Reflection seismology over azimuthally anisotropic media

Abstract

Recent surveys have shown that azimuthal anisotropy (due most plausibly to aligned fractures) has an important effect on seismic shear waves. Previous work had discussed these effects on VSP data; the same effects are seen in surface recording of reflections at small to moderate angles of incidence. The anisotropic effects on different polarization components of vertically traveling shear waves permit the recognition and estimation of very small degrees of azimuthal anisotropy (of order ⩾1 percent), as in an interferometer. Anisotropic effects on traveltime yield estimates of anisotropy which are averages over large depth intervals. Often, raw field data must be corrected for these effects before the reflectors may be imaged; two variations of a rotational algorithm to determine the “principal time series” are derived. Anisotropic effects on moveout lead to abnormal moveout unless the survey line is parallel to the fractures. Anisotropic effects on reflection amplitude permit the recognition and estimation of anisotropy (hence fracture intensity) differences at the reflecting horizon, i.e., with high vertical resolution.