An introduction—Multicomponent

Abstract

Multicomponent seismic data provide the potential to better characterize the subsurface than do P-wave data alone. Converted waves (C-waves) and pure shear waves can be used to validate bright spot reflections, provide Poisson's ratio estimates, provide reflection images where the P-wave reflectivity contrast is small, image through gas clouds where the P-wave signal is attenuated/scattered, and detect/characterize fractures through shear-wave splitting.