Seth Haines
Seth is a Research Geophysicist with the USGS Central Energy Resources Science Center. His areas of work include seismic characterization of gas hydrates, and the quantification of the potential impacts of oil and gas development (including hydraulic fracturing, produced waters, habitat impacts).
Recent Research
Gas hydrate characterization with seismic methods, with main focus on the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska
Water issues related to hydrocarbon production, including quantifying water use for hydraulic fracturing and water produced with oil and gas
Broader impacts of oil and gas development, including habitat and related topics
Shear-wave seismic methods for near-surface applications (focus of Mendenhall Post-doc, 2005-200)
Seismoelectric methods for near-surface applications (dissertation topic)
Education and Certifications
B.A. (1997) Middlebury College (Geology and Physics)
M.Sc. (2001) Stanford University (Geophysics)
Ph.D. (2005) Stanford University (Geophysics)
Science and Products
An effective noise-suppression technique for surface microseismic data
Blind test of methods for obtaining 2-D near-surface seismic velocity models from first-arrival traveltimes
Noise suppression in surface microseismic data
Seismic refraction analysis: the path forward
Book review: Seismic acquisition from yesterday to tomorrow
PP and PS interferometric images of near-seafloor sediments
Multicomponent seismic methods for characterizing gas hydrate occurrences and systems in deep-water Gulf of Mexico
A bayesian approach for determining velocity and uncertainty estimates from seismic cone penetrometer testing or vertical seismic profiling data
Analysis of passive surface-wave noise in surface microseismic data and its implications
Hydrogeologic structure underlying a recharge pond delineated with shear-wave seismic reflection and cone penetrometer data
Electrical Resistivity and Seismic Surveys at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada, April 2007
A Hammer-Impact, Aluminum, Shear-Wave Seismic Source
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 67
An effective noise-suppression technique for surface microseismic data
The presence of strong surface-wave noise in surface microseismic data may decrease the utility of these data. We implement a technique, based on the distinct characteristics that microseismic signal and noise show in the τ‐p domain, to suppress surface-wave noise in microseismic data. Because most microseismic source mechanisms are deviatoric, preprocessing is necessary to correct for the nonunifAuthorsFarnoush Forghani-Arani, Mark Willis, Seth S. Haines, Mike Batzle, Jyoti Behura, Michael DavidsonBlind test of methods for obtaining 2-D near-surface seismic velocity models from first-arrival traveltimes
Seismic refraction methods are used in environmental and engineering studies to image the shallow subsurface. We present a blind test of inversion and tomographic refraction analysis methods using a synthetic first-arrival-time dataset that was made available to the community in 2010. The data are realistic in terms of the near-surface velocity model, shot-receiver geometry and the data's frequencAuthorsColin A. Zelt, Seth Haines, Michael H. Powers, Jacob Sheehan, Siegfried Rohdewald, Curtis Link, Koichi Hayashi, Don Zhao, Hua-wei Zhou, Bethany L. Burton, Uni K. Petersen, Nedra D. Bonal, William E. DollNoise suppression in surface microseismic data
We introduce a passive noise suppression technique, based on the τ − p transform. In the τ − p domain, one can separate microseismic events from surface noise based on distinct characteristics that are not visible in the time-offset domain. By applying the inverse τ − p transform to the separated microseismic event, we suppress the surface noise in the data. Our technique significantly improves thAuthorsFarnoush Forghani-Arani, Mike Batzle, Jyoti Behura, Mark Willis, Seth S. Haines, Michael DavidsonSeismic refraction analysis: the path forward
Seismic Refraction Methods: Unleashing the Potential and Understanding the Limitations; Tucson, Arizona, 29 March 2012 A workshop focused on seismic refraction methods took place on 29 May 2012, associated with the 2012 Symposium on the Application of Geophysics to Engineering and Environmental Problems. This workshop was convened to assess the current state of the science and discuss paths forwarAuthorsSeth S. Haines, Colin Zelt, William DollBook review: Seismic acquisition from yesterday to tomorrow
In this 236-page volume, Julien Meunier presents a thorough description of P-wave seismic data acquisition. The treatment includes historical aspects along with some discussion of trends for the future, but the main focus is on present-day approaches and their theoretical underpinnings. Although it was written as the text for the 2011 Distinguished Instructor Short Course, I found the book to be qAuthorsSeth S. HainesPP and PS interferometric images of near-seafloor sediments
I present interferometric processing examples from an ocean-bottom cable OBC dataset collected at a water depth of 800 m in the Gulf of Mexico. Virtual source and receiver gathers created through cross-correlation of full wavefields show clear PP reflections and PS conversions from near-seafloor layers of interest. Virtual gathers from wavefield-separated data show improved PP and PS arrivals. PPAuthorsS.S. HainesMulticomponent seismic methods for characterizing gas hydrate occurrences and systems in deep-water Gulf of Mexico
In-situ characterization and quantification of natural gas hydrate occurrences remain critical research directions, whether for energy resource, drilling hazard, or climate-related studies. Marine multicomponent seismic data provide the full seismic wavefield including partial redundancy, and provide a promising set of approaches for gas hydrate characterization. Numerous authors have demonstratedAuthorsSeth S. Haines, Myung W. Lee, Timothy S. Collett, Bob A. HardageA bayesian approach for determining velocity and uncertainty estimates from seismic cone penetrometer testing or vertical seismic profiling data
Conventional processing methods for seismic cone penetrometer data present several shortcomings, most notably the absence of a robust velocity model uncertainty estimate. We propose a new seismic cone penetrometer testing (SCPT) data-processing approach that employs Bayesian methods to map measured data errors into quantitative estimates of model uncertainty. We first calculate travel-time differeAuthorsAdam Pidlisecky, Seth S. HainesAnalysis of passive surface-wave noise in surface microseismic data and its implications
Tight gas reservoirs are projected to be a major portion of future energy resources. Because of their low permeability, hydraulic fracturing of these reservoirs is required to improve the permeability and reservoir productivity. Passive seismic monitoring is one of the few tools that can be used to characterize the changes in the reservoir due to hydraulic fracturing. Although the majority of theAuthorsF. Forghani-Arani, M. Willis, S. Haines, M. Batzle, M. DavidsonHydrogeologic structure underlying a recharge pond delineated with shear-wave seismic reflection and cone penetrometer data
With the goal of improving the understanding of the subsurface structure beneath the Harkins Slough recharge pond in Pajaro Valley, California, USA, we have undertaken a multimodal approach to develop a robust velocity model to yield an accurate seismic reflection section. Our shear-wave reflection section helps us identify and map an important and previously unknown flow barrier at depth; it alsoAuthorsS.S. Haines, Adam Pidlisecky, R. KnightElectrical Resistivity and Seismic Surveys at the Nevada Test Site, Nevada, April 2007
In April 2007, the USGS collected direct-current (DC) electrical resistivity data and shear- (S) and compressional- (P) wave seismic data to provide new detail of previously mapped, overlapping fault splays at two administrative areas in the Nevada Test Site (NTS). In NTS Area 7, we collected two-dimensional DC resistivity data along a transect crossing the Yucca Fault parallel to, and between, twAuthorsSeth S. Haines, Bethany L. Burton, Donald S. Sweetkind, Theodore H. AschA Hammer-Impact, Aluminum, Shear-Wave Seismic Source
Near-surface seismic surveys often employ hammer impacts to create seismic energy. Shear-wave surveys using horizontally polarized waves require horizontal hammer impacts against a rigid object (the source) that is coupled to the ground surface. I have designed, built, and tested a source made out of aluminum and equipped with spikes to improve coupling. The source is effective in a variety of setAuthorsSeth S. Haines