®

2016 SEG DISTINGUISHED INSTRUCTOR SHORT COURSE®

3C Seismic and VSP: Converted Waves and Vector Wavefield Applications

WHY SHOULD YOU HOST?
Help SEG expand the DISC educational opportunity
to a wider, more diverse audience as the one-day
course begins touring worldwide in 2016. Benefits ofhosting a DISC include:º N
etwork with a multidisciplinary attendee
audience from around the worldº Save on travel and training for employeesº Recognition of your organization at the SEG
Annual Meeting as a DISC hostº T
raining from an industry expert with all instructor
expenses paid by SEGº G
ain access to cutting edge geophysics intelectual property

Presented by James Gaiser
WHO SHOULD ATTENDThe course is intended for geophysicists, geologists and engineers.
The emphasis is on practical understanding and application ofvector wavefields, thus a basic prerequisite knowledge of P-waves
is assumed. The course would be most relevant to those currently
involved with, or considering the use of AVO/A inversion, fracture/stress characterization analyses, or interpretation in gas-obscured
reservoirs.

OVERVIEWThe course will give an overview of 3C seismic theory and practicalapplication: from fundamentals of PS-waves and VSPs, throughto acquisition and processing including interpretation techniques.
The emphasis will be on unique aspects of vector wavefields,
anisotropy, and the important relationships that unify S-waves andP-waves. Various applications and case studies will demonstrate
image benefits from PS-waves, elastic properties from joint
inversion of amplitude variations with offset/angle (AVO/A), andVSP seismic methods for improved reservoir characterization.

BIOGRAPHYJames (Jim) Gaiser received an MS (1977) in geophysics fromthe University of Utah and PhD (1989) in geophysics from theUniversity of Texas at Dallas. In 1977 he joined ARCO in thegeophysical analysis and processing group before moving toresearch and development in 1981, where he worked on verticalseismic profiling, elastic wave imaging, and seismic anisotropy.
He worked with Western Geophysical/Schlumberger from 1992º Inclusion on DISC marketing materials, webpa
es and SEG Global Events Calendar
How can you take advantage of this opportunity?
Simple — Agree to host the event...we’ll do the rest!

to 2007 conducting research in coherent-noise suppression,
depth migration and multicomponent processing, and with ION
Geophysical – GXT Imaging Solutions from 2007 to 2009 where
he worked on interferometry, and 3D converted wave imaging.
After several years as senior scientist with Geokinetics Inc.,
where his research activities were 3D imaging and velocity modelbuilding in anisotropic media, and converted waves, he joined
CGG as R&D Manager of multicomponent research in 2013. He
is currently Principal Research Advisor for Gaiser GeophysicalConsulting. Jim has authored numerous patents and articles,
shared the award for SEG best presentation in 1981, received
SEG honorable mention for his presentation in 1993, shared SEG
honorable mention for his TLE article in 2003, and received theSEG Life Membership award in 2007. He served on the SEG
Development and Production committee from 1993 to 1997,
was District 2 Representative for the SEG council from 1994 to1997. He served as vice president of the Denver GeophysicalSociety (DGS) in 2004 and president in 2005. He is active with
EAGE organizing committees for workshops, and is currently®

a member of the SEG Research committee (2007 to present)
and a lecturer for the SEG Continuing Education program. He is amember of SEG, DGS, GSH, CSEG, EAGE, RAS, AAPG and SPE.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students will obtain an understanding of theoretical and practicalaspects of 3C seismic and VSP, including how to use PS-wave andvector wavefield data to improve rock property applications, as wellas:• Basics of PS-wave registration, velocities and birefringence(S-wave splitting).
• Elastodynamic processes that generate converted waves andhow they relate to elastic rock properties.
• Issues of PS-wave asymmetry and illumination, and how 3C
surface and VSP wavefields are related.
• Unique characteristics of PS-wave processing: time registration
with P-waves, S-wave splitting, VP/VS analyses, velocities,
and conversion-point gathering.
• Identifying and accounting for potential vector infidelity effects.
• Interpretation of converted-wave and VSP wavefields.
• Applications of 3C seismic and VSP data for migration andelastic impedance inversion, imaging through gas, fracture/stress characterization, and timelapse.

SUMMARYDefinitions and wavefield properties of 3C seismic and VSP data
are covered, including anisotropy, coordinate systems, vector
wavefields, and S-wave applications. Challenges our industry has
faced in the development of S-wave technology are reviewed toobtain a perspective of the current PS-wave emphasis.
S-waves and VSP in the 20th century: An overview of the history anddevelopment of S-wave and VSP technology in the 20th century is
discussed, including S-wave source development, the influence
from P-wave AVO, and the emphasis on vertical transverse isotropy(VTI) and azimuthal anisotropy. Also, the early development of PSwave and VSP technology is reviewed.
P-waveFundamentals: A tutorial of the elastodynamic theory of PS-wave
generation is described, along with reflection and transmission
coefficients, coordinate systems, and polarity standards.
Conversion-point illumination, modeling and interpretation of 3C
seismic and VSP, NMO velocity in anisotropic media, and theresolution of PS-waves are also reviewed.
Acquisition: Basic source radiation patterns, free surface andseabed responses to P- and S-wave arrivals are described as well
as source, receiver, and VSP systems. Various 3C acquisition
configurations are examined in terms of PS-wave illumination,
minimal datasets, and common-offset vector (COV) gathers,
including VSP geometries.
Processing and Analysis: Unique 3C processing steps such asrotation, S-wave statics and splitting analyses are emphasized inaddition to noise attenuation, vector infidelity corrections, elasticwavefield decomposition, common conversion-point gathering,and VP/VS analyses. Essentials of VSP wavefield separation,
anisotropic velocity analyses, and conventional processing aredescribed along with interferometry application.
Imaging and Inversion Applications: Applications of PS-wave
seismic demonstrating anisotropic imaging, velocity modelbuilding, and tomography are presented in addition to casestudies imaging through gas, and imaging with VSP. Also,
various inversion applications are presented: layer stripping for
fracture/stress properties and joint AVO/A for rock properties,
including unconventional reservoir, microseismic imaging,and timelapse applications. Current research directionsof 3C seismic and VSP include investigations using reversetime migration, AVAz and full-waveform inversion, nearsurface velocity model building, distributed acoustic sensing,and rotational sensors. Business model considerations arediscussed along with improving the economic viability of
3C seismic and VSP to increase productivity, and to reduce
processing costs and turn around times.

C-waveDISC@seg.org | www.seg.org/DISC | +1 918 497 5584