Numerical modeling of PP- and PS-wave azimuthal anisotropy in HTI media

This study focuses on the factors that may affect the feasibility of performing elliptical anisotropy analysis on azimuthal PP and PS-wave data in HTI media, with the aim of using the modeling results as guidance in real seismic data application. Our results reveal that there is an offset limitation for both PP- and PS-waves in elliptical anisotropy fitting, and that PS-waves show a wider applicable offset range and larger observable azimuthal anisotropy than PP-waves. The major axis of the elliptical fit to the amplitudes of the R-component is perpendicular to the fracture strike, which is opposite to that in PP-wave analysis. The azimuthal interval travel time of PS-waves shows a nearly elliptical distribution and the major axis of the fit ellipse is perpendicular to the fracture strike, which is same as that in PP-wave analysis. For data within the applicable offset range, the anisotropic magnitude obtained from amplitude and travel time attributes of PP- and PS-waves exhibits a dependence on fracture density, and the major to minor axis ratio of the fit ellipse may be used to infer the relative distribution of fracture densities.

A method for inversion of layered shear wavespeed azimuthal anisotropy from Rayleigh wave dispersion using the Neighborhood Algorithm

Seismic anisotropy provides important constraints on deformation patterns of Earth＇s material. Rayleigh wave dispersion data with azimuthal anisotropy can be used to invert for depth-dependent shear wavespeed azimuthal anisotropy, therefore reflecting depth-varying deformation patterns in the crust and upper mantle. In this study, we propose a two-step method that uses the Neighborhood Algorithm （NA） for the point-wise inversion of depth-dependent shear wavespeeds and azimuthal anisotropy from Rayleigh wave azimuthally anisotropic dispersion data. The first step employs the NA to estimate depth- dependent Vsv （or the elastic parameter L） as well as their uncertainties from the isotropic part Rayleigh wave dispersion data. In the second step, we first adopt a difference scheme to compute approximate Rayleigh-wave phase velocity sensitivity kernels to azimuthally anisotropic parameters with respect to the velocity model obtained in the first step. Then we perform the NA to estimate the azimuthally anisotropic parameters Gc/L and Gs/L at depths separately from the corresponding cosine and sine terms of the azimuthally anisotropic dispersion data. Finally, we compute the depth-dependent magnitude and fast polariza- tion azimuth of shear wavespeed azimuthal anisotropy. The use of the global search NA and Bayesian analysis allows for more reliable estimates of depth-dependent shear wavespeeds and azimuthal anisotropy as well as their uncertainties.We illustrate the inversion method using the azimuthally anisotropic dispersion data in SE Tibet, where we find apparent changes of fast axes of shear wavespeed azimuthal anisotropy between the crust and uppermost mantle.

Occam Inversion of Transient Electromagnetic Data in a Layered Medium with Azimuthal Anisotropy

In recent years, the anisotropic study has become a hot topic in the field of electromagnetics. Currently, inversion technologies of transient electromagnetic sounding data are mainly based on the case of an isotropic medium. However, the actual underground electrical structure tends to be complicated and anisotropic. It is often found that the isotropic inversion technologies do not lead to good results for field transient electromagnetic sounding data. We have developed an algorithm for calculating the transient electromagnetic response in a layered medium with azimuthal anisotropy. An occam inversion algorithm has also been implemented to invert the transient electromagnetic data induced by a grounded horizontal electric dipole in a layered medium with azimuthal anisotropy. Synthetic examples demonstrate the stability and validity of the inversion algorithm. Experimental results show different data for inverting have great influence on the inversion results.

Apparent resistivity of azimuthal anisotropy layered media

The electric field, equations of boundary conditions and calculation formula of apparent resistivity are derived for the azimuthal anisotropy layered media with the DC method based on the anisotropic Ohm's law. Taking the Schlumberger symmetric system as an example and using the recurrence formula of nuclear function, the paper theoretically simulates a model of four layers with the same anisotropy coefficient for each layer. The deep sounding curves of resistivity and the pattern of contours are obtained for the model. The results show that the theoretical formula is correct, and the deep sounding curves not only exhibit the difference of resistivity among layers but also indicate the anisotropy characteristics of layers.

Investigating the elliptic anisotropy of identified particles in p-Pb collisions with a multi-phase transport model

The elliptic azimuthal anisotropy coefficient(v_(2))of the identified particles at midrapidity(|η|<0.8)was investigated in p-Pb collisions at√s_(NN)=5.02 TeV using a multi-phase transport model(AMPT).The calculations of differential v_(2)based on the advanced flow extraction method of light flavor hadrons(pions,kaons,protons,andΛ)in small collision systems were extended to a wider transverse momentum(p_(T))range of up to 8 GeV/c for the first time.The string-melting version of the AMPT model provides a good description of the measured p_(T)-differential v_(2)of the mesons but exhibits a slight deviation from the baryon v_(2).In addition,we observed the features of mass ordering at low p_(T)and the approximate number-of-constituentquark(NCQ)scaling at intermediate p_(T).Moreover,we demonstrate that hadronic rescattering does not have a significant impact on v_(2)in p-Pb collisions for different centrality selections,whereas partonic scattering dominates in generating the elliptic anisotropy of the final particles.This study provides further insight into the origin of collective-like behavior in small collision systems and has referential value for future measurements of azimuthal anisotropy.

Crustal azimuthal anisotropy in the trans-North China orogen and adjacent regions from receiver functions

The North China Craton(NCC) is an important part of eastern China. Recent studies have shown that the eastern NCC(ENCC) has undergone significant lithospheric thinning and destruction since the late Mesozoic. Destruction of the cratonic lithosphere is necessarily accompanied by crustal deformation. Therefore, a detailed crustal deformation model can provide basic observational constraints for understanding the process and mechanisms of the destruction of the NCC. In this study, we estimated the crustal azimuthal anisotropy beneath 198 broadband stations in the NCC with a joint analysis of Ps waves converted at the Moho from radial and transverse receiver function data. We also performed a harmonic analysis to test the reliability of the measured anisotropy. We obtained robust crustal azimuthal anisotropy beneath 23 stations that are mostly located on the western margin of the Bohai Bay Basin, Yin-Yan orogenic belt, and Taihang Mountains, which reflects the crustal deformation characteristics in those regions. The crustal shear wave splitting time was found to range from 0.05 s to 0.68 s, with an average value of 0.23 s, which reveals a distinct crustal anisotropy in the Trans-North China Orogen(TNCO) and its adjacent areas. Our analysis of the results suggests that the strong NW-SE tectonic extension in the late Mesozoic and Cenozoic played an important role in crustal anisotropy in this region. In addition, the E-W trending crustal anisotropy on the margin of the Bohai Bay Basin indicates an effect of the ENE-WSW trending horizontal principal compressive stress. The crustal anisotropy in the Yin-Yan orogenic belt may be an imprint of the multiple-phase shortening of a dominant N-S direction from the early-to-middle Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. Stations in the Taihang Mountains show large splitting times and well-aligned NW-SE fast directions that correlate with those measured from SKS splitting and that are possibly related to the lithospheric modification and magmatic underplating from the Late Mesozoic to Cenozoic in this area.

Effect of uneven noise source and/or station distribution on estimating the azimuth anisotropy of surface waves

With the development of the dense array,the surface wave velocity and azimuthal anisotropy under the array can be directly obtained by beamforming the noise cross-correlation functions(NCFs). However, the retrieval of the Green’s function by cross-correlating the seismic noise requires that the noise source has a uniform distribution. For the case with uneven noise source, the azimuthal dependence on the sources in the expression for the spatial coherence function, which corresponds to the NCF in the time domain,has the same form as the azimuthal dependence of the surface wave velocity in weakly anisotropic media. Therefore, the uneven noise source will affect the surface wave anisotropy extraction. In this study, three passive seismic methods, i.e.,beamforming, SPAC(spatial autocorrelation), and NCF, are compared to demonstrate that an uneven source distribution and uneven station distribution have equivalent effects on the outcome from each method. A beamforming method is proposed to directly extract the velocity and azimuthal anisotropy of surface waves. The effect of uneven noise source and/or station distribution on estimating the azimuth anisotropy of surface waves was investigated using data from the ChinArray Phase Ⅱ. A method for correcting the apparent anisotropy in beamforming results caused by an uneven station distribution is suggested.

Study of the relationship between fractures and highly productive shale gas zones, Longmaxi Formation, Jiaoshiba area in eastern Sichuan

Shale fractures are an important factor controlling shale gas enrichment and high-productivity zones in the Longmaxi Formation, Jiaoshiba area in eastern Sichuan. Drilling results have, however, shown that the shale fracture density does not have a straightforward correlation with shale gas productivity. Based on logging data, drilling and seismic data, the relationship between shale fracture and shale gas accumulation is investigated by integrating the results of experiments and geophysical methods. The following conclusions have been drawn：（1） Tracer diffusion tests indicate that zones of fracture act as favorable channels for shale gas migration and high-angle fractures promote gas accumulation.（2） Based on the result of azimuthal anisotropy prediction, a fracture system with anisotropy strength values between 1 and 1.15 represents a moderate development of high-angle fractures, which is considered to be favorable for shale gas accumulation and high productivity, while fracture systems with anisotropy strength values larger than 1.15 indicate over-development of shale fracture, which may result in the destruction of the shale reservoir preservation conditions.

P-wave fracture prediction algorithm using pre-stack data with limited azimuth distribution:A case study in the TZ45 area,Tarim Basin,China

Fractured reservoirs always show anisotropic amplitude features,i.e.the reflection amplitude of seismic waves varies with offset and azimuth （AVOZ）.A noise attenuation fracture inversion algorithm is presented for fracture detection based on P-wave AVOZ.The conventional inversion method always fails when applied to limited azimuth data because of the existence of noise.In our inversion algorithm,special attention is paid to suppressing the noise during inversion,to overcome the limitation of the conventional inversion method on limited azimuth data.Numerical models are employed to illustrate the effectiveness of the method.The inversion algorithm is then applied to Tazhong 45 area field data which is acquired under limited azimuth distribution.Compared with cores and fullbore formation microimage （FMI）,the inverted results （fracture density and orientation） are reasonable,suggesting that the inversion algorithm is feasible for fracture prediction in the Tarim Basin.

Seismic identification of channel sandbodies in the Fuyang oil layer in North Songliao Basin, China

The Fuyang oil-layer in North Songliao Basin is characterized by thin interbedded sands and shales, strong lateral variation, strong reservoir heterogeniety, and so on. The thickness of individual sand layers is generally 3 - 5 m. Identifying the channel sand-bodies of the Fuyang oil layer using seismic techniques is very difficult due to the low seismic resolution. Taking the GTZ area as an example, we discuss the genetic characteristics of the channel sand-bodies and point out the real difficulty in using seismic techniques to predict the channel sand-bodies. Two methods for the identification of channels are presented： frequency spectrum imaging and pre-stack azimuthal anisotropy. Identifying the channel sand-bodies in Fuyu oil-layer using the two seismic methods results in a success rate up to 80% compared with well data.

A NUMERICAL METHOD OF MODELING ELASTIC WAVE PROPAGATION IN ANISOTROPIC MEDIA

The velocity-stress finite-difference method is adopted to simulate the elastic wave propa- gation in azimuthal anisotropic media.The difference grids are completely staggered in the numerical im- plementation.To reduce the computational work,the absorbin8 boundary conditions for anisotropic media are introduced first and the corner points are specially treated.Examples show that more accurate results can be obtained from the modeling algorithm,which cost much less computational time than the conven- tional methods.Therefore,the algorithm has broad application prospects in engineering.

3-D isotropic and anisotropic tomography of P-wave travel times from the Anhui airgun experiment in the Yangtze River

The Middle-Lower Yangtze River is a typical transition region between the nearly NW-oriented Tethys and NE-trending Pacific tectonic regimes.Structures of different periods and directions overlap strongly during these processes.The NE-trending Yangtze River compound structural belt and NW-trending Tongling-Hangzhou structural belt both control the magmatic activities and distributions of the metallogenic belts in the area.Here,we obtain 3-D high-resolution isotropic and azimuthally anisotropic velocity structures at depths of 1–10 km using the first arrivals from airgun sources.The velocity maps correspond well with the tectonic structures,with high-velocity anomalies distributed in ore-concentrated districts and low-velocity anomalies distributed along the Yangtze River.The fast directions are generally consistent with the fault strike,indicating that the azimuthal anisotropy is mainly dominated by the fault and fracture trends in the upper crust.The complicated fast directions near the Luzong and Tongling ore deposits reveal complex deformations in the upper crust,which are mainly caused by the intersection of the Yangtze River compound and Tongling-Hangzhou structural belts.The magma intrusion beneath the two ore deposits(Luzong and Tongling)are connected at depths of 5–10 km.

Prediction of Coal Seam Methane Enriched Areas Using Seismic Data

All coal mine disasters are dynamic geological phenomenon and affected by many factors. However, locating the enriched areas of CSM (coal seam methane) may be the precondition for the successful prediction of such disasters. Traditional methods of investigating CSM enriched areas use limited data and only consider a few important factors. Their success rate is low and cannot meet practical needs. In this paper, an alternative method is proposed. The proce- dure is given as follows: 1) fracture attributes derived from azimuth variations of P-wave data in coal seams and wall rocks can be extracted; 2) AVO attributes, such as the intercept P and gradient G parameters can be extracted from different azimuths from 3D seismic data; 3) seismic cubes can be inverted and the relative attributes of imped- ance cubes can be extracted; 4) using a GIS platform, multi-source information can be obtained and analyzed; these include fracture attributes of coal seams and wall rocks, the thickness of coal seams, the distribution of faults and structures, the depth of coal seams, the inclination and exposure of coal seams and the coal rank. Through this processing procedure, methane enriched areas can be systematically detected.

Decomposition of multi-particle azimuthal correlations in Q-cumulant analysis

The method of Q-cumulants is a powerful tool for studying the fine details of azimuthal anisotropies in high energy nuclear collisions.This paper presents a new method,based on mathematical induction,to evaluate the analytical form of high-order Q-cumulants.The capability of this method is demonstrated via a toy model that uses the elliptic power distribution to simulate the anisotropic emission of particles,quantified in terms of Fourier flow harmonics v_(n).The method can help in studying the large amount of event statistics that can be collected in the future and allow measurements of the very high central moments of the v_(2)distribution.This can,in turn,facilitate progress in understanding the initial geometry,the input to the hydrodynamic calculations of medium expansion in high energy nuclear collisions,and the constraints on it.

Anisotropic flow of Pb+Pb s_(NN)^(1/2)= 5.02 TeV from a multi-phase transport model

Anisotropic flow is an important observable in the study of the quark-gluon plasma that is expected to be formed in heavy-ion collisions. With a multiphase transport（AMPT） model we investigate the elliptic（v2）,triangular（v3）, and quadrangular（v4） flow of charged particles in Pb＋Pb collisions at √sNN= 5.02 TeV. We then compare our flow results with the published ALICE flow results. We find our AMPT simulated results are consistent with ALICE experimental data.