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The stable‐beam seismic modelling method 1
Author(s) -
Wang Xiutian,
Waltham Dave
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
geophysical prospecting
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.735
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1365-2478
pISSN - 0016-8025
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2478.1995.tb00290.x
Subject(s) - classification of discontinuities , wavefront , ray tracing (physics) , series (stratigraphy) , basis (linear algebra) , beam (structure) , amplitude , geology , eikonal equation , tracing , geometry , optics , algorithm , computer science , mathematical analysis , physics , mathematics , paleontology , operating system
The stable‐beam method for forward modelling of seismic data is introduced. The method is applicable to geometries which may be approximated by a series of single‐valued (in depth) interfaces separating constant‐velocity layers. For models of this restricted type, the results are of similar accuracy to those from waveequation‐based methods whilst the run times are similar to, or better than, those for simple ray‐tracing approaches. The basis of the method is to approximate interfaces by a series of straight‐line segments. This allows very rapid and stable ray tracing through the model. Pseudodiffractions are then added from all of the interface discontinuities formed between adjacent segments. These pseudodiffractions have the effect of correcting for the phase, amplitude and wavefront continuity errors introduced by the interface approximation. Comparison of the stable‐beam results to analytical, Kirchhoff, finite‐difference and physical model results confirm the accuracy ofthe technique.