Shallow velocity model from the transient electromagnetic method data: results of application in Eastern and Western Siberia

The geological section of Eastern and Western Siberia is a complex object for a seismic exploration. The reason for this is the extremely high variability of the upper part of the section lithology, rough terrain, and permafrost rocks. This paper delivers an alternative approach to predicting the velocity model of the upper part of the section. The approach based on the original method of restoring the elastic-velocity characteristics from the data of transient electromagnetic method (TEM) in the near field zone.
Research devoted to test the methodology of the shallow section velocity model calculation based on TEM data in a number of fields in Eastern and Western Siberia. Derived results aimed to improve the accuracy of the geological model building and the reliability of the hydrocarbon plays prediction.
Synthetic modeling and field data confirm the high level of the proposed methodology effectiveness. It was shown that for the Eastern Siberia settings, an improvement in the quality of processing of seismic data consists in a significant increase in the dynamics and coherence of seismic recordings. In Western Siberia, it is possible to take into account the velocity anomalies associated with the permafrost rocks and zones of transit from the onshore part of the survey area to the sea.

1. Armstrong T. (2001). Velocity anomalies and depth conversion – drilling success on Nelson Field, Central North Sea. 63rd EAGE Conference & Exhibition, Extended Abstracts, IV-2. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609-pdb.15.IV-2

2. Armstrong T.L., McAteer J. and Connolly P. (2001). Removal of overburden velocity anomaly effects for depth conversion. Geophysical Prospecting, 49, pp. 79–99. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2478.2001.00238.x

3. Baixas F., Glogovsky V., Langman S. (1997). An Interactively Constrained Approach to Long-Period Static Corrections. 59th EAGE Conference & Exhibition. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609-pdb.131.GEN1997_P008

4. Bondarev V.I., Krylatkov S.M., Kurashev I.A (2013). Technology for obtaining velocity models of geological environments based on the use of diffracted waves. Sovremennye problemy nauki i obrazovaniya, 1. (In Russ.)

5. Bondarev V.I., Krylatkov S.M., Smirnov A.S. (2005). Time-slices of directional vision in multiple overlap seismic. Tekhnologii seismorazvedki, 3, pp. 49–55. (In Russ.)

6. Brown J., Ferrians O.J., Heginbottom J.A., and Melnikov E.S. (1997). Circum-Arctic map of permafrost and ground ice conditions. https://doi.org/10.3133/cp45

7. Colombo D., McNeice G., Rovetta D., Turkoglu E., SandovalCuriel E., & Sena A. (2017). Seismic-Airborne TEM Joint Inversion and Surface Consistent Refraction Analysis: New Technologies for Complex Near Surface Corrections. Society of Petroleum Engineers. https://doi.org/10.2118/184029-MS

8. Cox M. (1999). Static Corrections for Seismic Reflection Surveys. Society of Exploration Geophysicists, 546 p. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.9781560801818

9. Deev Yu.P. (1972) Explanatory note to a geological map at a scale of 1: 200000, East Sayan series, sheet N-48-XXXIV. Moscow: Nedra, 83 p. (In Russ.)

10. Faust L.Y. (1953). A velocity function including lithologic variation. Geophys., 18, pp. 271–288. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1437869

11. Kaplan S.A. Sokolova E.Yu. Yakovlev D.V. Klokova V.P. Shpektorov A.L. Slinchuk G.E. (2019). Velocity model construction of the upper section part under the conditions of the permafrost spread, taking into account surface electrical exploration data. Geofizika, 4, pp. 2–8. (In Russ.)

12. Kiselev V.V., Sokolova I.P., Titarenko I.A., Bessonov A.D. (2009). Method for determining static corrections. Patent RF RU2411547. (In Russ.)

13. Kochnev V.A., Polyakov V.S., Goz I.V., Kul’chinskii Yu.V. (2011). Problems of seismic survey accuracy in Eastern Siberia. Sci. and Pract. conf.: Seismic studies of the Earth’s crust (Puzyrev readings 2009). Novosibirsk: IPGG RAS, pp. 87–90. (In Russ.)

14. Kuznetsov V.M., Zhukov A.P., Nikonov E.O., Burov D.I., Gafarov T.N., Kusevich A.V. (2014). Study of the upper part of the section using multiwave seismic technologies as applied to zones of permafrost development. Pribory i sistemy razvedochnoi geofiziki, 47(1), pp. 20–30. (In Russ.)

15. Marsden D (1993). Static corrections – a review, Part I. The Leading Edge, 12(1), pp. 43–49. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1436912

16. Marsden D (1993). Static corrections – a review, Part II. The Leading Edge, 12(2), pp. 115–120. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1436936

17. Marsden D. (1993). Static corrections – a review, Part III. The Leading Edge, 12(3), pp. 210–216. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1436944

18. Pyankov A.A. (2016). Refinement of the upper part of the section based on the use of refracted waves in the territory of Eastern Siberia. Conference Proceedings, Geomodel 2016 – 18th Science and Applied Research Conference on Oil and Gas Geological Exploration and Development. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201602214

19. Pyankov A.A., Shelkov I.A., Buddo I.V., Smirnov A.S. (2019). Сompensation of Seismic Anomalies in Upper Part of the Section during Integration with the Data of Electrical Exploration on the Example of a Field in Eastern Siberia. Conference Proceedings, Far East Hydrocarbons 2019. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201951005

20. Sharlov M.V., Buddo I.V., Misyurkeeva N.V., Shelokhov I. A., Agafonov Yu.A. (2017). Transient electromagnetic surveys for high-resolution near-surface exploration: basics and case studies. First break, 35(9). https://doi.org/10.3997/1365-2397.35.9.90112

21. Shelokhov I.A., Buddo I.V., Misyurkeeva N.V., Smirnov A.S., Agafonov Yu.A. (2018a). An approach to reconstructing the velocity characteristics of the upper part of the section based on non-stationary electromagnetic sounding data. Proc. All-Russ. Sci. and Tech. Conf.: Geosciences – 2018: Actual Problems of Subsoil Studies. Irkutsk: IRNITU Publ., pp. 278–284. (In Russ.)

22. Shelokhov I.A., Buddo I.V., Smirnov A.S. (2018b). An approach to reconstructing the velocity characteristics of the upper part of the section based on non-stationary electromagnetic sounding data. Pribory i sistemy razvedochnoi geofiziki, 1–2, pp. 58-68. (In Russ.)

23. Shelokhov I.A., Buddo I.V., Smirnov A.S. (2018c). Reducing Uncertainties in the Elastic-velocity Model of the Upper Part of the Section Construction by Tem Data Applying. Conference Proceedings, GeoBaikal 2018. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.201802050

24. Shelokhov I.A., Buddo I.V., Smirnov A.S., Sharlov M.V., Agafonov Yu.A. (2018d). Inversion of TEM responses to create a near surface velocity stucture. First Break, 36(10), pp. 47–51. https://doi.org/10.3997/1365-2397.n0125

25. Surov L.V., Sharlov M.V., Agafonov Yu.A. (2011). Program for the quantitative interpretation of the ZSB data Model 3. Certificate of official registration of the computer program No. 2011619164, 25.11.2011. (In Russ.)

26. Vakhromeev A.G., Smirnov A.S., Mazukabzov A.M., Gorlov I.V., Misyurkeeva N.V., Shutov G.Ya., Ogibenin V.V. (2019). The Upper Lena Arched Uplift Is the Main Object of Preparing a Resource Base of Hydrocarbons in the South of the Siberian Platform. Geologiya i mineral’nosyr’evye resursy Sibiri [Geology and mineral resources of Siberia], 3(39), pp. 38–56. (In Russ.)