A low-frequency passive seismic survey in an urban setting in Germany
Published in
71st EAGE Conference & Exhibition
Date of publication
08 June 2009
Abstract
We present results from a low-frequency passive seismic (LFPS) survey that was carried out over an oil field in southern Germany. The LFPS method analyses the spectrum of the ambient seismic noise recorded with broadband seismometers in order to test for spectral signatures that may be indicative of hydrocarbon accumulations in the subsurface. Due to the very low amplitude of the ambient seismic background wave field (typically between -120 to -180 dB [w.r.t. 1 m/s]), the method is very sensitive to variations in surface-related cultural noise. Using a survey in an urban environment as an example, we show how the naturally occurring background wave field can be extracted by proper identification and separation of cultural noise. Despite considerable contamination of the records by anthropogenic noise, we observe a statistically significant increase in the ratio between vertically and horizontally polarized seismic energy above the reservoir.
