• 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.4 no.4
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• pp.133-144
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• 2001

An effective seismic reflection technique for mapping the cavities and bedrock surface in carbonate rocks is described. The high resolution seismic reflection images were successfully registered by using the hydrophones employed in the stream-water driven trench, and were effectively focused by applying optimal data processing sequences. The strategy included enhancement of the signal interfered with the large-amplitude scattering noise, through pre- and post stack processing such as time-variant filtering, bad-trace editing, residual statics, velocity analysis, and careful muting after NMO (normal moveout) correction. The major reflections including the bedrock surface were mapped with the desired resolution and were correlated to the seismic crosshole tomographic data. Shallow major reflectors could be identified and analyzed on the AGC (auto gain control)-applied field records. Three subhorizontal layers were identified with their distinct velocities; overburden (<3000 m/s), sediments (3000-4000 m/s), limestone bedrock (>4000 m/s). Taking into account of no diffraction effects in the field records, gravel-rich overburdens and sediments are considered to be well sorted. Based on the images mapped consistently on the whole survey line and seismic velocity increasing with depth, this area probably lacks in sizable cavities (if any, no air-filled cavities).

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.6-17
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• 2013

Multicomponent seismic data including both P- and PS-waves have advantages in discriminating the type of pore fluid, characterizing the lithologic attributes and producing the high resolution image. However, multicomponent seismic data recorded at the vertical and horizontal component receivers contain both P- and PS-waves which have different features, simultaneously. Therefore, the wavefield separation of P- and PS-waves as a preprocessing is inevitable in order to use the multicomponent seismic data successfully. In this study, we analyzed the previous study of the wavefield separation method suggested by Jeong and Byun in 2011, where the approximated reflection angle calculated only from one refernce depth is used in rotation transform, and showed its limitation for seismic data containing various reflected events from the multi-layered structure. In order to overcome its limitation, we suggested a new effective wavefield separation method of P- and PS-waves. In new method, we calculate the reflection angles with various reference depths and apply rotation transforms to the data with those reflection angles. Then we stack all results to obtain the final separated data. To verify our new method, we applied it to the synthetic data sets from a multi-layered model, a fault model, and the Marmousi-2 model. The results showed that the proposed method separated successfully P- and PS-reflection events from the multicomponent data from mild dipping layered model as long as the dip is not too steep.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2002.03a
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• pp.229-236
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• 2002

In this paper, a new novel technique of seismic survey is introduced to estimate the continuity of inclined pits filled with water, It was assumed that the pits would be connected to an abandoned railway tunnel that might be constructed in the past. Thus, detection of pit end was needed for the design of a new highway tunnel(Yukshimreong tunnel) that was likely to be met with a pit. In the beginning of exploration, no reliable, cost effective method was available. Hence, focus of interest moved toward the high impedance contrast(reflection coefficient k∼0.8) between water and rock. In this special model of sequence rock-water-rock, total reflection occurs and the seismic energy, when it is generated in the pit water, is nearly confined to the pit so that seismic waves can propagate much further within the pit. As a matter of convenience, this is called“tunnel channel wave”. With these considerations in mind, seismic detonator(2g) was used as a source at the entrance of pit, whereas hydrophone chain(hydrophone interval=1m) was placed on the bottom of pit. With this appropriate source-receiver arrangement, desirable down-going and up-going waves could be observed that will help conform the continuity of pits. After about one year, it was ascertained that the inclined pit of interest was just nearby crossed with the newly excavated tunnel, as it was predicted.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2004

In this paper, we demonstrate that Common Mid-Point (CMP) cross-correlation gathers of multi-channel and multi-shot surface waves give accurate phase-velocity curves, and enable us to reconstruct two-dimensional (2D) velocity structures with high resolution. Data acquisition for CMP cross-correlation analysis is similar to acquisition for a 2D seismic reflection survey. Data processing seems similar to Common Depth-Point (CDP) analysis of 2D seismic reflection survey data, but differs in that the cross-correlation of the original waveform is calculated before making CMP gathers. Data processing in CMP cross-correlation analysis consists of the following four steps: First, cross-correlations are calculated for every pair of traces in each shot gather. Second, correlation traces having a common mid-point are gathered, and those traces that have equal spacing are stacked in the time domain. The resultant cross-correlation gathers resemble shot gathers and are referred to as CMP cross-correlation gathers. Third, a multi-channel analysis is applied to the CMP cross-correlation gathers for calculating phase velocities of surface waves. Finally, a 2D S-wave velocity profile is reconstructed through non-linear least squares inversion. Analyses of waveform data from numerical modelling and field observations indicate that the new method could greatly improve the accuracy and resolution of subsurface S-velocity structure, compared with conventional surface-wave methods.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.643-646
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• 2005

The gas hydrate exploration using seismic reflection data, the detection of BSR(Bottom Simulating Reflector) on the seismic section is the most important work flow because the BSR have been interpreted as being formed at the base of a gas hydrate zone. Usually, BSR has some dominant qualitative characteristics on seismic section i.e. Wavelet phase reversal compare to sea bottom signal, Parallel layer with sea bottom, Strong amplitude, Masking phenomenon above the BSR, Cross bedding with other geological layer. Even though a BSR can be selected on seismic section with these guidance, it is not enough to conform as being true BSR. Some other available methods for verifying the BSR with reliable analysis quantitatively i.e. Interval velocity analysis, AVO(Amplitude Variation with Offset)analysis etc. Usually, AVO analysis can be divided by three main parts. The first part is AVO analysis, the second is AVO modeling and the last is AVO inversion. AVO analysis is unique method for detecting the free gas zone on seismic section directly. Therefore it can be a kind of useful analysis method for discriminating true BSR, which might arise from an Possion ratio contrast between high velocity layer, partially hydrated sediment and low velocity layer, water saturated gas sediment. During the AVO interpretation, as the AVO response can be changed depend upon the water saturation ratio, it is confused to discriminate the AVO response of gas layer from dry layer. In that case, the AVO modeling is necessary to generate synthetic seismogram comparing with real data. It can be available to make conclusions from correspondence or lack of correspondence between the two seismograms. AVO inversion process is the method for driving a geological model by iterative operation that the result ing synthetic seismogram matches to real data seismogram wi thin some tolerance level. AVO inversion is a topic of current research and for now there is no general consensus on how the process should be done or even whether is valid for standard seismic data. Unfortunately, there are no well log data acquired from gas hydrate exploration area in Korea. Instead of that data, well log data and seismic data acquired from gas sand area located nearby the gas hydrate exploration area is used to AVO analysis, As the results of AVO modeling, type III AVO anomaly confirmed on the gas sand layer. The Castagna's equation constant value for estimating the S-wave velocity are evaluated as A=0.86190, B=-3845.14431 respectively and water saturation ratio is $50\%$. To calculate the reflection coefficient of synthetic seismogram, the Zoeppritz equation is used. For AVO inversion process, the dataset provided by Hampson-Rushell CO. is used.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.723-730
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• 2003

In general, well log and core data have been utilized for reservoir characterization. These well data can provide valuable information on reservoir properties with high vertical resolution at well locations. While the seismic surveys cover large areas of field but give only indirect features about reservoir properties. Therefore it is possible to estimate the reservoir properties guided by seismic data on entire area if a relationship of seismic data and well data can be defined. Seismic attributes calculated from seismic surveys contain the particular reservoir features, so that they should be extracted and used properly according to the purpose of study. The method to select the suitable seismic attributes among enormous ones is needed. The stepwise regression and fuzzy curve analysis based on fuzzy logics are used for selecting the best attributes. The relationship can be utilized to estimate reservoir properties derived from seismic attributes. This methodology is applied to a synthetic seismogram and a sonic log acquired from velocity model. Seismic attributes calculated from the seismic data are reflection strength, instantaneous phase, instantaneous frequency and pseudo sonic logging data as well as seismic trace. The fuzzy curve analysis is used for choosing the best seismic attributes compared to sonic log as well data, so that seismic trace, reflection strength, instantaneous frequency, and pseudo sonic logging data are selected. The relationship between the seismic attribute and well data is found out by the statistical regression method and estimates the reliable well data at a specific field location derived from only seismic attributes. For a future work in this study, the methodology should be checked an applicability of the real fields with more complex and various reservoir features.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.184-190
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• 1999

A study of gas hydrate is a worldwide popular interesting subject as a potential energy source. A seismic survey for gas hydrate have performed over the East sea by the KIGAM since 1997. General indicators of natural submarine gas hydrates in seismic data is commonly inferred from the BSR (Bottom Simulating Reflection) that occurred parallel to the see floor, amplitude decrease at the top of the BSR, amplitude Blanking at the bottom of the BSR, decrease of the interval velocity, and the reflection phase reversal at the BSR. So the seismic data processing for detecting gas hydrates indicators is required the true amplitude recovery processing, a accurate velocity analysis and the AVO (Amplitude Variation with Offset) analysis. In this paper, we had processed the field data to detect the gas hydrate indicators, which had been acquired over the East sea in 1998. Applied processing modules are spherical divergence, band pass filtering, CDP sorting and accurate velocity analysis. The AVO analysis was excluded, since this field data had too short offset to apply the AVO analysis. The accurate velocity analysis was performed by XVA (X-window based Velocity Analysis). This is the method which calculate the velocity spectrum by iterative and interactive. With XVA, we could determine accurate stacking velocity. Geobit 2.9.5 developed by the KIGAM was used for processing data. Processing results say that the BSR occurred parallel to the sea floor were shown at $367\~477m$ depths (two way travel time about 1800 ms) from the sea floor through shot point 1650-1900, the interval velocity decrease around BSR and the reflection phase reversal corresponding to the reflection at the sea floor.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.216-230
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• 2014

Based on the interpretation of 3D seismic profiles acquired in the northwestern area of the Ulleung Basin, East Sea, the shallow sediments consist of five seismic units separated by regional reflectors. An anticline is present in the study area that documents activity of many faults. Bottom simulating reflectors are characterized by high RMS amplitude. Acoustic blanking with low RMS amplitude is distinctively recognized in the gas hydrate stability zone. Seismic attribute analysis shows that if gas hydrates are underlain by free gas, the high reflection strength and the low instantaneous frequency are displayed below the boundary between them. Whereas, if not, the reflection strength is low and instantaneous frequency is high continuously below the gas hydrate zone. Based on the spectral decomposition of the bottom simulating reflector, the high envelope at the specific high frequency range indicates the generation of the tuning effect due to the lower free gas content. Four models for the occurrence of the gas hydrate are suggested considering the slope of sedimentary layers as well as the presence of gas hydrate or free gas.

• 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.