P-wave Source Research Articles

Resolvability of Multiple Microseismic P-Wave Source Regions with Two Large Seismic Arrays in China and the United States

Abstract P-wave microseisms are useful for understanding ocean waves. Resolving and locating multiple P-wave source regions using seismic data can provide valuable information about ocean waves. The resolvability of multiple microseismic P-wave source regions depends on the location accuracy and resolution, which can be improved using multiple large seismic arrays. In this article, we investigate the source locations of P-wave microseisms at the period of 5–10 s by combining the backprojection results from two large dense seismic arrays located in China (ChinArray) and the United States (USArray). We independently process data recorded by ChinArray and USArray during a two-year period (2014–2015) that border both the North Pacific and North Atlantic. Then the results are normalized and summed or intersected in the source region to improve the accuracy of the P-wave microseism source locations by reducing the deviation from the velocity structure model and the array response function. The results show that we can resolve two to three sources with a scale of ∼500–1000 km within one large P-wave source region. We also investigate how array parameters such as aperture, interstation spacing, and geographic position affect the detectability and accuracy of the P-wave microseism sources. The discrepancy in P-wave microseism source locations between backprojection observation and ocean model predictions in source number, source scale, and source region scope imply that the ocean model needs to be improved.

Simulation and analysis of elastic waves in partially saturated double-porosity media based on finite difference method

Double-porosity poroelastic model takes into account the effect of mesoscopic flow induced by rock heterogeneity on dispersion and attenuation of elastic waves, and has obtained good application results in the quantitative explanation of seismic data in heterogeneous reservoirs. Wavefield simulation based on double-porosity model not only helps visualize the propagation characteristics of the elastic waves but also lays the foundation for seismic imaging. In this work, we perform wavefield simulation and analysis based on the Santos-Rayleigh model which incorporates mesoscopic and global flow in a partially-saturated double-porosity medium. Specifically, the mesoscopic flow mechanism is represented with a Zener viscoelastic model. The comparison shows that the Zener model can accurately capture the propagation characteristics of fast P-wave, but fails to describe the attenuation characteristics of slow P3 wave in the low-frequency band. It implies that Zener viscoelastic model and slow wave modes follow different mechanisms. Then the staggered grid finite-difference method is used to simulate wave propagation in a double-porosity medium, and the stiff problem is solved with a time-splitting algorithm, which can significantly improve computational efficiency. Based on the above methods, the correctness of our algorithm is verified with derived analytical solution for a P-wave source in a uniform partially saturated poroelastic medium. Analytical and numerical solutions are in good agreement and mean error is 0.33%. We provide some examples of wavefield snapshots and seismograms in homogeneous and layered heterogeneous media at seismic and ultrasonic frequencies. The simulation results demonstrate the strong attenuation of fast P-wave and no change of S-wave in the seismic band due to mesoscopic flow mechanism, which is consistent with the theoretical prediction of double-porosity model. Moreover, the energy of fast P-wave is concentrated in solid phase while slow waves are stronger in fluid phase. This work contributes to the understanding of broadband elastic wave propagation in a heterogeneous partially saturated porous medium and can be applied to the reservoir imaging with broadband geophysical data.

Discrimination between earthquakes and quarry blasts in the Aswan region, southern Egypt, using P-wave source spectra

In order to distinguish between shallow earthquakes and quarrying activity, we evaluated 3069 seismic signals from 413 occurrences (112 explosions and 301 shallow earthquakes, depths 5 km), collected by the Aswan seismic sub-network in southern Egypt from 2010 to 2021. The spectral properties and related source parameters (e.g., seismic moment and corner frequency) using the estimated P-wave source spectra for both earthquakes and quarry blasts were investigated. The analysis showed that the P-wave source spectra of shallow earthquakes have higher corner frequencies (8.8–23 Hz) than quarry blasts (1.0–2.6 Hz) within the same magnitude range. The source spectra of quarry blasts exhibited significant misfits with the omega-square model and had steeper falloffs at high frequencies. The selected quarry blasts have a narrow seismic moment range, from 2.03 × 1011 to 1.35 × 1012 Nm. Our results demonstrate that the evaluation of misfit of P-wave spectra from the omega-square source model, based on spectral amplitude characteristics of high- and low-frequency bands, is the most reliable discriminant method in the routine data analysis of the target area.

Determining fast-S and slow-S propagation directions with SV-P data produced by buried explosives and recorded with vertical geophones

We have evaluated the concept of practicing S-wave reflection seismology with legacy 3D seismic data generated by a P-wave source and recorded with only vertical geophones. This type of S-wave imaging is based on the principle that seismic P-wave sources not only produce a downgoing illuminating P wavefield, but they also simultaneously produce a downgoing illuminating SV wavefield that, in almost all cases, is suitable for S-wave reflection imaging. The S-mode used in this study is the SV-P, or converted-P, mode. This mode involves a downgoing illuminating SV wavefield and an upgoing reflected P-mode that is recorded by vertical geophones. In flat-layered stratigraphy, the lengths of the SV and P raypaths in SV-P imaging are identical to the lengths of the SV and P raypaths in P-SV imaging with P-sources and 3C geophones. P-SV imaging of deep rocks has been practiced for more than two decades; SV-P imaging is a new concept. SV-P data should provide the same options for investigating deep rocks as do P-SV data. We have determined one of the equivalences between SV-P data extracted from vertical-geophone data and P-SV data extracted from horizontal geophones: that both modes react to azimuth-dependent variations in the S velocity in anisotropic rocks. Azimuthal variations in the SV-P traveltime can be used to define the polarization direction of the fast-S-wave mode, which is also the azimuth of the maximum horizontal stress (SHmax). Our investigation demonstrates a noninvasive method for monitoring changes in the SHmax azimuth across a CO2 storage reservoir, or any targeted porous rock, as fluids are cycled into, and then out of, that rock’s pore space.

Rupture Characteristics and Bedrock Structural Control of the 2016 Mw 6.0 Intraplate Earthquake in the Petermann Ranges, Australia

ABSTRACT The 20 May 2016 surface-rupturing intraplate earthquake in the Petermann Ranges is the largest onshore earthquake to occur in the Australian continent in 19 yr. We use in situ and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar surface observations, aftershock distribution, and the fitting of P-wave source spectra to determine source properties of the Petermann earthquake. Surface observations reveal a 21-km-long surface rupture trace (strike=294°±29°) with heterogeneous vertical displacements (<0.1–0.96 m). Aftershock arrays suggest a triangular-shaped rupture plane (dip ≈ 30°) that intersects the subsurface projection of the major geophysical structure (Woodroffe thrust [WT]) proximal to the preferred location of the mainshock hypocenter, suggesting the mainshock nucleated at a fault junction. Footwall seismicity includes apparent southwest-dipping Riedel-type alignments, including possible activation of the deep segment of the WT. We estimate a moment magnitude (Mw) of 6.0 and a corner frequency (fc) of 0.2 Hz, respectively, from spectral fitting of source spectra in the 0.02–2 Hz frequency band. These translate into a fault area of 124 km2 and an average slip of 0.36 m. The estimated stress drop of 2.2 MPa is low for an intraplate earthquake; we attribute this to low-frictional slip (effective coefficient of friction >0.015) along rupture-parallel phyllosilicate-rich surfaces within the host rock fabric with possible additional contributions from elevated pore-fluid pressures.

Photodetachment dynamics of negative ions near a moving surface

Photodetachment dynamics of negative ions near a moving surface is investigated for the first time. An analytical formula for the photodetachment cross section of negative ions induced by the moving surface has been put forward. This formula is universal and appropriate to any negative ion no matter the photodetachment is dominated by an s-wave source or a p-wave source. In contrast to the photodetachment of negative ion near a static surface, the returning kinetic energy of the detached electron is different from its initial value after it is bounced back by the moving surface; therefore, an additional modulation function related to the electron’s initial and returning momentum is multiplied in the oscillating cross section. As a demonstration, we calculate the photodetachment cross section of H− and Cl− ions near a moving surface. It is shown that the photodetachment cross section depends on the electron’s energy and the speed of the moving surface sensitively. Therefore, we can control the photodetachment dynamics of negative ion by a moving surface. Our work provides some insights into the behavior of photodetachment dynamics of negative ion near a moving surface and may guide the future experiments toward this field.

Two-phase pore-fluid distribution in fractured media: acoustic wave velocity vs saturation

The acoustic wave velocity varies with fluid saturation and pore-fluid distribution. We use a P-wave source and the staggered grid finite-difference method, with second-order accuracy in time and eighth-order accuracy in space, to simulate the acoustic wave field in a fractured medium that is saturated with a two-phase pore fluid (gas & water). Further, we analyze the variation of acoustic wave velocity with saturation for different pore-fluid distribution modes. The numerical simulation method is simple and yields accurate results.

Assessment of the Limitations on the Seismic Detectability of Injected CO2 within a Deep Geological Reservoir

Aquistore is a deep saline CO2 storage research and demonstration project located near Estevan, Saskatchewan where CO2 is transported via pipeline and injected into a sandstone reservoir ∼3200 m below the surface. A pre-injection time-lapse analysis performed on two sparse 3D seismic datasets was used to characterise the background time-lapse signal-to-noise level at the storage site. The time-lapse analysis revealed that the lowest global nRMS was 0.07 which was taken to represent the level above which CO2 would be detectable in the reservoir. We investigate the conditions under which the injected CO2 can be detected above the defined minimum noise level through Gassmann fluid substitution and 3D seismic forward modelling. Additionally, Wave Unix was used to simulate the seismic response of the reservoir due to the injected CO2 by generating the synthetic surface reflection seismic data from an explosive surface P-wave source. We generated noise-free synthetic seismograms for the baseline model as well as for the 2-phase fluid replacement of brine with CO2 for CO2 concentrations up to 100% within the target zone – the monitors. The baseline and monitor traces from the 3D seismic survey at Aquistore are used as the noise traces in this study, and were added to their respective baseline and monitor synthetic traces. The nRMS within the reservoir was then computed for the noisy baseline and various noisy monitor surveys and was used in the assessment of the limitation to the detection of the injected CO2 in the reservoir under the background noise level at the site. We are able to conclude that the time-lapse repeatability will not limit the ability to monitor the CO2 induced changes in the reservoir at the Aquistore storage site.

Pre-stack separation of PP and split PS waves in HTI media

Separation of PP and split PS waves in transversely isotropic media with a horizontal axis of symmetry is crucial for imaging subsurface targets and for fracture prediction in a multicomponent seismic survey using P-wave sources. In conventional multicomponent processing, when a low velocity zone is present near the surface, it is often assumed that the vertical Z-component mainly records P modes and that the horizontal X- and Y-components record S modes, including split PS waves. However, this assumption does not hold when the ubiquitous presence of azimuthal anisotropy makes near surface velocity structures more complicated. Seismic wavefields recorded in each component therefore generally represent a complex waveform formed by PP and split PS waves, seriously distorting velocity analysis and seismic imaging. Most previous studies on wave separation have tended to separate P and S modes using pre-stack data and to separate split S modes using post-stack sections, under the assumption of orthogonal polarization. However, split S modes can hardly maintain their original orthogonal polarizations during propagation to the surface due to stratigraphic heterogeneity. Here, without assuming orthogonal polarization, we present a method for pre-stack separation of PP, PS1 and PS2 waves using all three components. The core of our method is the rotation of wave vectors from the Cartesian coordinate system established by Z-, R- and T-axes to a coordinate system established by the true PP-, PS1- and PS2-wave vector directions. Further, we propose a three-component superposition approach to obtain base wave vectors for the coordinate system transformation. Synthetic data testing results confirm that the performance of our wave separation method is stable under different noise levels. Application to field data from Southwest China reveals the potential of our proposed method.

A35 2 次元的な山脈地形が地震波形に及ぼす影響 : 等方的な P 波震源の場合

A35 2 次元的な山脈地形が地震波形に及ぼす影響 : 等方的な P 波震源の場合

Numerical simulations of full-wave fields and analysis of channel wave characteristics in 3-D coal mine roadway models

Currently, numerical simulations of seismic channel waves for the advance detection of geological structures in coal mine roadways focus mainly on modeling twodimensional wave fields and therefore cannot accurately simulate three-dimensional (3-D) full-wave fields or seismic records in a full-space observation system. In this study, we use the first-order velocity–stress staggered-grid finite difference algorithm to simulate 3-D full-wave fields with P-wave sources in front of coal mine roadways. We determine the three components of velocity Vx, Vy, and Vz for the same node in 3-D staggered-grid finite difference models by calculating the average value of Vy, and Vz of the nodes around the same node. We ascertain the wave patterns and their propagation characteristics in both symmetrical and asymmetric coal mine roadway models. Our simulation results indicate that the Rayleigh channel wave is stronger than the Love channel wave in front of the roadway face. The reflected Rayleigh waves from the roadway face are concentrated in the coal seam, release less energy to the roof and floor, and propagate for a longer distance. There are surface waves and refraction head waves around the roadway. In the seismic records, the Rayleigh wave energy is stronger than that of the Love channel wave along coal walls of the roadway, and the interference of the head waves and surface waves with the Rayleigh channel wave is weaker than with the Love channel wave. It is thus difficult to identify the Love channel wave in the seismic records. Increasing the depth of the receivers in the coal walls can effectively weaken the interference of surface waves with the Rayleigh channel wave, but cannot weaken the interference of surface waves with the Love channel wave. Our research results also suggest that the Love channel wave, which is often used to detect geological structures in coal mine stopes, is not suitable for detecting geological structures in front of coal mine roadways. Instead, the Rayleigh channel wave can be used for the advance detection of geological structures in coal mine roadways.

P-wave scattering and the distribution of heterogeneity around Etna volcano

<p>Volcanoes and fault zones are areas of increased heterogeneity in the Earth crust that leads to strong scattering of seismic waves. For the understanding of the volcanic structure and the role of attenuation and scattering processes it is important to investigate the distribution of heterogeneity. We used the signals of air-gun shots to investigate the distribution of heterogeneity around Mount Etna. We devise a new methodology that is based on the coda energy ratio which we define as the ratio between the energy of the direct P-wave and the energy in a later coda window. This is based on the basic assumption that scattering caused by heterogeneity removes energy from the direct P-waves. We show that measurements of the energy ratio are stable with respect to changes of the details of the time windows definitions. As an independent proxy of the scattering strength along the ray path we measure the peak delay time of the direct P-wave. The peak delay time is well correlated with the coda energy ratio. We project the observation in the directions of the incident rays at the stations. Most notably is an area with increased wave scattering in the volcano and east of it. The strong heterogeneity found supports earlier observations and confirms the possibility to use P-wave sources for the determination of scattering properties. We interpret the extension of the highly heterogeneous zone towards the east as a potential signature <span>of inelastic deformation processes</span> induced by the eastward sliding of flank of the volcano.</p>

Seismic characterization and monitoring of a deep CO2 storage reservoir with 3D VSP using direct shear waves

We show a low-cost option for shear wave imaging of CO2 storage reservoirs that utilizes seismic waves that have been ignored by reflection seismologists for decades. These overlooked waves are direct-S waves generated by vertical-displacement vibrators and explosive sources. Shear waves are known to be helpful for detecting fractures and subtle faults which is critical for evaluating of CO2 storage capacity and sealing properties of the caprock. Utilizing direct-S waves produced by P-wave sources provides these benefits with no need to deploy special shear-wave sources. In addition, the SV-P mode, which is the upgoing P-wave produced by SV-to-P conversion, makes it possible to utilize S-wave attributes with data recorded by vertical geophones only.We developed a processing workflow to extract SV-SV and SV-P seismic modes from 3D VSP data acquired over a CO2 storage reservoir at Decatur, Illinois and tested these modes for seismic imaging and monitoring of the reservoir. In addition, we inspected an SH-SH mode that appeared interpretable in our data. We observed that direct-S images were consistent with traditional VSP direct-P images and calibration synthetic seismograms. A joint analysis of all available seismic modes allowed a constrained interpretation of faults within the reservoir. Direct-S waves appeared to not be advantageous for CO2 plume growth monitoring in the Decatur project. The SV-P mode demonstrated low sensitivity to CO2 concentration. The time-lapse difference for the SV-SV mode was uninterpretable due to the low signal-to-noise ratio of that mode.

SV-P extraction and imaging for far-offset vertical seismic profile data

We have analyzed vertical seismic profile (VSP) data acquired across a Marcellus Shale prospect and found that SV-P reflections could be extracted from far-offset VSP data generated by a vertical-vibrator source using time-variant receiver rotations. Optimal receiver rotation angles were determined by a dynamic steering of geophones to the time-varying approach directions of upgoing SV-P reflections. These SV-P reflections were then imaged using a VSP common-depth-point transformation based on ray tracing. Comparisons of our SV-P image with P-P and P-SV images derived from the same offset VSP data found that for deep targets, SV-P data created an image that extended farther from the receiver well than P-P and P-SV images and that spanned a wider offset range than P-P and P-SV images do. A comparison of our VSP SV-P image with a surface-based P-SV profile that traversed the VSP well demonstrated that SV-P data were equivalent to P-SV data for characterizing geology and that a VSP-derived SV-P image could be used to calibrate surface-recorded SV-P data that were generated by P-wave sources.

Nonlinear imaging condition and the effect of source illumination: Imaging fractures as nonwelded interfaces

Fluid flow through a fractured reservoir is often controlled by the large fractures. Seismically imaging these large fractures has the potential to illuminate their hydraulic properties. We derived a nonlinear imaging condition considering a medium containing nonwelded interfaces such as fractures for high-resolution fracture imaging. This was achieved by using the general correlation-type representation theorem relating the wavefield between two different states representing different fracture compliances. We numerically tested the imaging condition to investigate the effect of the nonlinear term and that of the one-sided source illumination. Assuming a dry fracture, we calculated the wavefield from a nonwelded interface. We obtained a P-wave imaging result from P-wave sources. In the case of perfect source illumination, we found that introducing the nonlinear term in the imaging condition enhances the image because the nonwelded interface is imaged as a thin layer in an otherwise homogeneous medium. Investigating the effect of one-sided illumination by horizontally aligned sources revealed interesting limitations and possibilities. The imaging result for a horizontal fracture showed a volumetric distribution of nonzero amplitudes around the polarity change at the fracture that can be misinterpreted as a welded thick layer boundary. However, when the fracture was not horizontal, the imaging result was quite good and was closer to that with a perfect source illumination. These led to a new possibility of imaging subvertical fractures from surface seismic measurements, or subhorizontal fractures from vertical seismic profiling data, assuming that we successfully estimated the perturbed wavefield from the receiver responses.

西南日本の三次元P波減衰構造

We investigate three-dimensional attenuation structure of the P wave in the crust and upper mantle beneath the Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu districts of southwest Japan. The attenuation structure is estimated by inversion analysis of the P-wave attenuation factors obtained for a large number of ray paths covering the study area. To determine the attenuation factor from observed P-wave spectrum, the P-wave source spectrum is needed because the observed spectrum is convolved with the source spectrum. After estimating the S-wave corner frequencies from spectral ratio of the S coda waves of two events observed at a single station, we determine the P-wave corner frequency by assuming that it is 1.73 times higher than the S-wave corner frequency. The P-wave source spectrum is calculated by incorporating the estimated P-wave corner frequency into the ω-2 source model. The P-wave attenuation factor is estimated from amplitude decay rate of the P-wave spectrum corrected for the source spectrum. The P-wave t* data are inverted for QP structure by non-negative least squares method. Several features are found in the QP structure. In the upper crust down to 10 km depth, a high-attenuation zone extends in the Beppu-Shimabara rift valley. A prominent high-attenuation zone exists in the crust and uppermost mantle beneath Miyazaki Prefecture. The high-attenuation zone is interpreted as being an accretionary prism which was formed by adjunction of the Kyushu-Palau Ridge to the Kyusyu district due to the PHS slab subduction. Around 40 km depth in the uppermost mantle, a high-attenuation zone exists beneath the volcanic front and extends toward the fore-arc side of the Kyushu district. The high-velocity PHS slab shows low attenuation. A negative correlation is established between the Q-1 and velocity of P-wave.

Multi-component elastic reverse time migration based on the P- and S-wave separated velocity–stress equations

The vector P- and S-seismograms in an elastic common-shot gather generated with a P-wave source in a two-dimensional model using a finite difference solution of the P- and S-wave separated velocity–stress equations can be imaged by two independent ERTMs based on the same equations. The inputs as boundary conditions for reverse-time extrapolation are the pure vector P- and S-waves, respectively. The vector P-wave image components can be obtained by the normalized correlation operation between the vector P-source wavefields and receiver wavefields, which are obtained by extrapolating the vector P-seismograms in reverse-time using the same equations as the forward modeling. The vector S-wave image components can be obtained by a similar method. Compared with the conventional ERTM, this method can minimize the artifacts caused by the crosstalk between different wave modes and can preserve the phase and amplitude attributes of migration images very well. Furthermore, the polarity-reversal of the vector S-wave data can be corrected automatically during the imaging process, so destructive interferences between data from adjacent sources do not exist. Numerical examples with synthetic data have demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of this method for complex structures.

Full Waveform Modelling for Converted Waves Seismic Reflections in Mountainous and Marine Environment

The application of seismic waves allows us to achieve adequate results by compressional wave (P-wave) surveys alone. However, in the presence of gas P-wave transmission disrupts and obscures underlying targets. Many reservoirs don’t present sufficient impedance contrast to the overburden and not reflect P-wave strongly to produce an impedance image. High impedance rock such as basalt or hard volcanic rocks are difficult to image with P-wave. To overcome these challenges shear-wave (S-wave) or converted wave (P-S) surveys are usedfor last 20 years by making the use of down going P waves converting to upcoming S waves at the mode conversion boundaries.The processing of converted waves requires studying asymmetric reflection at the conversion point, difference in geometries and conditions of source and receiver, and the partitioning of energy into orthogonally polarized components. Interpretation of P-S sections incorporates the identification of P-S waves, full waveform modelling, correlation with P-wave sections and depth migration. The objectives of this study is to model P-S wave reflections in onshore and offshore environment and to examine the major differences in processing of P and P-S wave surveys together with the identifying converted mode reflections by P-wave sources in anisotropic media. To achieve these, realistic mountainous and marine environment models have been developed and synthetic seismograms are generated by full waveform modelling technique. First a mountain foothill model was studied. A Kirchhoff-based technique that includes anisotropic velocities is used for depth migration of P-S waves. The results from depth imaging show that P-S section help in distinguishing amplitude associated with hydrocarbons from those caused by localized stratigraphic changes. Marine model shows a good correlation with identified converted waves. In addition, the full waveform elastic modellingproves useful in finding an appropriate balance between capturing high-quality P-wave data as well as P-S data challenges in a survey. Key Words: Converted-waves (P-S); P-S Wave; Kirchhoff migration; Depth migration; Gas clouds; Shale diapers

Examining the processing differences between P and P-S waves in a Rocky Mountain Foothills model

For the past two decades, most of the shear-wave (S-wave) or converted wave (P-S) acquisitions were performed with P-wave source by making the use of downgoing P-waves converting to upgoing S-waves at the mode conversion boundaries. The processing of converted waves requires studying asymmetric reflection at the conversion point, difference in geometries and conditions of source and receiver, and the partitioning of energy into orthogonally polarised components. Interpretation of P-S sections incorporates the identification of P-S waves, full waveform modeling, correlation with P-wave sections and depth migration. The main applications of P-S wave imaging are to obtain a measure of subsurface S-wave properties relating to rock type and fluid saturation (in addition to the P-wave values), imaging through gas clouds and shale diapers, and imaging interfaces with low P-wave contrast but significant S-wave changes. This study examines the major differences in processing of P and P-S wave surveys and the feasibility of identifying converted mode reflections by P-wave sources in anisotropic media. Two-dimensional synthetic seismograms for a realistic rocky mountain foothills model were studied. A Kirchhoff-based technique that includes anisotropic velocities is used for depth migration of converted waves. The results from depth imaging show that P-S section help in distinguishing amplitude associated with hydrocarbons from those caused by localised stratigraphic changes. In addition, the full waveform elastic modeling is useful in finding an appropriate balance between capturing high-quality P-wave data and P-S data challenges in a survey.

Examining the processing differences between P and P-S waves in a Rocky Mountain Foothills model

For the past two decades, most of the shear-wave (S-wave) or converted wave (P-S) acquisitions were performed with P-wave source by making the use of downgoing P-waves converting to upgoing S-waves at the mode conversion boundaries. The processing of converted waves requires studying asymmetric reflection at the conversion point, difference in geometries and conditions of source and receiver, and the partitioning of energy into orthogonally polarised components. Interpretation of P-S sections incorporates the identification of P-S waves, full waveform modeling, correlation with P-wave sections and depth migration. The main applications of P-S wave imaging are to obtain a measure of subsurface S-wave properties relating to rock type and fluid saturation (in addition to the P-wave values), imaging through gas clouds and shale diapers, and imaging interfaces with low P-wave contrast but significant S-wave changes. This study examines the major differences in processing of P and P-S wave surveys and the feasibility of identifying converted mode reflections by P-wave sources in anisotropic media. Two-dimensional synthetic seismograms for a realistic rocky mountain foothills model were studied. A Kirchhoff-based technique that includes anisotropic velocities is used for depth migration of converted waves. The results from depth imaging show that P-S section help in distinguishing amplitude associated with hydrocarbons from those caused by localised stratigraphic changes. In addition, the full waveform elastic modeling is useful in finding an appropriate balance between capturing high-quality P-wave data and P-S data challenges in a survey.