A simple method for resolving large converted‐wave (P-SV) statics

Abstract

The processing of converted‐wave (P-SV) seismic data requires certain special considerations, such as commonconversion‐point (CCP) binning techniques (Tessmer and Behle, 1988) and a modified normal moveout formula (Slotboom, 1990), that makes it different for processing conventional P-P data. However, from the processor’s perspective, the most problematic step is often the determination of residual S‐wave statics, which are commonly two to ten times greater than the P‐wave statics for the same location (Tatham and McCormack, 1991). Conventional residualstatics algorithms often produce numerous cycle skips when attempting to resolve very large statics. Unlike P‐waves, the velocity of S‐waves is virtually unaffected by near‐surface fluctuations in the water table (Figure 1). Hence, the P‐wave and S‐wave static solutions are largely unrelated to each other, so it is generally not feasible to approximate the S‐wave statics by simply scaling the known P‐wave static values (Anno, 1986).