• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.739-744
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• 1996

'Kite' is a newly developed single-channel seismic imaging system capable of producing high resolution three dimensional images of subbottom geology in one traverse of a survey region. The system consists of a horizontally towed hydrophone array and active source. The hydrophone array is towed axis perpendicular to ship direction and the airgun source at the end of the hydrophone array is excited at timed intervals during the progression. The construction of the three dimensional subbottom image was made simply by using conventional multichannel seismic reflection data processing techniques. Common source shot (CSS) gathers of the hydrophone traces are evaluated using Dix's equation for average interval velocity of each subbottom layer. From the interval velocity profile and the normal consolidation stress condition, values of shear modulus, porosity, and shear velocity are deduced from the chosen values of physical constants. The system has been successfully tested at several locations on the North Atlantic continental shelf.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.674-686
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• 2011

Choosing a seismic source and geophone type including a coupling method can be the most important factor in shallow seismic surveys. We studied the characteristics of seismic signals by analyzing 6 different seismic data sets that collected from several sources and geophone conditions. Geophones attached to weight plate (1.8 kg) can be easily and economically installed on the paved road where geophones with spikes would cause the coupling problem. In addition, experiments in this study revealed that a small handy hammer can be used as a seismic source by striking the paved road to generate the seismic signals within 200 ms two-way travel time. Attaching weight plates to geophones may change the geophone response curve which generally depends on the geophone mass, but the change seems not to give significant differences in the first arrival of refracted wave and in the pattern of reflection events. Consequently, using weight plates on paved roads can be an efficient and cost-saving method in the near-surface high-resolution seismic surveys.

• Proceedings of the Korean Geotechical Society Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.167-174
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• 2001

Reflection method using ultrasonic source has been attempted to obtain the information about tunnel lining structures composed of lining, shotcrete, water barrier and voids at the back of lining. In this work, two different types of sources, i.e. single-pulse source and sweep source, can be used. Single-pulse source with short time duration has the frequency content whose amplitudes tend to be concentrated around the dominant frequency, whereas sweep source with long time duration denotes a flat distribution of relatively larger amplitude over a broad frequency band, although the peak to peak amplitude of single-pulse source wavelet is equivalent to that of sweep source one. In traditional seismic application, a single-pulse source(weight drop, dynamite) is typically used. However, to investigate the fine structure, as it is the case in the tunnel lining structure, the sweep wavelet can be also a desirable source waveform primarily due to the higher energy over a broad frequency band. For the investigation purposes of sweep source, a physical modeling is a useful tool, especially to study problems of wave propagation in the fine layered media. The main purpose of this work was using a physical modeling technique to explore the applicability of sweep source to the delineation of inner layer boundaries. To this end, a two-dimensional physical model analogous to the lining structure was built and a special ultrasonic sweep source was devised. The measurements were carried out in the sweep frequency range 10 ∼ 60 KHz, as peformed in the regular reflection survey(e.g. roll-along technique). The measured data were further rearranged with a proper software (cross-correlation). The resulting seismograms(raw data) showed quitely similar features to those from a single-pulse source, in which high frequency content of reflection events could be considerably emphasized, as expected. The data were further processed by using a regular data processing system "FOCUS" and the results(stack section) were well associated with the known model structure. In this context, it is worthy to note that in view of measuring condition the sweep source would be applied to benefit the penetration of high frequency energy into the media and to enhance the resolution of reflection events.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.255-262
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• 2009

Conventionally, vertical-seismic-profiling (VSP) survey that provides high-resolution information has mainly performed to obtain the exact depth of the gas hydrate-bearing sediment, which is one of the key factors in the development of the gas hydrate. In this study, we extracted interval velocities and created corridor stacks from the first domestic zero-offset VSP data, which were acquired with three component receivers at UBGH09 borehole in Ulleung Basin where gas hydrate exists. Then we compared the corridor stacks with a CMP stacked section from surface seismic data. First of all, we converted the signals recorded with three component receivers to true vertical and horizontal components by phase rotation, and divided the data into direct waves and reflected waves by wavefield separation processing. The trend of the interval velocity extracted from the zero-offset VSP was similar to that of the sonic log obtained at the same borehole. Because the interval velocity of the gas hydrate-bearing sediment above the BSR was high, and it decreased suddenly through the BSR, we could infer that free gas is accumulated below the BSR. The results of comparing the corridor stacks to the CMP stacked section of the surface seismic data showed that most reflection events agreed well with those in the surface CMP stacked section and that the phase-rotated VSP data corresponded better with the surface seismic data than the VSP data without phase rotation. In addition, by comparing a corridor stack produced from the transverse component with the CMP stacked section of the surface seismic data, we could identify PS mode-converted reflections in the CMP stacked section.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.305-312
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• 2017

The most effective way to distinguish subsurface interfaces that produce various geophysical responses is through the integration of multiple geophysical methods, with each method detecting both a complementary and unique set of distinct physical properties relating to the subsurface. In this study, shallow seismic reflection (SSR) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted at the Cheongju-Gadeok site of the Korea National Groundwater Monitoring Network to map the water table, which was measured at 12 m depth during the geophysical surveys. The water table proved to be a good target reflector in both datasets, as the abrupt transition from the overlying unsaturated weathered rock to the underlying saturated weathered rock yielded large acoustic impedance and dielectric constant contrasts. The two datasets were depth converted and integrated into a single section, with the SSR and GPR surveys conducted to ensure subsurface imaging at approximately the same wavelength. The GPR data provided detailed information on the upper ~15 m of the section, whereas the SSR data imaged structures at depths of 10-45 m. The integrated section thus captured the full depth coverage of the sandy clay, water table, weathered rock, soft rock, and hard rock structures, which correlated well with local drillcore and water table observations. Incorporation of these two geophysical datasets yielded a synthetic section that resembled a simplified aquifer model, with the best-fitting seismic velocity, dielectric constant, and porosity of the saturated weathered layer being $v_{seismic}=1000m/s$, ${\varepsilon}_r=16$, and ${\phi}=0.32$, respectively.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Geophysical Society
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.207-215
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• 2004

As the sea connecting with the East Sea, the Sea of Okhotsk is the most potential area of gas hydrates in the world. In other to examine geophysical structures of gas hydrate-bearing sediments in the Sea of Okhotsk, the CHAOS (hydro-Carbon Hydrate Accumulation in the Okhotsk) international research expedition was carried out in August 2003. In the expedition, high-resolution seismic and geochemical survey was also conducted. Sparker seismic profiles show only diffusive high-amplitude reflections without BSRs at BSR depth. It means that BSR appears to be completely different images on seismic profiles obtained using different frequencies. Many gas chimneys rise up from BSR depth to seafloor. The chimneys can be divided into two groups with different seismic characteristics; wipe-out (WO) and enhanced reflection (ER) chimneys. Different seismic responses in the chimneys would be caused by amount of gas and gas hydrates filling in the chimneys. In hydroacoustic data, a lot of gas flares rise up several hundreds meters from seafloor to the water column. All flares took placed at the depths within gas hydrate stability zone. It is interpreted that gas hydrate-bearing sediments with low porosity and permeability due to gas hydrate filling in the pore space make good pipe around gas chimneys in which gas is migrating up without loss of amount. Therefore, large-scale gas flare at the site on gas chimney releases into the water column.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.597-599
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• 2007

Studies on the hydrocarbons in shallow sediments of the East Sea of Korea have been carried out by the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) since 2000. 4946 L-km of 2D multichannel reflection seismic data, 3250 L-km of high-resolution Chirp profiles and 16 selected piston cores were analyzed to determine the presence of hydrocarbons in shallow sediments of the western deep-water Ulleung Basin. The seismic data show a number of blanking zones that probably reflect widespread fluid and gas venting. The blanking zones are often associated with velocity pull-up structures. These upwelling structures are interpreted to be the result of high-velocity natural gas hydrate. There are also several bottom-simulating reflectors that are associated with free gas and probably overlying gas hydrate. Numerous pockmarks were also observed in the Chirp profiles. They are seafloor depressions caused by the removal of near-seafloor soft sediments by escaping of fluid and gas. In piston cores, cracks generally oriented parallel to bedding suggest significant gas content some of which may have been contained in gas hydrate in situ.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.242-249
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• 2008

Recently, AVO analysis has been widely used in oil exploration with seismic subsurface section as a direct indicator of the existence of the gas. In the case of the deep reservoirs like the gas reservoirs in the East-sea, it is often difficult to observe AVO responses in CMP gathers even though the bright spots are shown in the stacked section. Because the reservoir becomes more consolidated as its depth deepens, P-wave velocity does not decrease significantly when the pore fluid is replaced by the gas. Thus the difference in Poisson's ratio, which is a key factor for AVO response, between the reservoir and the layer above it does not increase significantly. In this study, we analyzed the effects of Poisson's ratio difference on AVO response with a variety of Poisson's ratios for the upper and lower layers. The results show that, as the difference in Poisson's ratio between the upper and lower layers decreases, the change in the reflection amplitude with incidence angle decreases and AVO responses become insignificant. To consider the limitation of AVO responses shown in the gas reservoir in East-sea, the velocity model was made by simulation Gorae V structure with seismic data and well logs. The results of comparing AVO responses observed from the synthetic data with theoretical AVO responses calculated by using material properties show that the amount of the change in reflection amplitude with increasing incident angle is very small when the difference in Poisson's ratio between the upper and lower layers is small. In addition, the characteristics of AVO responses were concealed by noise or amplitude distortion arisen during preprocessing. To overcome such limitations of AVO analysis of the data from deep reservoirs, we need to acquire precisely reflection amplltudes In data acquisition stage and use processing tools which preserve reflection amplitude in data processing stage.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.50-53
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• 2006

Regional geophysical surveys and geological cal studies on natural gas hydrate (NGH) in the East Sea were carried out by the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) from 2000 to 2004. 16 piston cores, 2270 L-km of multi-channel reflection seismic (MCRS) data and 730 L-km of 3.5kHz Chirp data obtained from the southwestern part of the deep-water Ulleung Basin were analyzed in this study. In piston cores, cracks generally developed parallel to bedding suggest significant gas content. The core analyses showed high total organic carbon (TOC) content, sedimentation rate and heat flow of sediments. These are in favor of the general ion of substantial biogenic methane, which can form the NGH within the stability zone of the near seafloor sediments in the study area. The cores generally show also high residual hydrocarbon gas concentrations for the formation of natural gas hydrates The geophysical indicators of the presence of gas and/or NGH such as bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs), seismic blank Bones, pockmarks and gas seeping features were well defined on the MCRS and Chirp data.