What is Seismic Inversion
Seismic inversion is a geophysical technique used for imaging the subsurface of the earthSeismic inversion, when combined with other techniques, is used for a variety of applications including oilgas exploration, coal bed methane extraction,subsidence monitoring.
Seismic inversion has become a widely used technique in recent yearsWe look at what seismic inversion ishow it workswhen it should be applied to real world scenarios.
Seismic Inversion
When performing seismic inversions, it’s important to take account that seismic waves travel more slowly with increasing depth of exploration, so deep geologic layers show up later in inversionsWith shallower depths there are more surface rocks bouncing back up into Earth’s gravity field, limiting how deep into our planet’s mantle scientists can explore through imaging.
Seismic surveys use sound waves to measureproduce pictures of what lies beneath Earth’s surfaceThe fast-moving sounds – or seismic waves – bounce off underground objects like oil reservoirsthen get detected by sensitive recording devices on earth’s surface or anchored below waterScientists studying such data can then use computers to produce detailed 3D images of buried structures
When Should I Use Seismic Inversion
This process can be applied to any type of dataat any location, but it is most commonly used in sedimentary basinsAfter you gather seismic data, you can use it to form an image of what lies belowTo do so, you need to run algorithms that make corrections for errors such as noiserough spots on topography so that your map looks as smooth as possibleYou will then apply inverted geometries back down into an underground profile of what might lie below the surfaceadjust permeability factors by calculating how much fluid could potentially flow through these regions.
How Does Seismic Inversion Work
It’s important to note that while seismic inversion can identify underground structures, it cannot generate images or maps of them – that requires additional information such as surface geology or well logs.
For example, if you want to find out what’s under your house but don’t know where your basement startsends (you might not have ever seen one), you could use seismic inversion on recordings from your backyardThe area around where you suspect your house would be will have very high amplitudes because sound waves travel better through soil than hard surfaces like concrete or stone.
What Data Do I Need For Seismic Inversion
A seismogram is an instrument that records waves from an earthquake, explosion, or other seismic eventSeismograms provide information about past earthquakestheir locationA computer can be used to interpret these wavescreate two-dimensional models of underground rock formationsThese models are called inversions because they invert what we can see on top of the ground to what might be happening below ground.
Locating oil reserves The main uses for seismic inversions are locating potential new oil fields, refining current oil production sites, searching for fossil fuel deposits such as coalbed methaneshale gas.
There are two approaches to using seismic data: exploration, which involves looking for new sources of fossil fuels;exploitation which looks at how existing sources can be extracted more effectivelyExploration is more speculative because it’s difficult to know exactly where fossil fuels might be hiding beneath the earth’s surface; exploitation analysis relies on geologists’ understanding of well records, how much petroleum is left in each field at present rates of extraction.
