Unconventional Seismic Imaging in Unconventional Reservoir Characterization: A Passive-Source Seismic Investigation of the Marce

The goal of the proposed study is to investigate the potential of hydrocarbon reserve discovery with passive-source seismic datasets obtained by a stationary array of broadband sensors. Currently, marine and land active-source seismic surveys remain the standard methodology of hydrocarbon exploration. Marine surveys remain largely unparalleled in their adaptability to multiple geological scenarios and subsurface resolution, while topography, complicated tectonic settings, anthropogenic noise and varying regulatory frameworks complicate onshore active-source surveys. Passive-source seismic observations, relying on high energy broad-spectrum earthquake energy sources, may aid in to overcoming some of the complications associated with controlled-source land
surveys. Traditionally, passive-source geophysical studies were focused on investigations of large-scale tectonic scenarios, however, due to advances in acquisition technology and processing techniques, there is a growing effort for their adoption in basin-scale exploration. This study proposes to focus a
dense passive-source array on the border region between Pennsylvania and New York State to test the viability of passive source seismic observations in unconventional reservoir identification and subsequent characterization.