Application of seismic physics simulation technologyin the teaching of geophysics

The principle of seismic exploration involves many disciplines, such as physics, mathematics, and geology, with abstract basic concepts and a wide range of theoretical knowledge that require students to link theory with practical operations to achieve ideal teaching effects. However, long periods of field exploration and high environmental, weather, and climate risk factors are not conducive to teaching work. To help students deeply understand the theoretical principles of seismic exploration and enhance their engineering practical ability, the integration of seismic physics simulation technology into the teaching of geophysics majors is proposed, aiming to efficiently and safely complete the teaching of seismic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation.

Seismic physics simulation technology clarifies the geological background of actual work areas and their corresponding geophysical problems and designs a reasonable physical model using specific physical materials to restore the geological structure of a study area, which simulates the propagation of seismic waves in a geological model, records the vibration results of the geological model at well-designed observation points, and finally, per the principles of seismic wave kinematics, conducts seismic data processing and analysis. The proposed method can be used to improve our understanding of underground substructures. The application of seismic physics simulation technology in predicting the brittleness characteristics of shale reservoirs, as an example, clarifies the possible difficulties encountered and the crucial points that need to be mastered for teaching implementation.

1) Using epoxy resin and talcum powder, two batches of shale samples with different clay contents and porosities were made into shale reservoirs using a pouring method. 2) By applying seismic physics simulation technology, designing a reasonable observation system, and acquiring shale reservoirs, we successfully acquired seismic data with high signal-to-noise ratios, which we processed, analyzed, and interpreted to obtain high-quality prestack time offset profiles. 3) From the inversion results, the lower the shale clay content or porosity, the higher the Young’s modulus of the shale reservoir, the lower its Poisson’s ratio, and the higher the brittleness index. 4) The density and longitudinal wave impedance are sensitive to clay content and can effectively differentiate between shale reservoirs with different clay contents. Moreover, longitudinal wave impedance is sensitive to porosity, allowing an accurate identification of differences in porosity in shale reservoirs.

By teaching the whole process of seismic physics simulation technology, students can practice seismic data acquisition, processing, and interpretation and focus on mastering the special steps of probe placement, transducer selection, and amplitude compensation operation in seismic physics simulation technology. Allowing students to deeply analyze the seismic response characteristics of shale reservoirs enhances their ability to explore and summarize the propagation law of seismic waves. Finally, the brittleness distribution of shale reservoirs is successfully predicted, enhancing students’ ability to interpret geological information in depth and cultivating high-quality professionals for future geological exploration and resource development.