Ray and wave methods in complex geologic structures
Antonios P. Vafidis
1, Ioannis F. Louis2 and George A. Karantonis21
Applied Geophysics Laboratory, Department of Mineral Resources, Technical University of Crete, Chania 73100, Greece2
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