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High-pressure rig for the measurement of seismic attenuation

English title High-pressure rig for the measurement of seismic attenuation
Applicant Burg Jean-Pierre
Number 117334
Funding scheme R'EQUIP
Research institution Geologisches Institut ETH Zürich
Institution of higher education ETH Zurich - ETHZ
Main discipline Geology
Start/End 01.07.2007 - 31.12.2008
Approved amount 244'016.00
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Keywords (9)

Seismic attenuation; Physical properties of rocks; anelasticity; porous media; experimental deformation; rheology; rock mechanics; petrophysics; numerical modelling

Lay Summary (English)

Lead
Lay summary
We offer to acquire prototype instrumentation for the measurement of seismic attenuation at seismic frequency. The instrument consists of five modules that will be installed inside a Paterson apparatus at the experimental deformation laboratory of ETH-Z. The modules are:-The attenuation module generating compressional and torsional oscillations below the sample, and measuring the deformation induced by the oscillation below and above the specimen: the difference between the two deformation measurement gives the attenuation;-A pore fluid module generating and controlling the pore fluid pressure, for the experiments under saturated conditions. The pore fluid system can use gas or water or even oil.-An axial module for the precise placement of the samples and for additional axial deformation. This is required in order to make the attenuation module to work either under purely hydrostatic conditions or triaxial conditions. In other words we can measure attenuation both without and with differential stresses. -A multi load cell, to measure the ‘touch point’ during sample placement and to evaluate the amount of differential stress during the attenuation measurements under triaxial conditions;-A special furnace for controlled to temperatures up to 400 ºC.The five modules complement each other and are therefore all important for the functionality of the instrumentation. They must be installed together. We additionally request financial support to host for 2 weeks the engineers who built the system and so guarantee safe and reliable installation/first tests of the new equipment.The main goal is to experimentally measure seismic attenuation on fluid-bearing rocks. This information is of critical importance in prospecting, and possibly identifying, underground fluids, yet is still missing at seismic frequencies (e.g. on the order of 1 Hz). From discussion with other academic and non-academic scientists, in particular from the oil industry, we have identified a growing request for such data.
Direct link to Lay Summary Last update: 21.02.2013

Responsible applicant and co-applicants

Associated projects

Number Title Start Funding scheme
113255 Denudation, sediment transport and landscape evolution over deforming crustal templates 01.10.2006 Project funding

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