Abstract
The most common source of seismic energy onshore is a vertical impact on the earth's surface or an explosion at some depth in a borehole. These sources produce mainly compressional waves. Here it is shown how these sources can be used to generate shear waves either by conversion in the depth or in the immediate vicinity of the source itself. The use of theoretical seismograms can help to identify the individual onsets especially on the horizontal components of the earth's movement. Due to the more complex raypath, converted waves need a special data processing. The spectral behaviour can be improved by spectral balancing followed by a spiking deconvolution. As the CDP-concept is no longer applicable for converted PS-waves a special sorting for a common conversion point (CCP) is applied. The identification and analysis of the individual waves can be simplified by a detailed polarization analysis taking into account the full dynamic behaviour of the observed waves. Prestack depthmigration of converted PS waves allows to deduce additional information on the material properties of reflecting horizons. The depth-migration of individual shot gathers is achieved in the frequency-space domain. Thus the kinematic and dynamic aspects of these secondary waves is a valuable tool for a better understanding of the elastic behaviour of the subsurface.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bäth, M. and Berkhout, A. J.: 1984, in Helbig, K. and Treitel, S. (eds.), ‘Mathematical Aspects of Seismology’,Handbook of Geophysical Exploration 17, 448 pp.
Bortfeld, R. K. and Fertig, J.: 1983. ‘Ueber die Bedeutung der Scherwelle S* in der Schußseismik’,Zeitschrift Erdöl und Erdgas 99, 127–133.
Brötz, R., Marschall, R. and Knecht, M.: 1987, ‘Signal Adjustment of Vibroseis and Impulsive Source Data’,Geophysical Prospecting 35, (7), 739–766.
Brückl, E. 1987, ‘The Interpretation of Traveltime Fields in Refraction Seismology’,Geophysical Prospecting 35, (9), 973–992.
Červený, V., Molotkov, I. A., and Pšenčík, I.: 1977, ‘Ray Method in Seismology’, Univerzita Karlova Praha, 214 pp.
Daley, P.F. and Hron, F.: 1985, in Helbig, K. and Treitel, S. (eds.), ‘Wave Methods for Shear Waves in Elastic Media’,Handbook of Geophysical Exploration 15A, 125–190.
Ewing, W.M., Jardetzky, W.S., and Press, F. 1957. ‘Elastic Waves in Layered Media’, McGraw Hill, N. Y., 380 pp.
Fertig, J.: 1984, ‘Shear Waves by an Explosive Point-source: The Earth Surface as a Generator of Converted P-S Waves’,Geophysical Prospecting 32, 1–17.
Fertig, J. and Pšenčik, I.: 1985, in Helbig, K. and Treitel, S. (eds.), ‘Numerical Modeling of P and S Waves in Exploration Seismology’,Handbook of Geophysical Exploration 15A, 226–282.
Fertig, J. and Hentschke, M. K.: 1987, ‘Data Acquisition and Processing of Converted pS-waves’,Geophysical Prospecting 30, (2), 148–166.
Frasier, C. W. and Winterstein, D. G.: 1986, ‘Analysis of Conventional and Converted Mode Reflections at Putah Sink, California, using Three Component Data’, Paper presented at the SEG Meeting, Houston.
Kähler, S. and Meissner, R.: 1983, ‘Radiation and Receive Pattern of Shear and Compressional Waves as a Function of Poisson's Ratio’,Geophysical Prospecting 31, 509–520.
Krajewski, P., Dresen, L., Schott, W., and Rüter, H.: 1987. ‘Studies of Roadway Modes in a Coal Seam by Dispersion and Polarization Analysis: A Case History’,Geophysical Prospecting 35, (7), 767–786.
Kummer, B.: 1982, ‘Differenzenapproximationen des elastischen Wellenfeldes in isotropen, linearen Medien mit geneigten Grenzflächen’, Dissertation, Universität Hamburg.
Lamb, H.: 1904, ‘On the Propagation of Tremors over the Surface of an Elastic Solid’,Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London, Ser. A.,203, 1–42.
Montalbetti, J. F. and Kanasewich, E. R.: 1970 ‘Enhancement of Teleseismic Body Phases with a Polarization Filter’,Geophysical Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society 21, 119–129.
Tatham, R. H., Goolsbee, D. V., Fassell, W. F., and Nelson, R. H.: 1983, ‘Seismic Shear Wave Observations in a Physical Model Experiment’,Geophysics 48, (6), 688–701.
Tatham, R. H. and Goolsbee, D. V.: 1984, ‘Separation of P-wave Reflections offshore Western Florida’,Geophysics 49, 5, 493–508. Tessmer, G. and Behle, A.: 1988, ‘Common Reflections Point Data Stacking Technique for Converted Waves’,Geophysical Prospecting 36, (7), 671–688.
Zuurbier, N. P., Krajewski, P., Schneider, J., and Fertig, J.: 1987, ‘Prestack Migration of Converted Waves’, Paper presented at the SEG-Meeting, New Orleans.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fertig, J., Krajewski, P. Acquisition and processing of pure and converted shear waves generated by compressional wave sources. Surv Geophys 10, 103–132 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01901489
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01901489