Virtual Seismology

If it were possible to place seismometers and seismic vibrators anywhere below the ground in, for example, an induced-earthquake-sensitive area, we could measure the source mechanism of actual earthquakes, monitor the geomechanical state of the area over time, and quantify the ground motion caused by possible future earthquakes. Moreover, we could monitor fluid flow in aquifers, geothermal reservoirs or CO2 storage reservoirs, with unprecedented resolution. Unfortunately, placing seismic instruments anywhere below the ground is not practically feasible.

In this project groundbreaking methodology is developed for creating virtual seismic sources (earthquakes or seismic vibrators) and virtual seismometers anywhere in the subsurface, from seismic reflection measurements carried out at the surface of the earth. This is called Virtual Seismology (VS). VS accurately mimics the responses to actual earthquakes that would be recorded by actual buried seismometers, including all multiple scattering effects.

Keywords: Geophysics, risk assessment, deep geothermal

TUD researchers involved:
Kees Wapenaar
Johno van IJsseldijk
Joeri Brackenhoff
Aydin Shoja
Guy Drijkoningen
Musab Al Hasani
Jan Willem Thorbecke
Giovanni Angelo Meles

Funder: European Reserach Council