PROCESSING OF PS‐REFLECTION DATA APPLYING A COMMON CONVERSION‐POINT STACKING TECHNIQUE¹

Converted waves require special data processing as the wave paths are asymmetrical. The CMP concept is not applicable for converted PS waves, instead a sorting algorithm for a common conversion point (CCP) has to be applied. The coordinates of the conversion points in a single homogeneous layer can be calculated as a function of the offset, the reflector depth and the velocity ratio vP/ vs. For multilayered media, an approximation for the coordinates of the conversion points can be made.

Numerical tests show that the traveltime of PS reflections can be approximated with sufficient accuracy for a certain offset range by a two‐term series truncation. Therefore NMO corrections can be calculated by standard routines which use the hyperbolic approximation of the reflection traveltime curves.

The CCP‐stacking technique has been applied to field data which have been generated by three vertical vibrators. The in‐line horizontal components have been recorded. The static corrections have been estimated from additional P‐ and SH‐wave measurements for the source and geophone locations, respectively. The data quality has been improved by processes such as spectral balancing.

A comparison with the stacked results of the corresponding P‐ and SH‐wavefield surveys shows a good coherency of structural features in P‐, SH‐ and PS‐time sections.