Yohei Nishitsuji

Reflection imaging of the Moon's interior using deep‐moonquake seismic interferometry

The internal structure of the Moon has been investigated over many years using a variety of seismic methods, such as travel time analysis, receiver functions, and tomography. Here we propose to apply body-wave seismic interferometry to deep moonquakes in order to retrieve zero-offset reflection responses (and thus images) beneath the Apollo stations on the nearside of the Moon from virtual sources colocated with the stations. This method is called deep-moonquake seismic interferometry (DMSI). Our results show a laterally coherent acoustic boundary around 50 km depth beneath all four Apollo stations. We interpret this boundary as the lunar seismic Moho. This depth agrees with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agencys (JAXA) SELenological and Engineering Explorer (SELENE) result and previous travel time analysis at the Apollo 12/14 sites. The deeper part of the image we obtain from DMSI shows laterally incoherent structures. Such lateral inhomogeneity we interpret as representing a zone characterized by strong scattering and constant apparent seismic velocity at our resolution scale (0.2–2.0 Hz).

Global-phase H/V spectral ratio for delineating the basin in the Malargüe Region, Argentina

Structural estimation of unconsolidated sediments and basins is of fundamental importance for resources exploration, geohazard assessments, and other geophysical aspects. The estimation contributes not only to the understanding of the tectonic settings, but also to the choice of parameters for possible further seismic processing, for example, predictive deconvolution, the result of which could be used for imaging the subsurface structures below the basin.

Crustal-scale reflection imaging and interpretation by passive seismic interferometry using local earthquakes

We have developed an application of passive seismic interferometry (SI) using P-wave coda of local earthquakes for the purpose of crustal-scale reflection imaging. We processed the reflection gathers retrieved from SI following a standard seismic processing in exploration seismology. We applied SI to the P-wave coda using crosscorrelation, crosscoherence, and multidimensional deconvolution (MDD) approaches for data recorded in the Malargue region, Argentina. Comparing the results from the three approaches, we found that MDD based on the truncated singular-value decomposition scheme gave us substantially better structural imaging. Although our results provided higher resolution images of the subsurface, they showed less clear images for the Moho in comparison with previous seismic images in the region obtained by the receiver function and global-phase SI. Above the Moho, we interpreted a deep thrust fault and the possible melting zones, which were previously indicated by active-seismic and magnetotelluric methods in this region, respectively. The method we developed could be an alternative option not only for crustal-scale imaging, e.g., in enhanced geothermal systems, but also for lithospheric-scale as well as basin-scale imaging, depending on the availability of local earthquakes and the frequency bandwidth of their P-wave coda.

Elastic impedance based facies classification using support vector machine and deep learning: Support vector machine and deep learning classifications

Machine learning methods including support-vector-machine and deep learning are applied to facies classification problems using elastic impedances acquired from a Paleocene oil discovery in the UK Central North Sea. Both of the supervised learning approaches showed similar accuracy when predicting facies after the optimization of hyperparameters derived from well data. However, the results obtained by deep learning provided better correlation with available wells and more precise decision boundaries in cross-plot space when compared to the support-vector-machine approach. Results from the support-vector-machine and deep learning classifications are compared against a simplified linear projection based classification and a Bayes-based approach. Differences between the various facies classification methods are connected by not only their methodological differences but also human interactions connected to the selection of machine learning parameters. Despite the observed differences, machine learning applications, such as deep learning, have the potential to become standardized in the industry for the interpretation of amplitude versus offset cross-plot problems, thus providing an automated facies classification approach.

Imaging subsurface structures using reflections retrieved from seismic interferometry with sources of opportunity

The reflection seismic method is the most frequently used exploration method for imaging and monitoring subsurface structures with high resolution. It has proven its qualities from the scale of regional seismology to the scale of near-surface applications that look just a few meters below the surface. The reflection method uses controlled active sources at known positions to give rise to reflections recorded at known receiver positions. The reflections’ two-wave travel time is used to extract desired information about and image the subsurface structures. When active sources are unavailable or undesired, one can retrieve body-wave reflections from application of seismic interferometry (SI) to sources of opportunity—quakes, tremors, ambient noise, or even man-made sources not connected to the exploration campaign. We show examples of imaging of subsurface structures using reflections retrieved from quakes and ambient noise. We apply SI by autocorrelation to global earthquake to image seismic and aseismic pa...

Reflection imaging of aseismic zones of the Nazca slab by global-phase seismic interferometry

AbstractObtaining detailed images of aseismic parts of subducting slabs remains a large challenge for understanding slab dynamics. Hypocenter mapping cannot be used for the purpose due to the absence of seismicity, whereas the use of receiver functions might be compromised by the presence of melt. Global tomography can be used to identify the presence of the slab, but it does not reveal the structure in detail. We have determined how detailed images can be obtained using global-phase seismic interferometry. The method provides high-resolution (<15  km in depth) pseudo zero-offset (i.e., colocated source and receiver) reflection information. We have applied the method to aseismic zones of the Nazca slab in which initiation of possible slab tearing and plume decapitation was identified by global tomography and electrical conductivity, respectively. We have obtained an image of the Moho and the mantle and found an attenuated area in the image consistent with the presence of an aseismic dipping subducting sla...

Cost-effective Seismic Reflection Imaging Using Seismic Interferometry for Imaging of Enhanced Geothermal System - A Case Study in the Neuquén Basin

We investigate the applicability of passive seismic interferometry using P-wave coda from local earthquakes for the purpose of retrieving reflections for imaging enhanced geothermal systems. For this, we use ambient-noise data recorded in the Neuquen basin, Argentina, where the Peteroa and Los Molles geothermal fields are present nearby. After retrieving reflections, we proceed to process them following a standard processing sequence to obtain images of the crustal structures. Examining crosscorrelation, crosscoherence, and multidimensional deconvolution approaches, we find that multidimensional deconvolution, based on the truncated singular-value decomposition scheme, gives us slightly better structural imaging than the other two approaches. Our results provide higher-resolution imaging of the crustal structures down to the lower boundary of the Moho in comparison with previous passive seismic imaging by receiver function and global-phase seismic interferometry in this region. We also interpret the deep basement thrust fault that has been indicated by active-seismic reflection profile and nearby exploration well. The method we propose could be used as a low-cost alternative to active-source acquisition for imaging and monitoring purposes of deeper geothermal reservoirs, e.g., in enhanced geothermal systems, where the target structures are down to 10 km depth.

Mapping a Part of Neuquén Basin in Argentina by Global-phase H/V Spectral Ratio

We investigated the applicability of global phases (epicentral distances of ≥ 120° and ≥ 150°) for the H/V spectral ratio to identify the fundamental resonance frequency. We applied the method to delineate a part of Neuquen basin in Argentina without the need for active seismic sources. We obtained fairly identifiable fundamental resonance frequencies in the range 0.15 Hz to 2.5 Hz. Receiver-side resonances were pronounced by stacking the H/V spectral ratio over many earthquake recordings. By doing so, the same fundamental resonances were found by using different window (P and S-phases) as well as different epicentral distances (≥ 120° and ≥ 150°). Our result, assuming average velocity, shows identical features in comparison with both the Bouguer anomaly and the active seismic profile nearby, indicating that our method is reliable. The method we demonstrate here can be applied in the fields particularly when the seismic array of long-term purposes is available.

The potential of imaging subsurface heterogeneities by local, natural earthquakes

We have developed a new imaging technique of subsurface heterogeneities that uses Sp-waves from natural earthquakes. This technique can be used as a first screening tool in frontier exploration areas before conventional active exploration. Analyzing Sp-waves from 28 earthquakes (Mj 2.0 to 4.2) recorded by two permanent seismic stations, we built an image of the distributions of velocity discontinuities in southeastern offshore Hokkaido, Japan, where intraplate earthquakes in the Pacific plate frequently occur. Our results indicated the presence of three horizontally continuous, distinct discontinuities corresponding to geologic boundaries estimated in a previous study.We also derived the frequency-dependent quality factor Q for P- and S-waves and use it as a method of characterizing physical properties of subsurface structure. The waveform traces with coherent Sp-phases in the southern part of the study area generally show a constant QS?QP ratio, and the waveform traces with randomly distributed phases in the northern part show a large variation of the QS?QP ratio (including several high values).