Azimuthally Anisotropic 3D Velocity Continuation

We extend time-domain velocity continuation to the zero-offset 3D azimuthally anisotropiccase. Velocity continuation describes how a seismic image changes given a change in migrationvelocity. This description turns out to be of a wave propagation process, in which imageschange along a velocity axis. In the anisotropic case, the velocity model is multiparameter.Therefore, anisotropic image propagation is multidimensional. We use a three-parameterslowness model, which is related to azimuthal variations in velocity, as well as their principaldirections. This information is useful for fracture and reservoir characterization fromseismic data. We provide synthetic diffraction imaging examples to illustrate the conceptand potential applications of azimuthal velocity continuation and to analyze the impulseresponse of the 3D velocity continuation operator