Second-Order Approximation of the Seismic Reflection Coefficient in Thin Interbeds

Zhen Yang and Jun Lu
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Zhen Yang: Key Laboratory of Earth and Planetary Physics, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China
Jun Lu: School of Geophysics and Information Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-19

Abstract: As most of the lithostratigraphic reservoirs in China are thin interbeds, the study of seismic responses in thin interbeds is an integral part of lithologic reservoir exploration. However, at present, the research on seismic reflection coefficients of thin interbeds in exploration seismology is still weak, which leads to the lack of theoretical basis for the subsequent interpretation of amplitude variation with offset (AVO) related to thin interbed. To solve this problem, in this paper, we proposed second-order approximate equations of the seismic reflection coefficients in thin-bed and thin-interbed layers. Under the assumption of a small impedance contrast in layered media, we made a second-order approximation with a more evident physical meaning to the reflection coefficient calculation method proposed by Kennett. Then, based on the test of the single thin-layer theoretical model, it was confirmed that the second-order approximation equation of the PP-wave (reflected compressional wave) is accurate at incident angles less than 30°, and that of the PS-wave (converted shear wave) is accurate at wider incident angles. Finally, based on the single-thin-bed equations, the approximate equations of seismic reflection coefficients in thin interbeds were established, the validity of which was verified by the theoretical model. Our equations will be applicable to the calculation of PP- and PS-wave reflection coefficients in thin interbeds where internal multiples are difficult to suppress and transmission loss is hard to accurately compensate. This lays a theoretical foundation for improving the seismic prediction accuracy of lithologic reservoirs.

Keywords: amplitude variation with incident angle (AVA); thin bed; thin interbed; second-order approximation; reflection coefficient; seismic modeling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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