During World War I, both the Allies and Germany carried out research directed toward locating heavy guns by recording the arrival of seismic waves generated by the recoil.
Although this work was not very successful, it was fundamental in the development of exploration seismology and several workers engaged in this research later pioneered the development of seismic prospecting techniques and instruments.
In 1845, Mallet experimented with “artificial earthquakes” in an attempt to measure seismic velocities. Knott developed the theory of reflection and refraction at interfaces in a paper in 1899 and Zeoppritz and Wiechert published on wave theory in 1907.
Seismic Testing in 1940
In 1845, Mallet experimented with “artificial earthquakes” in an attempt to measure seismic velocities. Knott developed the theory of reflection and refraction at interfaces in a paper in 1899 and Zeoppritz and Wiechert published on wave theory in 1907.
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| Seismic testing |
The Fundamental Development
During World War I, both the Allies and Germany carried out research directed toward locating heavy guns by recording the arrival of seismic waves generated by the recoil.Although this work was not very successful, it was fundamental in the development of exploration seismology and several workers engaged in this research later pioneered the development of seismic prospecting techniques and instruments.
The Evolution of Seismic Method
In 1919, Mintrop applied for a patent on the refraction method and, in 1922, Mintrop’s Seismos Company furnished two crews to do refraction seismic prospecting in Mexico and Gulf Coast of the United States.The discovery in 1924 of Orchard salt dome in Texas led to an extensive campaign of refraction shooting during the next six years.
In early 1920s, Karcher developed a reflection seismograph that saw field use in Oklahoma. It was not until 1927, however, that commercial utilization of the reflection method began with a survey by the Geophysical Research Corporation of the Maud field in Oklahoma, which used a vacuum tube amplifier.
In 1936, Rieber published the idea of processing seismic data using variable-density records and photocells for reproduction; however, widespread use of playback processing did not begin until magnetic tape became commercially available in 1953.
Early in the 1950s, rapid advances in digital computer technology made extensive calculation feasible for the first time.
In early 1920s, Karcher developed a reflection seismograph that saw field use in Oklahoma. It was not until 1927, however, that commercial utilization of the reflection method began with a survey by the Geophysical Research Corporation of the Maud field in Oklahoma, which used a vacuum tube amplifier.
In 1936, Rieber published the idea of processing seismic data using variable-density records and photocells for reproduction; however, widespread use of playback processing did not begin until magnetic tape became commercially available in 1953.
Early in the 1950s, rapid advances in digital computer technology made extensive calculation feasible for the first time.
This development had a great impact on seismic exploration in the early 1960s and before the end of the decade, data processing had changed seismic exploration dramatically so that it came to be referred as the “digital revolution.”
Due to continual improvements in instrumentation and processing, many areas have been resurveyed or reprocessed repeatedly; each time better quality of data is achieved.
Due to continual improvements in instrumentation and processing, many areas have been resurveyed or reprocessed repeatedly; each time better quality of data is achieved.
Interpretation techniques also have been improved continually. Rather than being limited merely to mapping structural features, interpretation now involves studies of velocity, amplitude, frequency, and waveform variations so that information can be determined about the lithology, stratigraphic features, and hydrocarbon accumulations.
Reference: Applied Geophysics by Telford
Reference: Applied Geophysics by Telford
