhibiting a remarkable decrease in crustal thickness accompanied by shallowing of Moho over a distance of about 50 km. The crustal model of the margin is characterized by a high-velocity (up to 7.4 km/s) lower crustal (HVLC) layer that is thicker than 10 km under the slope base and pinches out seawards. The HVLC layer is interpreted as magmatic underplating emplaced during continental rifting In response to high upper mantle temperature. The acoustic basement of the slope base shows an igneous stratigraphy developed by massive volcanic eruption. These features suggest that the evolution of the Korean margin can be explained by the processes occurring at volcanic rifted margins. Global earthquake tomography supports our interpretation by defining the abnormally hot upper mantle across the Korean margin and in the Ulleung Basin.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.73-85
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• 2006

Array observations of the vertical component of microtremors are frequently conducted to estimate a subsurface layered-earth structure on the assumption that microtremors consist predominantly of the fundamental mode Rayleigh waves. As a useful tool in the data collection, processing and analysis, the spatial autocorrelation (SPAC) method is widely used, which in practice requires a circle array consisting of M circumferential stations and one centre station (called "M-station circle array", where M is the number of stations). The present paper considers the minimum number of stations required for a circle array for efficient data collection in terms of analytical efficacy and field effort. This study first rearranges the theoretical background of the SPAC algorithm, in which the SPAC coefficient for a circle array with M infinite is solely expressed as the Bessel function, $J_0(rk)$ (r is the radius and k the wavenumber). Secondly, the SPAC coefficient including error terms independent of the microtremor energy field for an M-station circle array is analytically derived within a constraint for the wave direction across the array, and is numerically evaluated in respect of these error terms. The main results of the evaluation are: 1) that the 3-station circle array when compared with other 4-, 5-, and 9-station arrays is the most efficient and favourable for observation of microtremors if the SPAC coefficients are used up to a frequency at which the coefficient takes the first minimum value, and 2) that the Nyquist wavenumber is the most influential factor that determines the upper limit of the frequency range up to which the valid SPAC coefficient can be estimated.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 2006

Recently, rapid developments in computer hardware have enabled reverse-time migration to be applied to various production imaging problems. As a wave-equation technique using the two-way wave equation, reverse-time migration can handle not only multi-path arrivals but also steep dips and overturned reflections. However, reverse-time migration causes unwanted artefacts, which arise from the two-way characteristics of the hyperbolic wave equation. Zero-lag cross correlation with diving waves, head waves and back-scattered waves result in spurious artefacts. These strong artefacts have the common feature that the correlating forward and backward wavefields propagate in almost the opposite direction to each other at each correlation point. This is because the ray paths of the forward and backward wavefields are almost identical. In this paper, we present several tactics to avoid artefacts in shot-domain reverse-time migration. Simple muting of a shot gather before migration, or wavefront migration which performs correlation only within a time window following first arriving travel times, are useful in suppressing artefacts. Calculating the wave propagation direction from the Poynting vector gives rise to a new imaging condition, which can eliminate strong artefacts and can produce common image gathers in the reflection angle domain.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2006

Geological storage of captured $CO_2$ is a new way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to protect the climate, but is based on the established technology associated with injection of fluids underground. The geological formations of interest for this technique include operational and depleted oil and gas fields, and deep saline aquifers. Prediction of storage performance will depend on models of the behaviour of $CO_2$ in geological formations; these need to be refined and verified, and methods of monitoring developed and proved. These needs can be met through monitored demonstration and research projects. Current commercial projects that are demonstrating $CO_2$ storage include Sleipner, Weyburn, ORC, and In Salah; research projects include West Pearl Queen, Nagaoka, and Frio. In this paper, some of the monitored injection projects are described. The reservoirs employed for storing $CO_2$, and the associated monitoring techniques, are briefly reviewed. It is argued that small-scale research projects, used to develop techniques and prove models, are complementary to the large-scale monitored injections that will establish the viability of this technique for mitigating climate change.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.108-113
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• 2006

Urban conditions, such as existing underground facilities and ambient noise due to cultural activity, restrict the general application of conventional geophysical techniques. At a tunnelling site in an urban area along an existing railroad, we used the refraction microtremor (REMI) technique (Louie, 2001) as an alternative way to get geotechnical information. The REMI method uses ambient noise recorded by standard refraction equipment and a linear geophone array to derive a shear-wave velocity profile. In the inversion procedure, the Rayleigh wave dispersion curve is picked from a wavefield transformation, and iteratively modelled to get the S-wave velocity structure. The REMI survey was carried out along the line of the planned railway tunnel. At this site vibrations from trains and cars provided strong seismic sources that allowed REMI to be very effective. The objective of the survey was to evaluate the rock mass rating (RMR), using shear-wave velocity information from REMI. First, the relation between uniaxial compressive strength, which is a component of the RMR, and shear-wave velocity from laboratory tests was studied to learn whether shear-wave velocity and RMR are closely related. Then Suspension PS (SPS) logging was performed in selected boreholes along the profile, in order to draw out the quantitative relation between the shear-wave velocity from SPS logging and the RMR determined from inspection of core from the same boreholes. In these tests, shear-wave velocity showed fairly good correlation with RMR. A good relation between shear-wave velocity from REMI and RMR could be obtained, so it is possible to estimate the RMR of the entire profile for use in design of the underground tunnel.