• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.240-249
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• 2013

The seismic data quality of marine geological and engineering survey deteriorates because of the sea swell. We often conduct a marine survey when the swell height is about 1 ~ 2 m. The swell effect correction is required to enhance the horizontal continuity of seismic data and satisfy the resolution less than 1 m. We applied the swell correction to the 8 channel high-resolution airgun seismic data and 3.5 kHz subbottom profiler (SBP) data. The correct sea bottom detection is important for the swell correction. To detect the sea bottom, we used maximum amplitude of seismic signal around the expected sea bottom, and picked the first increasing point larger than threshold value related with the maximum amplitude. To find sea bottom easily in the case of the low quality data, we transformed the input data to envelope data or the cross-correlated data using the sea bottom wavelet. We averaged the picked sea bottom depths and calculated the correction values. The maximum correction of the airgun data was about 0.8 m and the maximum correction of two kinds of 3.5 kHz SBP data was 0.5 m and 2.0 m respectively. We enhanced the continuity of the subsurface layer and produced the high quality seismic section using the proper methods of swell correction.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.537-543
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• 2008

To effectively delineate the foundation of stone relics by GPR and seismic refraction methods, a geological engineering model was constructed with alternating layer of soil and gravel to a depth of 3 m. This study was aimed at mapping the boundaries of model ground structure and interfaces of alternating layer using the various frequency antenna in GPR survey and seismic velocities. Compared to the resolution from the high frequency antenna, the image resolution from the survey using 100 Hz antenna is the lower, but with the deeper image coverage. On the contrast, the deeper structure was not mapped in the higher frequency data due to higher absorption effect, but the shallow layered zone was distinctively resolved. Therefore subsurface images were effectively provided by integrating the data with 100 MHz and 450 MHz antennas for the deep and shallow structures, respectively. Regarding the seismic refraction data, the boundaries of the model and interface of the alternating layers were not successfully mapped due to the limit of the survey length. However, the equivalent contours of low velocity extended deep as considerable velocity contrasts with surrounding ground.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.425-434
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• 2000

The 3.5 KHz seismic survey was carried out for studying the distribution pattern of the unconsolidated sediments of the Yeosu Sound on the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula. Field data originally recorded in analog are converted and processed digitally to recover the high-resolution acoustic profiles. Across the north-south trending channel with the depth of 20~30 m, different seismic facies types are observed in the top section of sediments. The western part is characterized by the continuous high-amplitude subparallel reflectors within which the acoustic turbidity as a token of the presence of gas is commonly observed, whereas the counterpart largely shows poor reflectors and has shallow acoustic basement toward the north. The dissimilarity of the seismic expression across the channel can be interpreted as the result of the change of depositional environment caused by relative sea-level fluctuations of the late-Quaternary. During the last glacial period, the Yeosu Sound was exposed and eroded by the paleo-Seomjin River. By the following rapid rise of sea level, it was covered by the transgressive sand sheet. When the sea level reached near the present position, the muddy sediment has accumulated only in the western part of the Yeosu Sound as its depositional front has moved toward the north. It is partly caused by the asymmetrical tidal current in the Yeosu Sound where the flood near the bottom has stronger current flow and contains more suspended sediments.

• 한국지구물리탐사학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.46-66
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• 2002

High-resolution multichannel seismic data were collected in the coastal area near the Gori nuclear power plant to investigate Quaternary fault pattern and timing. A 12 channel streamer, a sparker, and a portable recorder were used for data acquisition. Because the group interval of the streamer was 6.25 m and the sparker can generate acoustic waves with the frequency content of up to 500 Hz, the data show a significant improvement both in horizontal and vertical resolution. The area surveyed is covered with 30-40 m thick Holocene sediments that constitute the mud belt along the southeastern coast of Korea. The survey area is characterized by the well discriminated Pleistocene and Holocene boundary and shallow gas-charged zones. A number of Quaternary faults were found in the sediment column, that are nearly vertical and extend north-south. The Quaternary faults, arranged at a spacing of a few hundred meters, suggest that they were formed in response to compression, although some of them reveal extensional characteristics. Locally, faults disrupt Incised-channel fills that are interpreted to have formed in the early stage of transgression after the beginning of the Holocene. Seismic sections suggest that shallow gas in the mud belt sediments made its way upward through the fractured fault planes. The tectonism responsible for the opening of the East Sea has not persisted since the late Miocene, but vigorous Quaternary faulting activity in the vicinity of the southeastern Korean Peninsula indicates that tectonic stability has yet to be achieved in this region underlain by the hotter than normal mantle.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.91-107
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• 2024

Single-channel seismic exploration has proven effective in delineating subsurface geological structures using small-scale survey systems. The seismic data acquired through zero- or near-offset methods directly capture subsurface features along the vertical axis, facilitating the construction of corresponding seismic sections. However, substantial noise in single-channel seismic data hampers precise interpretation because of the low signal-to-noise ratio. This study introduces a novel approach that integrate noise reduction and signal enhancement via matrix rank optimization to address this issue. Unlike conventional rank-reduction methods, which retain selected singular values to mitigate random noise, our method optimizes the entire singular value spectrum, thus effectively tackling both random and erratic noises commonly found in environments with low signal-to-noise ratio. Additionally, to enhance the horizontal continuity of seismic events and mitigate signal loss during noise reduction, we introduced an adaptive weighting factor computed from the eigenimage of the seismic section. To access the robustness of the proposed method, we conducted numerical experiments using single-channel Sparker seismic data from the Chukchi Plateau in the Arctic Ocean. The results demonstrated that the seismic sections had significantly improved signal-to-noise ratios and minimal signal loss. These advancements hold promise for enhancing single-channel and high-resolution seismic surveys and aiding in the identification of marine development and submarine geological hazards in domestic coastal areas.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.739-744
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• 1996

'Kite' is a newly developed single-channel seismic imaging system capable of producing high resolution three dimensional images of subbottom geology in one traverse of a survey region. The system consists of a horizontally towed hydrophone array and active source. The hydrophone array is towed axis perpendicular to ship direction and the airgun source at the end of the hydrophone array is excited at timed intervals during the progression. The construction of the three dimensional subbottom image was made simply by using conventional multichannel seismic reflection data processing techniques. Common source shot (CSS) gathers of the hydrophone traces are evaluated using Dix's equation for average interval velocity of each subbottom layer. From the interval velocity profile and the normal consolidation stress condition, values of shear modulus, porosity, and shear velocity are deduced from the chosen values of physical constants. The system has been successfully tested at several locations on the North Atlantic continental shelf.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.52-61
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• 2023

The use of ultra-high-resolution (UHR) seismic surveys to preceisly characterize coastal and shallow structures have increased recently. UHR surveys derive a spatial resolution of 3.125 m using a high-frequency source (80 Hz to 1 kHz). A digital streamer system is an essential module for acquiring high-quality UHR seismic data. Localization studies have focused on reducing purchase costs and decreasing maintenance periods. Basic performance verification and application tests of the developed streamer have been successfully carried out; however, a comparative analysis with the existing benchmark model was not conducted. In this study, we characterized data obtained by using a developed streamer and a benchmark model simultaneously. Tamhae 2 and auxiliary equipment of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources were used to acquire 2D seismic data, which were analyzed from different perspectives. The data obtained using the developed streamer differed in sensitivity from that obtained using benchmark model by frequency band.However, both type of data had a very high level of similarity in the range corresponding to the central frequency band of the seismic source. However, in the low frequency band below 60 Hz, data obtained using the developed streamer showed a lower signal-to-noise ratio than that obtained using the benchmark model.This lower ratio can hinder the quality in data acquisition using low-frequency sound sources such as cluster air guns. Three causes for this difference were, and streamers developed in future will attempt to reflect on these improvements.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.126-133
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• 2003

High-resolution shallow marine seismic surveys have been carried out for the resources exploration, engineering applications and Quaternary mapping. To improve the resolution of subsurface structure image, multichannel digital technique has been applied. The quality of the image depends on the vertical and horizontal resolution and signal to noise (S/N) ratio which are associated with the data acquisition parameters such as sample interval, common midpoint (CMP) interval and CMP fold. To understand the effect of the acquisition parameters, a test survey was carried out off Yeosu and the acquired data were analyzed. A 30 $in^3$ small air gun was used as a seismic source and 8 channel streamer cable with a 5 m group interval was used as a receiver. The data were digitally recorded with a shot interval of 2 s and sample interval of 0.1 ms. The acquired data were resampled with various sample intervals, CMP intervals and CMP folds. The resampled data were processed, plotted as seismic sections and compared each other. The analysis results show that thin bed structure with ${\~}1m$ thickness and ${\~}6^{\circ}$ slope can be imaged with good resolution and continuity and low noise using the acquisition parameters with a sample interval shorter than 0.2 ms, CMP interval shorter than 2.5 m and CMP fold more than 4. Because seismic resolution is associated with the acquisition parameters, the quality of the subsurface structure can be imaged successfully using suitable and optimum acquisition parameters.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.116-126
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• 2008

In gas hydrate survey, seismic amplitude and frequency characteristics play a very important role in determining whether gas hydrate exists. According to the variation of source frequency and scatterer size, we study seismic amplitude characteristics using elastic modeling applied at staggered grids. Generally speaking, scattering occurs in proportion to the square of source frequency and the scatterer volume, which has an effect on seismic amplitude. The higher source frequency is, the more scattering occurs in gas hydrate bearing zone. Therefore, BSR is hardly observed in high frequencies. On the other side, amplitude blanking zone and BSR is clearly observed in lower frequencies although the resolution is poor as a whole. Seismic reflections traveling through free-gas layer below gas hydrate bearing zone decay so severely a high frequency component that a low frequency term is dominant. Amplitude anomaly of BSR result from high acoustic impedance contrast due to free-gas, which is a very crucial factor to estimate gas hydrate bearing zone. Seismic frequency analysis is carried out using wavelet transform method that frequency component could be decomposed with time variation. In application of wavelet transform to the seismic physical experiments data, we can observe that reflections traveling through air layer, which corresponds to the free-gas layer, decay a high frequency component.

• The Korean Journal of Petroleum Geology
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• v.7 no.1_2 s.8
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• pp.7-12
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• 1999

A new high-resolution rnagnetotelluric (MT) survey was conducted for pull-apart basin analysis (Cretaceous Eumsung Basin), combined with surface sedimentological results. Two cross-basinal MT profiles represent an asymmetric form with a subbasin in the southeastern part. These basinal architectures are well compatible with paleoflow directions and facies transitions of surface sedimentology. The results also suggest that the basin fills reflect pull-apart opening with rapid subsidence of the central blocks. Combined with the surface sedimentological data on asymmetric lithofacies distribution, facies transitions, and paleoflow directions of the alluvio-lacustrine systems, the MT data help explain basin-fill processes during the basin formation. For petroleum exploration and basin analysis, the high-frequency MT technique can be a useful substitute for the costly burden of a seismic-reflection survey on land.