Vertical resolution of a seismic survey in stratigraphic sequences less than 100 m deep in southeastern Kansas

Abstract

A 400-m long, 12‐fold high‐resolution common depth point (CDP) reflection seismic profile was acquired across shallow converging Pennsylvanian strata in the Independence area of southeastern Kansas. One of the principal objectives was to determine practical vertical resolution limits in an excellent shallow seismic‐data area with borehole control. The dominant frequency of the CDP stacked data is in excess of 150 Hz based on peak‐to‐peak measurements. Interference phenomena observed on stacked seismic data incorporated with models derived from log and drill‐hole information suggest a practical vertical resolution limit of about 7 m, or one‐third of the dominant wavelength. This practical resolution is slightly less than the predicted (theoretical) resolution limit of 5 m based on the generally accepted one‐quarter wavelength axiom. These data suggest conventional rules of thumb describing resolution potential are not accurate when reflectors on shallow, narrow bandwidth data converge rapidly across horizontal distances less than the Fresnel Zone.