SEISMIC REFRACTION MODELING

Sheriff & Geldart, Chapter 11, Section 13.5 refer to class notes Section 1.1, pages 29-32 for refraction geometry and formulae layer over a half-space: critical refraction horizontal layer dipping layer

Ikelle & Amundsen 2005

Sharma 1997

Sheriff & Geldart 1995

refractions require` longer source-receiver offsets than reflection data from the same boundary longer raypath => bigger source, lower frequency to determine depth, velocity, and dip of a refractor, at least 2 reversed shot profiles are required
Hole: GEOS 4174 6.1-1 Refraction Modeling

plus-minus method delay time:

TAG =

x + t A + t G V2

this splits the observed travel time into the time below the refractor for the same distance plus delay times t related to the upgoing paths at either end plus-minus method for shots at A and B: pick first arrivals obtain V1(x) from direct arrivals compute

T = TAG TBG + TAB =

from local slope of plot of (assumes constant velocity from D to E) compute

2x + 2t A V2 T versus x , obtain V2(x)

2 z g V2 2 V12 = 2t G V2V1
Reynolds 1997

T + = TAG + TBG TAB

which gives us zg(x) (assumes small dip and large velocity contrast)

Hole: GEOS 4174 6.1-2 Refraction Modeling

generalized reciprocal method (GRM) use receivers at equal distances on either side of point G to make refractions emerge from same point on the refractor GRM method: pick first arrivals obtain V1(x) from direct arrivals compute

Reynolds 1997

2x + 2t A + tY t X V2 from local slope of plot of TV versus x , obtain V2(x) 2 z g V2 2 V12 XY compute TG = TAY + TBX TAB = t X + t Y V2 V2V1 which gives us zg (x) (assumes slowly varying V1(x) , and small dip) the above analysis is performed with different values of XY to find the value that gives the best image z(x) of a smooth refractor optimum value of XY is: XY = 2 z tan opt g c TV = TAY TBX + TAB =
GRM can be applied iteratively for a multi-layer case

Hole: GEOS 4174

6.1-3

Refraction Modeling

raytrace modeling and inversion multiple layers lead to multiple seismic arrivals: reflected, turning (refracted), head (refracted)

Zelt, 1999, Geophys. J. Int.

ray tracing in heterogeneous media can be used to create a 2-D / 3-D model involves solution of a set of coupled differential equations in small steps along the ray due to book-keeping, 3-D ray-tracing is limited to simpler models and/or raypaths layer stripping: first model the shallowest layers with the best data, then fix the shallow layers while modeling deeper layers inversion: invert for the finite number of parameters that define the layer geometry and velocity within the layers
Zelt, 1999, Geophys. J. Int.

Hole: GEOS 4174

6.1-4

Refraction Modeling

tomography best known for cross-borehole, but also used for VSP, refraction, and reflection

divide the 2-D or 3-D velocity model into small grid cells of constant velocity create a starting velocity model (using a simple analysis of the data) trace rays through the model and calculate travel times solve the linearized inverse problem

1 (t calculated t observed )i = Lij v j j =1

where

this equation assumes the rays wont move when the velocity model changes the velocity model update trace rays and repeat until the model matches the data

Lij is the length of the ith ray in the jth grid cell 1 is the change to be applied the velocity model in the jth grid cell v j

Hole: GEOS 4174 6.1-5 Refraction Modeling