Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “seismic imaging”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Iterative multi-task learning and inference from seismic images

Seismic interpretation aims to extract quantitative and interpretable attributes from a seismic image produced using some migration method to inform characteristics of a subsurface reservoir or target of interest. Current paradigms for computing seismic attributes mostly rely on single-task algorithms. We develop an iterative, multi-task machine learning method to learn and infer multiple attributes from a seismic image. This method is composed of two stages: a multi-task inference stage and a multi-modal, multi-task refinement stage. The basic mechanism of this method is that we train a multi-task inference neural network (NN) to estimate a set of attributes, including a relative geological time (RGT), a denoised higher-resolution (DHR) seismic image, and multiple fault attributes (including probability, dip, and strike), from a low-resolution, noisy seismic image; then we input the inferred attributes to a multi-task refinement NN to enhance the raw inference results iteratively. The two multi-task NNs are trained separately based on synthetic seismic images and associated attributes generated by a geological modeling algorithm. The software we intend to release is a PyTorch implementation of this multi-task learning method for both 2D and 3D cases along with scripts to run the training/validation. The algorithm and software can be a useful tool for automatic seismic interpretation.

Gao, Kai↗
DOE OSTI2025

Toward more-robust, AI-enabled subsurface seismic imaging for geotechnical applications

Non-invasive seismic imaging has the potential to cost-effectively evaluate large volumes of subsurface material to inform geotechnical site investigation. However, seismic imaging using full waveform inversion (FWI) requires significant computational time and is dependent on an initial starting model. As a result, FWI has not yet been widely adopted into geotechnical practice. Previous efforts, on relatively simple two-layered models, indicate that data-driven artificial intelligence (AI) models may be as effective as FWI at predicting 2D images of shear wave velocity (V s ). Furthermore, the AI model predictions can be made almost instantaneously after data acquisition and do not require an initial starting model. We examine the generality of these findings by developing a new AI model for subsurface seismic imaging, whereby we make several notable contributions. First, we architect a multimodal AI model that combines time- and frequency-domain representations of the seismic wavefield to predict a 50 m by 20 m subsurface image of V s . Second, we developed a new diverse dataset of 100,000 images with their corresponding seismic wavefields to train the AI model. Third, we propose four physics-informed data augmentations for data-driven seismic imaging. Fourth, we develop two prediction consistency tests to evaluate the model’s performance when the true subsurface is unknown. Our final model, which has been made publicly available, is capable of predicting a subsurface V s image from a single seismic wavefield with an average, mean absolute percent error (MAPE) of 24 %. The predictive model is applied to a field dataset and shown to be consistent with local geology and shear-wave refraction measurements from the same location.

Artificial intelligence↗
DOE OSTI2017

Joint inversion of seismic and gravity data for imaging seismic velocity structure of the crust and upper mantle beneath Utah, United States

Here, we present a method for using any combination of body wave arrival time measurements, surface wave dispersion observations, and gravity data to simultaneously invert for three-dimensional P- and S-wave velocity models. The simultaneous use of disparate data types takes advantage of the differing sensitivities of each data type, resulting in a comprehensive and higher resolution three-dimensional geophysical model. In a case study for Utah, we combine body waves first arrivals mainly from the USArray Transportable Array, Rayleigh wave group and phase velocity dispersion data, and Bouguer gravity anomalies to invert for crustal and upper mantle structure of the region. Results show clear delineations, visible in both P- and S-wave velocities, between the three main tectonic provinces in the region. In conclusion, without the inclusion of the surface wave and gravity constraints, these delineations are less clear, particularly for S-wave velocities. Indeed, checkerboard tests confirm that the inclusion of the additional datasets dramatically improves S-wave velocity recovery, with more subtle improvements to P-wave velocity recovery, demonstrating the strength of the method in successfully recovering seismic velocity structure from multiple types of constraints.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
NASA NTRS2012

Seismic Imager Space Telescope

A concept has been developed for a geostationary seismic imager (GSI), a space telescope in geostationary orbit above the Pacific coast of the Americas that would provide movies of many large earthquakes occurring in the area from Southern Chile to Southern Alaska. The GSI movies would cover a field of view as long as 300 km, at a spatial resolution of 3 to 15 m and a temporal resolution of 1 to 2 Hz, which is sufficient for accurate measurement of surface displacements and photometric changes induced by seismic waves. Computer processing of the movie images would exploit these dynamic changes to accurately measure the rapidly evolving surface waves and surface ruptures as they happen. These measurements would provide key information to advance the understanding of the mechanisms governing earthquake ruptures, and the propagation and arrest of damaging seismic waves. GSI operational strategy is to react to earthquakes detected by ground seismometers, slewing the satellite to point at the epicenters of earthquakes above a certain magnitude. Some of these earthquakes will be foreshocks of larger earthquakes; these will be observed, as the spacecraft would have been pointed in the right direction. This strategy was tested against the historical record for the Pacific coast of the Americas, from 1973 until the present. Based on the seismicity recorded during this time period, a GSI mission with a lifetime of 10 years could have been in position to observe at least 13 (22 on average) earthquakes of magnitude larger than 6, and at least one (2 on average) earthquake of magnitude larger than 7. A GSI would provide data unprecedented in its extent and temporal and spatial resolution. It would provide this data for some of the world's most seismically active regions, and do so better and at a lower cost than could be done with ground-based instrumentation. A GSI would revolutionize the understanding of earthquake dynamics, perhaps leading ultimately to effective warning capabilities, to improved management of earthquake risk, and to improved public safety policies. The position of the spacecraft, its high optical quality, large field of view, and large field of regard will make it an ideal platform for other scientific studies. The same data could be simply reused for other studies. If different data, such as multi-spectral data, is required, additional instruments could share the telescope.

Sidick, Erkin↗
DOE OSTI2016

Advanced seismic imaging for geothermal development

J. N. Louie, Pullammanappallil, S., and Honjas, W., 2011, Advanced seismic imaging for geothermal development: presentation 32 at the New Zealand Geothermal Workshop 2011, Nov. 21-23, Auckland.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Advanced seismic imaging for geothermal development

J. N. Louie, Pullammanappallil, S., and Honjas, W., 2011, Advanced seismic imaging for geothermal development: Proceedings of the New Zealand Geothermal Workshop 2011, Nov. 21-23, Auckland, paper 32, 7 pp. Preprint available at http://crack.seismo.unr.edu/geothermal/Louie-NZGW11.pdf

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Fabry-Perot MEMS Accelerometers for Advanced Seismic Imaging

This report summarizes the technical achievements that occurred over the duration of the project. On November 14th, 2014, Lumedyne Technologies Incorporated was acquired. As a result of the acquisition, the work toward seismic imaging applications was suspended indefinitely. This report captures the progress achieved up to that time.

02 PETROLEUM↗
DOE OSTI2021

Seismic Imaging of a Shale Landscape Under Compression Shows Limited Influence of Topography–Induced Fracturing

We used seismic refraction to image the P-wave velocity structure of a shale watershed experiencing regional compression in the Valley and Ridge Province (USA). From estimates showing strong compressional stress, we expected the depth to unweathered bedrock to mirror the hill-valley-hill topography (“bowtie pattern”) by analogy to seismic velocity patterns in crystalline bedrock in the North American Piedmont that also experience compression. Previous researchers used failure potentials calculated for strong compression in the Piedmont to suggest fractures are open deeper under hills than valleys to explain the “bowtie” pattern. Seismic images of the shale watershed, however, show little evidence of such a “bowtie.” Instead, they are consistent with weak (not strong) compression. Here, this contradiction could be explained by the greater importance of infiltration-driven weathering than fracturing in determining seismic velocities in shale compared to crystalline bedrock, or to local perturbations of the regional stress field due to lithology or structures.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2015

On the validation of seismic imaging methods: Finite frequency or ray theory?

Abstract We investigate the merits of the more recently developed finite‐frequency approach to tomography against the more traditional and approximate ray theoretical approach for state of the art seismic models developed for western North America. To this end, we employ the spectral element method to assess the agreement between observations on real data and measurements made on synthetic seismograms predicted by the models under consideration. We check for phase delay agreement as well as waveform cross‐correlation values. Based on statistical analyses on S wave phase delay measurements, finite frequency shows an improvement over ray theory. Random sampling using cross‐correlation values identifies regions where synthetic seismograms computed with ray theory and finite‐frequency models differ the most. Our study suggests that finite‐frequency approaches to seismic imaging exhibit measurable improvement for pronounced low‐velocity anomalies such as mantle plumes.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Marine and land active-source seismic imaging of mid-Miocene to Holocene-aged faulting near geothermal prospects at Pyramid Lake, Nevada

Amy Eisses, Annie Kell, Graham Kent, Neal Driscoll, Robert Karlin, Rob Baskin, John Louie, and Satish Pullammanappallil, 2011, Marine and land active-source seismic imaging of mid-Miocene to Holocene-aged faulting near geothermal prospects at Pyramid Lake, Nevada: Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, 35, 7 pp. Preprint at http://crack.seismo.unr.edu/geothermal/Eisses-GRCpaper-sm.pdf The Pyramid Lake fault zone lies within a vitally important area of the northern Walker Lane where not only can transtension can be studied through a complex arrangement of strike-slip and normal faults but also geothermal activity can be examined in the extensional regime for productivity. This study used advanced and economical seismic methods in attempt to develop the Paiute Tribe’s geothermal reservoir and to expand upon the tectonics and earthquake hazard knowledge of the area. 500 line-kilometers of marine CHIRP data were collected on Pyramid Lake combined with 27 kilometers of vibrator seismic on-land data from the northwest side of the basin were collected in 2010 that highlighted two distinct phases of faulting. Preliminary results suggest that the geothermal fluids in the area are controlled by the late Pleistoceneto Holocene-aged faults and not through the mid-Miocene-aged conduits as originally hypothesized.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Marine and land active-source seismic imaging of mid-Miocene to Holocene-aged faulting near geothermal prospects at Pyramid Lake, Nevada

Amy Eisses, Annie Kell, Graham Kent, Neal Driscoll, Robert Karlin, Rob Baskin, John Louie, and Satish Pullammanappallil, 2011, Marine and land active-source seismic imaging of mid-Miocene to Holocene-aged faulting near geothermal prospects at Pyramid Lake, Nevada: presented at Geothermal Resources Council Annual Meeting, San Diego, Oct. 23-26.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Regolith, rock and fluid distributions at the Upper Colorado River Basin via a multicomponent seismic imaging approach

In October 2018, we conducted an exploratory seismic survey of the East River Watershed Function Science Focus Area, near Crested Butte, CO. Our survey goals were to map seismic bedrock, regolith and sediment properties and relate them to geomorphic and hydrologic processes. We acquired ~12 km of seismic data along roads with a 72-channel, 1.25m spaced streamer, an average shot spacing of 2.5m and an average acquisition rate of 3 km/day. We also obtained ~3km of planted geophone data with geophone and shot spacing between 2.5 and 5 meters and an acquisition rate of 0.5 km/day. Vp results show a sharp transition between regolith and bedrock along hillslopes suggesting a similarly abrupt change in porosity. Vp anisotropy in the Mancos Shale is observable in the lower reaches of the watershed, but is absent in regions near crystalline intrusions where contact metamorphism has likely modified pore structure within the shale. Alluvium thickness varies along the river axis from 0 to > 20 meters reflecting variations in depositional processes as function of stream gradient. We show that when strong discontinuities at the regolith base are present, inhomogeneous waves that travel along subsurface interfaces are generated and can be measured on vertical component geophones. We present a summary manuscript in the report appendix.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Frequency Domain Methodology for Quantitative Evaluation of Diffuse Wavefield With Applications to Seismic Imaging

Abstract Ambient Noise Imaging (ANI) of subsurface structures relies on seismic interferometry of diffuse seismic wavefields. However, the lack of effective methods to quantify and identify highly diffuse waves hampers applications of ANI, particularly in evaluating seismic attenuation and monitoring structural changes with high temporal resolution. Conventional ANI approaches require data normalization, which effectively suppresses the non‐diffuse component with large amplitude but also results in significant loss of amplitude and phase information in the continuous seismic records. In this study, we propose a frequency domain method to quantitatively evaluate the degree of diffuseness of seismic wavefields by analyzing their statistical characteristics of modal amplitudes for stationarity and randomness. Tests on synthetic waveform and field nodal records show that the proposed method can effectively distinguish between diffuse and non‐diffuse waveforms for either single‐ or three‐component data. As an application, we identify a 60‐s‐long diffuse coda of a local M 2.2 earthquake recorded by a dense nodal array on the San Jacinto Fault Zone, and successfully extract high‐quality dispersion curve andQ‐value without performing data normalization. These results are consistent with those obtained by conventional methods that assess the correlation between coherency and the Green's function, and by modeling ballistic waves generated by road traffic. Our proposed method can advance the imaging of subsurface velocity and attenuation structures as well as monitoring temporal changes for scientific studies and engineering applications.

Geochemistry & Geophysics↗
DOE OSTI2016

Walker Ranch 3D seismic images

Amplitude images (both vertical and depth slices) extracted from 3D seismic reflection survey over area of Walker Ranch area (adjacent to Raft River). Crossline spacing of 660 feet and inline of 165 feet using a Vibroseis source. Processing included depth migration. Micro-earthquake hypocenters on images. Stratigraphic information and nearby well tracks added to images. Images are embedded in a Microsoft Word document with additional information. Exact location and depth restricted for proprietary reasons. Data collection and processing funded by Agua Caliente. Original data remains property of Agua Caliente.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2026

3D seismic imaging of a fracture damage zone controlling reservoir compartmentalization at the Raft River EGS using multi-azimuth walkaway VSP

Accurate imaging of steeply dipping fracture zones in crystalline enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) is critical for constraining permeability architecture and guiding stimulation design. However, such structures remain poorly resolved by conventional surface seismic methods. We present a fully three-dimensional (3D) elastic-waveform inversion-migration workflow applied to multi-azimuth walkaway vertical seismic profiling (VSP) data acquired in a deviated borehole at the Raft River EGS. The workflow integrates first-arrival traveltime tomography, multi-scale elastic waveform inversion (EWI), and elastic least-squares reverse-time migration (ELSRTM) to recover high-resolution compressional-and shear-wave velocity models and to image structural discontinuities in the crystalline basement. The results reveal a laterally continuous low-velocity anomaly, with shear-wave velocity reductions of 25-30%, consistent with fractureinduced mechanical weakening. Two steeply dipping discontinuities bound a 50-80 m wide fracture damage zone. Independent constraints from microseismic clustering and geochemical compartmentalization corroborate the geometry and structural significance of this feature. Synthetic modeling further confirms that structures of this scale are resolvable (~30 m). These findings indicate that the Narrows structure is a distributed fracture damage zone rather than a discrete fault plane. By resolving fracture-zone geometry at the tens-of-meters scale using a single borehole, this workflow provides a practical and transferable approach for improving structural characterization, reducing uncertainty in permeability architecture, and supporting reservoir modeling and stimulation design in fractured crystalline EGS reservoirs.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

High-resolution Seismic Imaging of Depositional Characteristics at Gas Hydrate Research Sites in the Gulf of Mexico

High-resolution seismic data acquired by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), with support from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in 2013 at two geologically distinct study sites in the offshore Gulf of Mexico basin provide an opportunity for detailed characterization and for comparison of the depositional settings of sediments that host high concentrations of gas hydrate at each site. Gas hydrate exists at Green Canyon Block 955 (GC955) within sand layers deposited in a proximal marine channel-levee setting, whereas at Walker Ridge Block 313 (WR313) gas hydrate deposits occur within thin distal levees and sheet sands deposited in a mini-basin environment. A refined understanding of the depositional environment at these sites in turn provides valuable insights regarding reservoir characteristics and controls on gas hydrate occurrence.

Haines, Seth↗