On the relation between the stacking process and resolution of a stacked section in a crosswell seismic survey

Abstract

This paper describes the effect of source/receiver geometrical arrangements on the lateral resolution when implementing the diffraction stacking process in a crosswell seismic survey. Diffraction stacking with a stacking velocity analysis is equivalent to the Kirchhoff prestack time migration except for performing stacking velocity analysis. The resolving power of seismic data primarily depends on the dominant frequency of the recorded wavelet and the average velocity of the subsurface. It is proposed that lateral resolving power is also controlled by source/receiver geometrical arrangements. To obtain a better understanding of the concept of the seismic lateral resolution, the problem of seismic imaging is approached from the viewpoint of interference of equi-traveltime planes. Suitable source/receiver geometrical arrangements in homogeneous media are discussed. These studies are illustrated on a numerical simulation model, in which a zero phase Ricker wavelet is used and homogeneous and isotropic media is assumed. As a result, we indicate that source/receiver geometrical arrangements can influence the lateral resolution.