Curtin/CSIRO Geophysics Group Seminar, 9th September 2021

Probing nonlinear elastic properties of the subsurface using seismic waves: Theory & experiment

Date: Thursday, 9^th September, 2021
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Location: CSIRO/ARRC Auditorium, 26 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington
Presenter: Sana Zulic, Curtin University

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) is a powerful tool for building property images / volumes. It uses the complete seismic wavefield (transmitted, reflected and converted waves) to build the models of subsurface physical properties. We conducted a feasibility study of a 2D elastic FWI applied to synthetic and field single offset vertical seismic profile (VSP) datasets. Even though the coverage of a single offset VSP is limited, and artefacts are observed in the FWI images, a good correlation is demonstrated between VSP migration image, FWI results, gamma-ray log and stratigraphy. We demonstrate that FWI of borehole seismic have potential to give detailed rock properties, at a scale unattainable to seismic reflection methods.

Sana is M.Phil. Student at Curtin University. She is interested in borehole seismic imaging techniques, which can improve the imaging methods for mineral exploration. Her work focuses on optimising vertical seismic profiling survey design and processing workflows to better suit mineral exploration application. She works as a geophysicist at HiSeis.