Analysis of Low-Frequency Passive Seismic Attributes in Maroun Oil Field, Iran

Authors

1 M.Sc., Department of Seismology, Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Seismology, Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran, Iran

3 M.Sc., R&D Geophysicist in NIOCEXP, National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC), Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Nowadays, viable and cost-effective methods play a vital role in hydrocarbon exploration up to the point that geoscientists cannot rule out the importance of the passive seismic method (PSM) in oil exploration operations. This method is based on seismic energy, which has a natural source. This study focuses on seismic energy anomaly of 1-6 Hz. Some researches show that spectral and polarization analysis in low-frequency of seismic noises can be used in determining the location of hydrocarbon reservoir. In this paper, these methods were used in Maroun oil field. Using the seismic data recorded by five seismometers, Vertical-to-Horizontal spectral ratio (V/H), Power Spectral Density (PSD) and polarization analysis were studied in the mentioned area. Based on the results, these microtremors can be used as a hydrocarbon indicator. In this study, transient and artificial noises are removed from raw data with various techniques. Afterward, the vertical-to-horizontal spectral ratio method was used and the results were analyzed and compared. Subsequently, the PSD method was investigated and its results were compared with each other at different stations. Following this, polarization analysis was considered that was normally followed by parameters such as strength, dip, rectilinearity and azimuth in particular. Results showed that MAR5 Station was placed over an area with hydrocarbon potential and there are medium to low hydrocarbon potentials at other stations. There is also a positive correlation between passive seismic analysis and the result of seismic reflection surveys carried out in the earlier studies. 

Keywords

Main Subjects


Allen, R. V., 1978, Automatic earthquake recognition and timing from single traces. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 68(5), 1521-1532.
Asten, M., 2006, On bias and noise in passive seismic data from finite circular array data processed using SPAC methods. Geophysics, 71, 153–162.
Bard, P.-Y., 1999, Microtremor measurements: a tool for site effect estimation: The effects of surface geology on seismic motion, 3, 1251-1279.
Berberian, M., 1981, Active faulting and tectonics of Iran: Zagros Hindu Kush Himalaya Geodynamic Evolution, 33-69.
Berberian, M., 1986, Seismotectonics and earthquake-fault hazard study of the Karkheh river project: Jahad-e-Sazandegi, Tehran, p. 180.
Berberian, M., 1995, Master “blind” thrust faults hidden under the Zagros folds: active basement tectonics and surface morphotectonics, Tectonophysics, 241(3), 193-224.
Dangel, S., Schaepman, M., Stoll, E., Carniel, R., Barzandji, O., Rode, E.-D. and Singer, J., 2003, Phenomenology of tremor-like signals observed over hydrocarbon reservoirs: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 128(1), 135-158.
Forghani‐Arani, F., Behura, J., Haines, S. S. and Batzle, M., 2013, An automated cross‐correlation based event detection technique and its application to a surface passive data set: Geophysical Prospecting, 61(4), 778-787.
Fülöp, L., Jussila, V., Lund, B., Fälth, B., Voss, P., Puttonen, J., Saari, J., Heikkinen, P. and Oy, Å.C., 2016, Modelling as a tool to augment ground mo-tion data in regions of diffuse seismicity-Progress 2015.
Gerivani, H., Haghshenas, E., Moghaddas, N. H. and Ghafoori, M., 2012, Frequency–amplitude range of hydrocarbon microtremors and a discussion on their source. Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 9(6), p. 632.
Holzner, R., Eschle, P., Zürcher, H., Lambert, M., Graf, R., Dangel, S. and Meier, P., 2005, Applying microtremor analysis to identify hydrocarbon reservoirs. First Break, 23(5).
Ibs-von Seht, M. and Wohlenberg, J., 1999, Microtremor measurements used to map thickness of soft sediments: Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 89(1), 250-259.
Jackson, J., 1980, Reactivation of basement faults and crustal shortening in orogenic belts.
Jackson, J. and Fitch, T., 1981, Basement faulting and the focal depths of the larger earthquakes in the Zagros mountains (Iran), Geophysical Journal International, 64(3), 561-586.
Jackson, J. and McKenzie, D., 1984, Active tectonics of the Alpine-Himalayan Belt between western Turkey and Pakistan, Geophysical Journal International, 77(1), 185-264.
Jurkevics, A., 1988, Polarization analysis of three-component array data. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 78(5), 1725-1743.
Lachetl, C. and Bard, P.-Y., 1994, Numerical and theoretical investigations on the possibilities and limitations of Nakamura's technique. Journal of Physics of the Earth, 42(5), 377-397.
Lambert, M.-A., Nguyen, T., Saenger, E. H. and Schmalholz, S. M., 2011, Spectral analysis of ambient ground-motion-Noise reduction techniques and a methodology for mapping horizontal inhomogeneity. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 74(2), 100-113.
Lambert, M. A., Schmalholz, S. M., Saenger, E. H. and Steiner, B., 2009, Low‐frequency microtremor anomalies at an oil and gas field in Voitsdorf, Austria. Geophysical Prospecting, 57(3), 393-411.
Lermo, J. and Chávez-García, F. J., 1994, Are microtremors useful in site response evaluation?. Bulletin of the seismological society of America, 84(5), 1350-1364.
Maresca, R., Castellano, M., De Matteis, R., Saccorotti, G. and Vaccariello, P., 2003, Local site effects in the town of Benevento (Italy) from noise measurements. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 160(9), 1745-1764.
Marzorati, S. and Bindi, D., 2006, Ambient noise levels in north central Italy. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 7(9).
Parolai, S., Richwalski, S. M., Milkereit, C. and Bormann, P., 2004, Assessment of the stability of H/V spectral ratios from ambient noise and comparison with earthquake data in the Cologne area (Germany). Tectonophysics, 390(1), 57-73.
Peterson, J., 1993, Observations and modeling of seismic background noise.
Saadatmand, M. R., Moradi, A. and Hashemi, H., 2013, Passive seismic survey on the Darquain oil field. Journal of Tethys, 1(3), 215-224.
Saenger, E. H., Schmalholz, S., Podladchikov, Y., Holzner, R., Lambert, M., Steiner, B., Quintal, B. and Frehner, M., 2007a, Scientific strategy to explain observed spectral anomalies over hydrocarbon reservoirs generated by microtremors, in Proceedings 69th EAGE Conference and Exhibition incorporating SPE EUROPEC 2007.
Saenger, E. H., Torres, A., Rentsch, S., Lambert, M., Schmalholz, S.M. and Mendez-Hernandez, E., 2007b, A hydrocarbon microtremor survey over a gas field: Identification of seismic attributes, SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2007, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 1277-1281.
Saenger, E. H., Torres, A., Rentsch, S., Lambert, M., Schmalholz, S. M. and Mendez, H., 2007c, A hydrocarbon microtremor survey over a gas field: Identification of seismic attributes. Proceedings 77th SEG meeting, San Antonio, Texas, USA, Expanded Abstracts 2007c, 1277-1281.
Saenger, E. H., Steiner, B., Schmalholz, S., Lambert, M., Quintal, B., Frehner, M. and Podladchikov, Y., 2007d, Considerations of observed spectral anomalies over hydrocarbon reservoirs generated by microtremors, Proceedings 10th International Congress of the Brazilian Geophysical Society & EXPOGEF 2007, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 19-23 November 2007, Society of Exploration Geophysicists and Brazilian Geophysical Society, 1144-1149.
Snieder, R. and Wapenaar, K., 2010, Imaging with ambient noise: Physics Today, 63(9), 44-49.
Stutzmann, E., Ardhuin, F., Schimmel, M., Mangeney, A. and Patau, G., 2012, Modelling long-term seismic noise in various environments, Geophysical Journal International, 191(2), 707-722.
Walker, D., 2008, Recent developments in low frequency spectral analysis of passive seismic data, First Break, 26(2).
Webb, S. C., 2007, The Earth’s ‘hum’is driven by ocean waves over the continental shelves, Nature, 445(7129), 754-756.
Wilson, D., Leon, J., Aster, R., Ni, J., Schlue, J., Grand, S., Semken, S., Baldridge, S. and Gao, W., 2002, Broadband seismic background noise at temporary seismic stations observed on a regional scale in the southwestern United States, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 92(8), 3335-3342.
Young, C. J., Chael, E. P., Withers, M. M. and Aster, R. C., 1996, A comparison of the high-frequency (> 1 Hz) surface and subsurface noise environment at three sites in the United States. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 86(5), 1516-1528.