Summer Training Program
Seismic Theory Basics
Islam Yehia
Contents
• Body Waves
• Wave Propagation
• Acoustic Rock Properties
• Reflection
• Seismic Resolution
Waves Classification
Electromagnetic Waves Mechanical Waves
Don’t Need propagation medium Need propagation medium
Body Waves
Change of volume
& shape
Change of shape
Body Waves Propagation
Pressure
Particle Velocity
Pressure Particle Velocity Pressure Particle Velocity
The more it resists the pressure, the faster it propagates
Less resistant to compression
More resistant to compression
Pressure
Resistance α Density α α Wave Velocity
Particle Velocity
Body Waves Propagation – Elastic Properties
Pressure Elasticity
Resistance α Velocity Impedance α ∗
Particle Velocity Density
Impedance = V
4
Bulk Shear
Vp 3
Density
Volume Difference
Bulk Strain =
Original Volume
Shear
Vs
Density
Shear Strain = θ
Acoustic Impedance & Reflection
Reflection depends on how different the two media are
. .∝
| |
Acoustic Impedance & Reflection
At the interface a At the interface a
great compression great rarefaction
occurs occurs
R.C. & Reflection Strength & Polarity
| |
As difference increases, reflection increases too
At the interface a At the interface a
great compression great rarefaction
occurs occurs
RC Examples
RC Examples
Wave Velocities Dependencies
Notes So far
• There are two types of body waves
• Body waves propagate is pressure/particle velocity trains
• Body waves velocities depend on how the medium resists that train
• The more the body resists the faster the wave is
• Pressure is related to the particle velocity be the resistance, termed acoustic
impedance
• Acoustic impedance is the product of velocity and density
Fourier Transform
• Uniform waveforms are
characterized by A, F, Φ, (λ or T)
• Waves interfere mathematically by
addition (build or destroy)
Fourier Transform
• Interference yields non-uniform
waveforms
• Represented graphically via
amplitude and phase spectra
Fourier Transform
• Any complex waveform can be decomposed
into components different in F, Φ, A
• Fourier transform is a mathematical machine
which decomposes any complex waveform
into its phase and frequency spectra and vice
versa
phase
Fourier
Seismic Vertical Resolution
If bed thickness approaches quarter of the
wave length, top and base reflections mix-
up
Vertical Seismic Resolution – Depth
1 1
Depth α α α Wave Length
Energy Frequency
@ Shallow Depth, λ = 10m Min. Body Th = 2.5m
@ Deep Depth, λ = 100m Min. Body Th = 25m
Absorbed at very shallow depth
Seismic Spatial Resolution
If body geometry is smaller than
Fresnel zone, it will never be detected
Examples
Summary So Far
• Any complex waveform can be modeled as a sum of harmonics of specific
amplitudes, frequencies and phases
• Seismic has some detection problems
• Bodies of thicknesses less than ¼ of the dominant wave length at specific
depth, reflections from top and base interfaces mix-up
• Bodies of widths less than the Fresnel zone diameter will not be detected and
their actual extensions can not be mapped accurately
Spectral Decomposition
Yes
Seen
No λ
f
Summary So Far
• Every trace can be decomposed by Fourier into its frequency component
• We can display seismic in iso-freq sections
• Thin beds will be seen only on high frequencies
• Thick beds will be seen on all frequency components
• Spectral decomposition is a good tool to analyze the anatomy of amplitudes
Offset Reflectivity
Offset Reflectivity
Compressibility Shear Poisson’s Ratio
Relation between vertical
and horizontal strain
Offset Reflectivity
We record Reflected P-waves
1
Shuey NI = Normal-incident reflectivity
PR = Poisson Reflectivity
Assumptions:
⁄ 2 and 30
Offset Reflectivity – in Clastics Sequence
AVO Example
Summary So Far
• At high angles, some of the energy converts into shear
• That depends on rigidity, compressibility and Poisson’ ratios
• That will affect the reflected P-waves
• Zopperitz modeled mathematically the energy conversion
• Shuey simplified the equations to solve reflected P-waves
• There are different AVO classes in Clastic sequence, can be indicative of HC-
bearing sands
Fluid Substitution
Fluid Substitution
4 Shear
Bulk Shear
Vp 3 Vs
Density Density
