Accurate interval Q-factor estimation from VSP data

Abstract

Inelastic attenuation, quantified by [Formula: see text], the seismic quality factor, has considerable impact on surface seismic reflection data. A new method for interval [Formula: see text]-factor estimation using near-offset VSP data was based on an objective function minimization measuring the difference between cumulative [Formula: see text] estimates and those calculated through interval [Formula: see text]. To calculate interval [Formula: see text], we used all receiver pairs that provided reasonable [Formula: see text] values. To estimate [Formula: see text] between two receiver levels, we used the equation that links amplitudes at different levels and could provide more accurate [Formula: see text] values than the spectral-ratio method. To improve interval [Formula: see text] estimates, which rely on traveltimes, we used a high-accuracy approach in the frequency domain to determine time shifts. Application of this method to real data demonstrated reasonable correspondence between [Formula: see text] estimates and log data.