Seismoelectric Exploration: Theory, Experiments, and Applications

Description

This book will present a thorough overview of the seismoelectric phenomenon. Authors first introduce the underlying physics of the seismoelectric effect at the microscale. After that, they explain the two different types of mechanical to electromagnetic coupling that can occur, and what each of these two phenomena can bring them extra compared to conventional geophysical methods like seismic or electromagnetic methods. After this introduction, they theoretically go in depth in several theoretical chapters, and explain the latest developments in seismoelectric theory. They pay close attention to the assumptions made for which this theory holds, and discuss what extensions are needed in the future. The theoretical chapters are followed with some experimental laboratory chapters. Here, authors present laboratory results on different aspects of the seismoelectric phenomenon: from streaming potential electrokinetic measurements to wave propagation experiments and borehole measurements. Next, they present several numerical modeling examples, explaining the theoretical and laboratory observations better. After this, they present some discussions on field equipment and field tests as well, including a commercially shot seismoelectric record using vibroseis trucks. Authors conclude with an application section, where in several chapters different (possible) applications of the seismoelectric method are being discussed. They present oil and gas exploration oriented applications, like borehole surveys (horizontal and vertical), cross-well experiments and surface seismoelectric surveys. They also dive into groundwater applications. Then, they examine the seismoelectric effect related to earthquakes and/or volcanoes, and how these types of signals might help with earthquake or volcanic eruption predictions. Authors plan to get the majority of the submissions from their 2014 AGU session as chapters of the book, combined with extra contributions from the seismoelectric community all over the world.