Seismic Scattering Problems in Geophysical Exploration

Special Interest to the Petrophysical Properties of Rocks

Abstract

Seismolithological interpretation is of great importance in the geophysical exploration. Brite spot processing, seismic property mapping, and amplitude versus offset (AVO) or versus angle (AVA) have been developed to obtain lithological, poroelastic parameters of formations using seismic methods. The recent development in AVO/AVA has revealed that seismic anisotropy plays an important role in the estimation of the formation parameters. In this review paper, we first show some basic equations for relating seismic AVO/AVA methods with formation parameters. The advantage of using direct measured properties in a seismic property mapping method and the importance of anisotropy analyses are also reviewed. Finally, we discuss the direction of litho-seismic property estimation. It should be noted that empirical relations from well log data and lab-experimental data to seismic properties of rocks, especially for combining seismic data with real lithological properties of unknown underground materials are indispensable. It would also be quite important to have lithological/rock-physical parameter estimation schemes of deep materials in the Earth when using seismic methods.