Microseismic event location using the Double-difference technique for multiplet analysis

• Author / Creator

  Castellanos, Fernando r

• Microseismic event location provides a plethora of information about underground processes
  such as hydraulic fracturing, steam injection or mining and volcano activities. Nevertheless,
  accuracy is limited by acquisition geometry and errors in the velocity model and time picks.
  Although microseismic events can happen anywhere, they tend to re-occur in the same
  zone. This thesis describes a post-processing technique to relocate events originated in
  the same source region based on the double-difference method. This technique includes a
  crosscorrelation procedure to detect similar events and correct time picking errors. The
  performance of the algorithm is tested on synthetic data and a set of microseismic events
  recorded in a mine. The method significantly improves locations of similar events, compared
  to a conventional grid-search algorithm, revealing seismicity patterns likely associated with
  routine mining operations. The method also includes plots used for quality control of time
  picking and event location, facilitating geological interpretations.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Double-difference
  • Doublets
  • Crosscorrelation
  • Multiplet analysis
  • Microseismic

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3F69C

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.