Integrating borehole information and surface seismic for velocity anisotropy analysis and depth imaging

Abstract

Two of the most active areas of current geophysical research and development involve depth imaging and velocity anisotropy. This is fitting, given that the potential benefits of the former may be fully realized only if the latter is appropriately taken into account. It is well established that depth images depend on the accuracy of the velocity model (Zhu et al., 1998; Parkes and Hatton, 1987). If anisotropy is present and not accounted for in velocity model building and migration, the final image will be incorrect, giving rise to mispositioned and/or false structures (Isaac and Lawton, 1999; Vestrum et al., 1999) and hence increasing the risk of dry holes. It is therefore important to determine which formations exhibit seismic anisotropy and to quantify their anisotropy parameters.