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Title: Comparison of explosive and vibroseis source energy penetration during COCORP deep seismic reflection profiling in the Williston basin

Abstract

Comparison of high-fold (50) vibroseis recordings with coincident low-fold (6) explosive source data from deep reflection surveys in the Williston Basin indicates that while vibroseis generated energy decays to ambient noise levels at 7--9 s two-way traveltime (twtt) (20--30 km depth), energy from explosive sources remains above ambient levels to 35--60 s twtt (105--180 km depth). Moreover, single, moderately sized (30 kg) and well-placed charges proved to be as effective as larger (90 kg) sources at penetrating to mantle traveltimes in this area. However, the explosive source energy proved highly variable, with source-to-ground coupling being a major limiting factor in shot efficacy. Stacked results from the vibroseis sources provide superior imagery of shallow and moderate crustal levels by virtue of greater redundancy and shot-to-shot uniformity; shot statics, low fold, and ray-path distortion across the relatively large (24--30 km aperture) spreads used during the explosive recording have proven to be especially problematic in producing conventional seismic sections. In spite of these complications, the explosive source recording served its primary purpose in confirming Moho truncation and the presence of a dipping reflection fabric in the upper mantle along the western flank of the Trans-Hudson orogen buried beneath the Williston Basin.

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
207844
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Geophysics
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 61; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: PBD: Jan-Feb 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; 02 PETROLEUM; 03 NATURAL GAS; WILLISTON BASIN; SEISMIC SURVEYS; SEISMIC SOURCES; DATA ANALYSIS; PERFORMANCE; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; PETROLEUM DEPOSITS

Citation Formats

Steer, D N, Brown, L D, Knapp, J H, and Baird, D J. Comparison of explosive and vibroseis source energy penetration during COCORP deep seismic reflection profiling in the Williston basin. United States: N. p., 1996. Web. doi:10.1190/1.1443941.
Steer, D N, Brown, L D, Knapp, J H, & Baird, D J. Comparison of explosive and vibroseis source energy penetration during COCORP deep seismic reflection profiling in the Williston basin. United States. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1443941
Steer, D N, Brown, L D, Knapp, J H, and Baird, D J. 1996. "Comparison of explosive and vibroseis source energy penetration during COCORP deep seismic reflection profiling in the Williston basin". United States. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1443941.
@article{osti_207844,
title = {Comparison of explosive and vibroseis source energy penetration during COCORP deep seismic reflection profiling in the Williston basin},
author = {Steer, D N and Brown, L D and Knapp, J H and Baird, D J},
abstractNote = {Comparison of high-fold (50) vibroseis recordings with coincident low-fold (6) explosive source data from deep reflection surveys in the Williston Basin indicates that while vibroseis generated energy decays to ambient noise levels at 7--9 s two-way traveltime (twtt) (20--30 km depth), energy from explosive sources remains above ambient levels to 35--60 s twtt (105--180 km depth). Moreover, single, moderately sized (30 kg) and well-placed charges proved to be as effective as larger (90 kg) sources at penetrating to mantle traveltimes in this area. However, the explosive source energy proved highly variable, with source-to-ground coupling being a major limiting factor in shot efficacy. Stacked results from the vibroseis sources provide superior imagery of shallow and moderate crustal levels by virtue of greater redundancy and shot-to-shot uniformity; shot statics, low fold, and ray-path distortion across the relatively large (24--30 km aperture) spreads used during the explosive recording have proven to be especially problematic in producing conventional seismic sections. In spite of these complications, the explosive source recording served its primary purpose in confirming Moho truncation and the presence of a dipping reflection fabric in the upper mantle along the western flank of the Trans-Hudson orogen buried beneath the Williston Basin.},
doi = {10.1190/1.1443941},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/207844}, journal = {Geophysics},
number = 1,
volume = 61,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}