Delineating fracture zones using surface-tunnel-surfaceseismic data, P-S, and S-P mode conversions

• A surface-tunnel-surface seismic experiment was conducted at the Äspö Hard Rock Laboratoryto study the seismic response of major fracture systems intersecting the tunnel. A newly developedthree-component microelectromechanical sensor-based seismic landstreamer was deployed inside the noisytunnel along with conventional seismic receivers. In addition to these, wireless recorders were placed on thesurface. This combination enabled simultaneous recording of the seismic wavefield both inside the tunneland on the surface. The landstreamer was positioned between two geophone-based line segments, alongthe interval where known fracture systems intersect the tunnel. First arrival tomography produced a velocitymodel of the rock mass between the tunnel and the surface with anomalous low-velocity zones correlatingwell with locations of known fracture systems. Prominent wave mode converted direct and reflected signals,P-S and S-P waves, were observed in numerous source gathers recorded inside the tunnel. Forward traveltime and 2-D finite difference elastic modeling, based on the known geometry of the fracture systems, showthat the converted waves are generated at these systems. Additionally, the landstreamer data were used toestimate Vp/Vs, Poisson’s ratio, and seismic attenuation factors (Qp and Qs) over fracture sets that havedifferent hydraulic conductivities. The low-conductivity fracture sets have greater reductions in P wavevelocities and Poisson’s ratio and are more attenuating than the highly hydraulically conductive fracture set.Our investigations contribute to fracture zone characterization on a scale corresponding to seismicexploration wavelengths.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Geofysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Geophysics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Geofysik med inriktning mot fasta jordens fysik

Geophysics with specialization in Solid Earth Physics

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)