A multioffset vertical seismic profiling experiment for anisotropy analysis and depth imaging

Abstract

A multioffset vertical seismic profile (VSP) was carried out in the Rocky Mountain foothills of southern Alberta, Canada. The purpose of this experiment was to investigate whether the dipping shale strata exhibit P‐wave velocity anisotropy and, if so, to calculate the Thomsen anisotropy parameters for use in anisotropic depth migration. Traveltime inversion of first‐arrival data from the multioffset VSP revealed that the dipping Mesozoic clastics in the area exhibit seismic velocity anisotropy of about 10%. The anisotropy parameters derived from this experiment were then used in anisotropic prestack depth migration of data from a surface seismic line close to the VSP well. Comparison of the anisotropic migration with the corresponding isotropic prestack depth migration showed that the target was imaged incorrectly in the isotropic case; a lateral shift of 180 m in the updip direction of the overlying beds was observed. The image obtained with an anisotropic velocity model was also better focused than that obtained assuming isotropic velocities.