Traveltime inversion of a cross-well dataset for elliptically anisotropic media

Carlos A. Cunha Filho

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ABSTRACT

Using the paraxial elliptical approximation for the dispersion relation around a horizontal axis, I applied a homogeneous and a layered traveltime inversion scheme to a common-receiver, multi-component, cross-well dataset. Each wave-type was inverted independently for the two parameters that describe the elastic model for media with elliptical anisotropy. The layered inversion scheme decomposes the model into a set of symmetric and anti-symmetric square functions. Results of the homogeneous inversion for the P and SV waves show a considerable degree of elliptical anisotropy. Even with the absence of SH information we were able to obtain four of the five transverse isotropic elastic parameters. Although the insufficient coverage of this specific dataset compromises the uniqueness of the solution, the first iterations of the layered scheme represent at least one resolution-step ahead of the homogeneous results.