THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW METHOD OF SEISMIC VELOCITY DETERMINATION

Abstract

The conventional method of making velocity surveys in bore holes is inherently expensive, time consuming, and inconvenient, and has a tendency towards non‐uniformity of results. With increasing recognition of the importance of seismic velocity information in the evaluation of seismograph data, the attention of geophysicists is turning towards means of overcoming the obstacles standing in the way of obtaining velocity information in greater volume. Considerable interest has recently been aroused in a new method of measuring seismic velocities wherein the explosive charge is placed in the hole and the seismic energy is picked up with multiple detector groups placed on the surface. Experimentation carried on during the past year indicates that the new method is quite workable. Casing perforator guns of the conventional bullet type have given results to depths exceeding 8,000 ft. with complete safety. Some experimentation with primacord as the explosive has given encouragement as a means of increasing the depth at which the method may be used. Substantial improvements have been made in the manner of obtaining the time break. This paper attempts to outline the basic problems of velocities and their measurement and describes the preliminary development that has been done thus far on the new method of velocity measurement.