• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2010

This study utilises repeated numerical tests to understand the effects of variable near-surface conditions on time-lapse seismic surveys. The numerical tests were aimed at reproducing the significant scattering observed in field experiments conducted at the Naylor site in the Otway Basin for the purpose of $CO_2$ sequestration. In particular, the variation of elastic properties of both the top soil and the deeper rugose clay/limestone interface as a function of varying water saturation were investigated. Such tests simulate the measurements conducted in dry and wet seasons and to evaluate the contribution of these seasonal variations to seismic measurements in terms of non-repeatability. Full elastic pre-stack modelling experiments were carried out to quantify these effects and evaluate their individual contributions. The results show that the relatively simple scattering effects of the corrugated near-surface clay/limestone interface can have a profound effect on time-lapse surveys. The experiments also show that the changes in top soil saturation could potentially affect seismic signature even more than the corrugated deeper surface. Overall agreement between numerically predicted and in situ measured normalised root-mean-square (NRMS) differences between repeated (time-lapse) 2D seismic surveys warrant further investigation. Future field studies will include in situ measurements of the elastic properties of the weathered zone through the use of 'micro Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP)' arrays and very dense refraction surveys. The results of this work may impact on other areas not associated with $CO_2$ sequestration, such as imaging oil production over areas where producing fields suffer from a karstic topography, such as in the Middle East and Australia.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2016

The aim of this study is the safety and an accident prevention in limestone terrain by the underground tunneling. The geology of the study area consists of a Paleozoic sedimentary sequence dominated by limestone, sandstone, shale, and carbonaceous shale. The sequence gently dips to the northeast but the joint contains steep with variable trend. A significant fracture zone is developed in the limestone and shale beds, sub-parallel to bedding, and follows in part the limestone-sandstone contact. Monitoring of groundwater levels in the area shows marked fluctuations in the water table, which repeatedly rose to a level of -4 m before sinking to -15 m. These cycles occurred in mid-May, 2007 and in early and middle June. The data indicate that these fluctuations were unrelated to rainfall that occurred during the study period. We infer that the fluctuations were associated with the development of underground karstic networks along the deep fracture zone, and overlying ground subsidence is likely related to the rapid sinking of groundwater and the associated strong downward suction force.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.503-511
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• 2011

The Upper Devonian Grosmont Formation in northern Alberta, Canada, underlies the erosion unconformity that formed between the Cretaceous and Upper Devonian. The formation is divided into four units on the basis of intercalated shales and showing a typical shelf environment of shallowing-upward. It was possible to separate four units(LG~UG3), considering the seismic interpretation attributes of polarity, continuity, frequency/spacing and amplitude and showing the reflection characteristics of the medium-high amplitude, medium-low frequency, good continuity, and subparallel reflection events. The formation can be interpreted as shelf or platform, based on in-situ core data. However, it is difficult, only with reflection attributes and features, to recognize the boundaries and sedimentary environment of parasequence. Therefore, we try to interprete by parasequence set in this study. The parasequence set was formed by erosion unconformity with systems tracts. The erosion unconformity can be recognized by facies data and karst, erosional surface. Grosmont carbonate deposits ranging from platform and shelf to shelf slope are; by wedge-shaped strata of characterized by complex sigmoid-oblique progradational configurations, reflecting a depositional history of upbuilding and outbuilding in response to sea-level changes. Most of the sedimentary units is interpreted as platforms under regression and lowstand environments that support is evidences. In particular, shale layer at the basal part of the highstand systems tracts represents the regressive to lowstand of sea level.