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A first arrival picking method of microseismic data based on single time window with window length independent

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Abstract

First arrival picking is a key factor which affects the precision of microseismic data analysis. Here, we propose a new method, which employs the maximum eigenvalue to constraint the Maeda-Akaike Information Criterion (Maeda-AIC) algorithm. First, aims at addressing the pick result affected by signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of microseismic data, maximum eigenvalue method based on polarization analysis is applied, and the maximum eigenvalue is calculated firstly, as for three component (3C) microseismic data, the maximum eigenvalue is calculated with corresponding covariance matrix, a time window need to be set in the process of building the covariance matrix, and it is the only time window set in the method proposed in this paper, so the method is called single window Maeda-AIC (SWM-AIC), to the single component (1C) microseismic data, the variance of the data is taken as the maximum eigenvalue. Then, to reduce the effect of time window and increase the automation of the algorithm, Maeda-AIC method which is a non-window-based first arrival picking method is applied. Maeda-AIC values in preliminary window are calculated, and the preliminary window is the sequence before the largest eigenvalue of the 3C or 1C data. We validate the developed method with both synthetic and field microseismic data, using a range of signal-to-noise ratios. The developed method is compared with some basic methods, specifically STA/LTA, Maeda-AIC, and the maximum eigenvalue method. The results demonstrate that the new method is much better at identifying first arrival times than basic methods when the data have a low signal-to-noise ratio, and is even faster than the STA/LTA method with 1C data. In contrast to other improved methods, threshold value is not required for this method, and the only time window used in this method is just for maximum eigenvalue calculation, through test in the paper, its length has almost no effect on the first arrival picking.

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Acknowledgements

We also acknowledge Sinohydro Bureau 7 of China for providing the under-construction tunnel as a monitoring area for microseismic activity.

Funding

This work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China project no. 41604153, no.41774118 and no. 41604088.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Tong Shen, Xianguo Tuo, Huailiang Li, Yong Liu & Wenzheng Rong

  2. Sichuan University of Science & Engineering, Zigong, 643000, China

    Tong Shen, Xianguo Tuo, Yong Liu & Wenzheng Rong

  3. Fundamental Science on Nuclear Wastes and Environmental Safety Laboratory, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang, 621010, China

    Xianguo Tuo, Huailiang Li & Wenzheng Rong

Authors
  1. Tong Shen
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  2. Xianguo Tuo
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  3. Huailiang Li
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  4. Yong Liu
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  5. Wenzheng Rong
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Correspondence to Tong Shen or Xianguo Tuo.

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Shen, T., Tuo, X., Li, H. et al. A first arrival picking method of microseismic data based on single time window with window length independent. J Seismol 22, 1613–1627 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10950-018-9789-y

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