Numerical Modeling of Wave Processes in Multilayered Media with Gas-Containing Layers: Comparison of 2D and 3D Models

Abstract—Today, the exploration of the Arctic region is one of the most important direction of research in our country, because large amounts of unexplored oil and gas deposits are located there. Large hydrocarbon deposits are situated within the Northern seas. Their development is complicated by gas explosions resulting from an accidental opening and further spread of the gas. Since the region with gas layers cannot be frequently monitored, an area with already detected gas deposits is numerically modeled instead. In this work, seismic waves propagating in multilayered geological models with gas-containing inclusions were numerically modeled over a four-year interval by applying the grid-characteristic method. Wave patterns of seismic reflections and seismograms for the described problem were obtained. The wave patterns and seismograms obtained in the two- and three-dimensional cases were compared. The results were found to be in good agreement.