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Collaborating Authors
Abstract Muon tomography is applied to realistic density models of a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) reservoir at 1.25 and 5 years after initial reservoir production. Forward models of muon count and opacity based on the density models are computed, as well as inverse models of the synthetic muon observations for various simulated detector arrays. The results demonstrate that both phases of reservoir development, namely the rising phase and the spreading phase, can be resolved by muon detectors placed 30 m below the bitumen reservoir at 230 m total vertical depth. The total mass change in the reservoir was recovered from the inversion model and differs from the true mass change by 20%–29%. The spatial distribution of density change shows very good agreement in the horizontal direction, while the vertical is less well constrained in this modeled sensor array configuration. The inverse models provide improved insights into reservoir depletion patterns and indicate muon tomography to be an applicable tool for continuous reservoir monitoring. The numerical modeling approach developed herein is able to model a wide range of SAGD reservoir geometries and detector arrays toward planning of optimized monitoring solutions.
- Geology > Petroleum Play Type > Unconventional Play > Heavy Oil Play (0.89)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Volcanology (0.68)
- Geophysics > Time-Lapse Surveying > Time-Lapse Seismic Surveying (1.00)
- Geophysics > Seismic Surveying (0.95)
- North America > Canada > Saskatchewan > Myrtle Basin > McArthur Basin > EP 171 > McArthur River Mine (0.99)
- North America > Canada > Alberta > Athabasca Oil Sands > Western Canada Sedimentary Basin > Alberta Basin > McMurray Formation (0.97)
Joint muon and seismic imaging of the subsurface
Mellors, Robert (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) | Chapline, George (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) | Bonneville, Alain (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) | Kouzes, Richard (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) | Bonal, Nedra (Sandia National Laboratory) | Rowe, Charlotte (Los Alamos National Laboratory) | Guardincerri, Elena (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
ABSTRACT Measurements of muon flux and direction at depth provides constraints on density distribution, both spatially and as a function of time. Combination of muon measurements and seismic data improve density estimation and allow the resolution of elastic parameters. Three different ways to combine seismic data and muon data are discussed and an implementation shown for one example. Presentation Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 Start Time: 1:50:00 PM Location: 155 Presentation Type: ORAL
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (1.00)
- Government > Regional Government > North America Government > United States Government (0.46)
3D muongraphy for the detection of fracture zones in mountains (Sixth International Conference on Engineering Geophysics, Virtual, 25–28 October 2021)
Wu, Chenyan (Southern University of Science and Technology) | Yang, Dikun (Southern University of Science and Technology) | Wang, Ke (Southern University of Science and Technology) | Chen, Zhongchang (Southern University of Science and Technology) | Chen, Tao (Southern University of Science and Technology)
Fracture zones in mountains are hazardous for the infrastructure constructions like tunnels. In order to prevent collapses triggered by constructions and ensure the safety of infrastructures, it is necessary to accurately locate fracture zones before and during the construction. Many geophysical methods are effective in finding fracture zones, but can have difficulties in mountainous areas because of topography and vegetation. Conventional geophysical methods are also likely to be prone to the interferences from constructions. In this feasibility study, we propose to use muongraphy to image the fracture zone in a mountain. Attenuation of cosmic-ray muon flux is associated with the density distribution along muon ray paths. The density of the target can be imaged by converting attenuated fluxes into opacity and then inverting the opacity to recover the density model. In our example, we design a mountain model containing a low-density fracture zone using a realistic topography. Four muon detectors are placed at the western, eastern, northern and southern foots of the mountain. Each detector can receive muon rays within a wide zenith angle in all azimuthal directions. In the inversion, we implement a positivity density constraint using the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). The recovered 3D density model delineates the upper section of the low-density fracture zone well, but the bottom part is ambiguous because of poor coverage of muon ray paths. Then a fifth detector is placed in a tunnel inside the mountain as a measure of early warning during boring. The addition of the in-tunnel detector significantly improves the resolution for the fracture zone at the bottom of the mountain. Our study has shown that muongraphy can be an effective tool in the detection of hazardous geological objects in mountains, and can be applied to engineering exploration.
Temporal Tomography of Rock Density using Muon Measurements With TPC-Micromegas
Hivert, F. (UMS3538 University of Nice) | Lazaro Roche, I. (University of Avignon) | Decitre, J. B. (CNRS) | Gaffet, S. (Aix Marseille University) | Busto, J. (OCA) | Ernenwein, J. P. (UMS3538 University of Nice) | Brunner, J. (University of Avignon) | Martin, X. (CNRS)
Abstract Muon tomography allows investigating the subsurface. Muons being penetrative, the attenuation of the muon flux depends on the quantity of matter the particles travel through, hence on the rock density and thickness. For the Temporal Tomography of rock Density using Muon Measurements (T2DM2) project, the muon flux measurements are performed in LSBB URL () in order to study the hydrogeological processes in the unsaturated area of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse karst aquifer. The suitability of the muography for this study is here numerically demonstrated. In parallel to these simulations, muon flux measurements are carried out in the LSBB galleries by means of a set of four scintillator tanks and Micromegas detectors are developed. These detectors, here described, are adapted for underground and confined spaces as well as other environments. Their performances are particularly interesting and should contribute to the expansion of muon tomography in new application fields. Introduction Muon tomography or muography is a method to image large volumes by measuring the absorption of cosmic ray muons. It uses, in a passive way, a natural radiation source: the muons which are charged particles produced in the atmosphere. Primary cosmic rays interact with atmospheric nuclei and produce a huge number of secondary particles, including muons. Due to their important mass compared to electrons, they are highly penetrating, reaching several hundreds of meters below the surface. Their attenuation depends on the quantity of matter they cross. That's why they are used to investigate the subsurface, muon absorption measurement allowing to estimate the in-situ density of the rock. Georges (Georges, 1955) proposed in 1955 to use the muons in order to study the density variations caused by the overburden over an Australian tunnel. In 1970, Alvarez (Alvarez, 1970) imaged the internal structure of Chephren Pyramid thanks to this method. The muon tomography has been particularly developed for volcanology (Nagamine, 1995; Tanaka, 2007; Lesparre, 2010; Carloganu, 2013) over the last twenty years. Since the beginning of the 2010's, a growing amount of projects that proposed to use the muons in various fields get underway: the CO2 storage (Kudryavtsev, 2012), the exploration of Mars (Kedar, 2013), etc. In such a context, the T2DM2 project aims at characterizing the spatial and temporal density variations caused by hydrogeological processes. The measurements are carried out in the Low Noise Underground Laboratory of Rustrel (LSBB, France). Its galleries cover depths from 0 m to around 500 m underneath the rocks and they are located in the unsaturated area of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse karst aquifer. It is one of the most important European springs, with an extensive catchment area, mostly supplied by rainfall. Muon tomography is used here to improve the understanding of the role of the 800 m thick unsaturated area for water transfer: location and residence time.
- Geology > Rock Type > Sedimentary Rock (1.00)
- Geology > Geological Subdiscipline > Environmental Geology > Hydrogeology (0.45)
- Energy > Oil & Gas > Upstream (0.69)
- Water & Waste Management > Water Management > Lifecycle > Storage/Transfer (0.34)
A portable muon telescope for exploration geophysics in confined environments
Moussawi, Marwa (Université Catholique de Louvain) | Basnet, Samip (Université Catholique de Louvain) | Gil, Eduardo Cortina (Université Catholique de Louvain) | Demin, Pavel (Université Catholique de Louvain) | Gamage, Ran M. I. D. (Université Catholique de Louvain) | Giammanco, Andrea (Université Catholique de Louvain) | Karnam, Raveendrababu (Ghent University) | Samalan, Amrutha (Ghent University) | Tytgat, Michael (Ghent University)
We are developing a portable cosmic-ray muon detector for usage in confined environments, including use cases in exploration geophysics. Our project aims at a compact, autonomous, modular and versatile set-up based on Resistive Plate Chambers.