Seismic imaging using an e-vib — A case study analyzing the signal properties of a seismic vibrator driven by electric linear synchronous motors

Seismic imaging characteristics of a prototype electrically driven, linear synchronous motor-based, vertical-force seismic vibrator (“e-vib”) were evaluated at site in the Netherlands. The system weighs 1.65 t and excites signals with peak force 6.7 kN. Data recorded along two collocated geophone-based nodal landstreamer microelectromechanical - MEMS-based sensor 2D profiles. To obtain broad bandwidth data set, e-vib operated 1–200 Hz sweep. Shot gathers merged nodal-landstreamer set indicated good-quality broadband nature. processed demonstrates high-resolution reflections stratigraphic members from approximately 200 m to 2 km, visible as deep 2.5–2.9 km. As reference, we also legacy 3D microspread acquired same magnitude stronger (14.1 t, 67.5 kN) hydraulic vibrator. Comparison our section versus slices extracted volume suggested similar signal penetration depth key marker horizons seen both. Analysis reaction mass base-plate accelerometer source operating on grass asphalt surfaces indicates that has low total harmonic distortion. results obtained indicate that, although relatively small, is capable generating high-quality data.