Ray and wave methods in complex geologic structures

Antonios P. Vafidis1, Ioannis F. Louis2 and George A. Karantonis2

1 Applied Geophysics Laboratory, Department of Mineral Resources, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73100, Greece

2 Geophysics - Geothermy Division, Geology Department, University of Athens Panepistimiopolis Ilissia, Athens 15784, Greece

(Received 20 January 2001; accepted 4 July 2001)

Abstract: Seismic interpretation is usually checked by comparing field with synthetic data. A method for calculating synthetic data is chosen in terms of speed, efficiency and accuracy. In this study we compare three methods namely a 2D ray tracer for irregular grids, a finite difference method for travel time calculations and an acoustic wave propagation simulator. The comparison of calculated travel times is performed for a stratigraphic model and a salt model. The ray methods are fast and efficient by making certain approximations. The wave methods are more accurate but computationally more expensive.

Key Words: Seismic Modelling Methods, Ray-Tracing Simulators, Finite-Difference Propagators