ALBERT

Description: Uncertainty in estimates of elastic properties of soft mudrock components, such as clay minerals and kerogen, can influence well-log-based evaluation of effective elastic properties in organic-rich mudrocks. Existing methods, such as effective medium models for well-log-based assessment of elastic properties, assume a constant stiffness and an idealized shape for rock components. However, these characteristics might vary depending on the distribution and size of that particular component, as well as its adjacent components. Furthermore, there is a significant uncertainty in elastic properties of kerogen in the case of organic-rich mudrocks. The uncertainty associated with the aforementioned parameters on effective elastic properties of rocks has not been investigated in existing publications. In this paper, we quantified the variability in elastic properties of individual mudrock components caused by their spatial distribution, size, and rock fabric at the microscale and their impacts on well-log-based evaluation of effective elastic properties. We performed nanoindentation mechanical tests on samples from the Haynesville and the lower Eagle Ford Formations, to measure Young’s modulus and hardness at targeted locations. Then, we quantified the variability of Young’s modulus in the microscale and its impact on effective elastic properties at the micro- and well-log scales. Results reveal significant uncertainties in measurements of elastic properties of soft rock components, associated with their location and size. Young’s moduli of individual clay components are higher when located adjacent to stiff rock components, such as large quartz and calcite grains. Results reveal that 25% and 12% uncertainties in measured elastic properties of clay minerals affect well-log-based estimates of effective elastic stiffness coefficients up to 29% and 11% in the Haynesville and the lower Eagle Ford Formations, respectively. These uncertainties can be more significant in cases with a higher concentration of clay minerals and kerogen.

Description: The Mexican Volcanic Belt (MVB) is a seismogenic zone that transects the central part of Mexico with an east–west orientation. The risk and hazard seismic of this seismogenic zone has not been studied at detail due to the scarcity of instrumental data as well as because seismicity in the continental regimen of Central Mexico is not too frequent, however, it is known that there are precedents of large earthquakes (Mw 〉 6.0) that have taken place in this zone. The Valley of Mexico City (VM) is the sole zone, within the MVB, which has been studied in detail; mainly focusing on the ground amplification during large events such as the 1985 subduction earthquake that occurred in Michoacan. The purpose of this article is to analyze the behavior of site effects in the MVB zone based on records of shallow earthquakes (data not reported before) that occurred in the zone between 1998 and 2011. We present a general overview of site effects on the MVB, a classification of the stations in order to reduce the uncertainty in the data to obtain attenuation parameters in future works, and some comparisons between the information presented here and that presented in previous studies. A regional evaluation of site effects and Fourier Acceleration Spectrum (FAS) shape was estimated based on 80 records of 22 shallow earthquakes within the MVB zone. Data of 25 stations were analyzed. Site effects were estimated by using the Horizontal-to-Vertical Spectral Ratio (HVSR) methodology. The results show that seismic waves are less amplified in the northeast sites of the MVB with respect to the rest of the zone and that it is possible to classify two groups of stations: (1) stations with Negligible Site Amplification (NSA) and (2) stations with Significant Site Amplification (SSA). Most of the sites in the first group showed small (〈 3) amplifications while the second group showed amplifications ranging from 4 to 6.5 at frequencies of about 0.35, 0.75, 15 and 23 Hz. With these groups of stations, average levels of amplification were contrasted for the first time with those caused by the subduction zone earthaquakes. With respect to the FAS shapes, most of them showed similarities at similar epicentral distances. Finally, some variations of site effects were found when compared to those obtained in previous studies on different seismicity regions. These variations were attributed to the location of the source. These aspects help to advance the understanding about the amplification behavior and of the expected seismic risk on the Central Mexico due to large earthquakes within the MVB seismogenic zone.

Description: The Mexican volcanic belt (MVB) is a seismogenic zone that transects the central part of Mexico with an east–west orientation. The seismic risk and hazard of this seismogenic zone has not been studied in detail due to the scarcity of instrumental data as well as because seismicity in the continental regime of central Mexico is not too frequent. However, it is known that there are precedents of large earthquakes (Mw 〉 6.0) that have taken place in this zone. The valley of Mexico City (VM) is the sole zone, within the MVB, that has been studied in detail. Studies have mainly focused on the ground amplification during large events such as the 1985 subduction earthquake that occurred off coast of Michoacán. The purpose of this article is to analyze the behavior of site effects in the MVB zone based on records of shallow earthquakes (data not reported before) that occurred in the zone between 1998 and 2011. We present a general overview of site effects in the MVB, a classification of the stations in order to reduce the uncertainty in the data when obtaining attenuation parameters in future works, as well as some comparisons between the information presented here and that presented in previous studies. A regional evaluation of site effects and Fourier acceleration spectrum (FAS) shape was estimated based on 80 records of 22 shallow earthquakes within the MVB zone. Data of 25 stations were analyzed. Site effects were estimated by using the horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) methodology. The results show that seismic waves are less amplified in the northeast sites of the MVB with respect to the rest of the zone and that it is possible to classify two groups of stations: (1) stations with negligible site amplification (NSA) and (2) stations with significant site amplification (SSA). Most of the sites in the first group showed small (