Numerical Modeling of Wave Processes during Marine Seismic Survey in the Arctic Shelf

Numerical modeling has become an effective tool in geophysical and geoengineering problems, as it makes it possible to study complex processes from different perspectives by varying the conditions of the considered settings. Therefore, we apply the actively developing computational methods to the solution of the direct marine seismic survey problems in the Arctic shelf in order to thoroughly examine occurring wave processes. Our aim is to recreate different features of the area, such as the layered ground with permafrost layers containing an oil deposit, which is the common focus of prospecting works. Application of the grid-characteristic method to the solution of the problems in the settings with many interfaces allows us to accurately reconstruct various wave phenomena, such as multiple reflected waves, surface Rayleigh and Stoneley waves. Additionally, we study the influence of the presence of ice masses, such as ice sheets, typical of the region, on the wave processes. The used approach to modeling gives us an opportunity to examine wave propagation and types of the reflected and transmitted waves in different layers in detail. As a result, in the present work, we analyze the reflections from the deposit and the possibility of its identification using the seismic measurements, which can help to interpret real data. Introduced settings could become a basis for the solution of inverse problems and the creation of digital models of the ground in the Arctic conditions.