Seismic inversion-based prediction of the elastic parameters of rocks surrounding roadways: a case study from the Shijiazhuang mining area of North China

Increasing mining depths and intensities have resulted in frequent accidents during roadway excavation, thus increasing the necessity of preemptively determining the geological conditions of rock formations along roadways. Identifying the spatial distributions of lithotypes and the mechanical properties of non-marker bed intervals in coal measure strata are crucial for roadway horizon design, roof management, and efficient excavation. Therefore, based on petrophysical tests, well logging, and seismic data, a comprehensive method is proposed, which uses post-stack wave impedance inversion, petrophysical statistical analyses, and pre-stack simultaneous inversion to predict the lithology and elastic parameters of rocks surrounding roadways. The lithology of the target layer is first divided according to the wave impedances of the inversion body, and the sand lenses within the mudstone interval are described. Based on petrophysical test data, the shear-wave conversion equations of the sand lenses in this target interval and background mudstone are then obtained via marginal limit extrapolation. Finally, pre-stack simultaneous inversion, based on the seismic data and shear-wave conversion curves of different lithologies, is performed to obtain the elastic parameter profile of the target interval in the cross-section of the roadway, laying the foundation for further prediction of the mechanical properties of the surrounding rocks. The results agree with roadway drilling data by > 90%.

Automated summary

Increasing mining depths and intensities have led to frequent accidents during roadway excavation. In response, preemptively determining the geological conditions along roadways is crucial. By using petrophysical tests, well logging, and seismic data, it is possible to predict the lithology and elastic parameters of rocks surrounding roadways, laying the foundation for further prediction of the mechanical properties of the surrounding rocks.