Seismic Velocities

Important for :

Conversion from traveltime to depth

Check of results by modeling
Imaging of the data (migration)
Classification and Filtering of Signal and Noise
Predictions of the Lithology
Aid for geological Interpretation
Seismic velocities
 Can be written as function of physical quantities
that describe stress/strain relations
 Depend on medium properties
 Measurements of velocities
 Definitions of velocities (interval, rms, average
etc.)
 Dix formula: relation between rms and interval
velocities
 Anisotropy
Physical quantities to describe stress-strain
properties of isotropic medium

 Bulk modulus k volume

stress/strain

 Shear modulus  shear stress/strain

 Poissons ratio  transverse/longitudinal

strain

 Young’s modulus E longitudinal

stress/strain
 Bulk modulus

1 P
Bulk modulus: k 
κ V / V
 = compressibility
 Shear modulus

ΔL

F/A

ΔL/L

τ
Shear modulus: μ
tanθ
is the shear stress

The shear modulusis zero for fluids and gaseous media

Poissons ratio

Poisson’s ratio varies from 0 to ½.

Poisson’s ratio has the value ½ for fluids

3k  2μ
σ
2(3k  μ)
Young’s modulus

L+

9kμ
E
3k  μ
 Seismic Velocities in a homogeneous medium
Can be expressed as function of different combinations of
K, , E, , , 
4μ
k
Often used expressions 3 λ  2μ
are:
vp  
ρ ρ
μ
k = Bulk modulus vs 
 = Poisson ratio ρ
E = Young’s modulus
= Shear modulus
 = mass density 2
= Lame’s lambda constant λk μ
3
 Ratio Vp and Vs depends on Poisson ratio:

Vs 0.5  

Vp 1
where
3k  2μ
σ
2(3k  μ)
Seismic velocity
Depend on
 Matrix and structure of the stone
 Lithology
 Porosity
 Porefilling interstitial fluid
 Temperature
 Degree of compaction
 ………
Seismic Velocity depending on rock properties

(Sheriff und Geldard, 1995)

Measurements of velocities
 Laboratory measurements using probes
 Borehole measurements
 Refraction seismics
 Analysis of reflection hyperbolas
 Vertical seismic profiling
P-wave velocities vp for different material in (km/s)
Unconsolidated Material
Sand (dry) 0.2 - 1.0
Sand (water saturated) 1.5 - 2.0
Clay 1.0 - 2.5
Glacial till (water saturated) 1.5 - 2.5
Permafrost 3.5 - 4.0

Sedimentary rocks
Sandstone 2.0 - 6.0
Tertiary sandstone 2.0 - 2.5
Pennant sandstone (Carboniferous) 4.0 - 4.5
Cambrian quartzite 5.5 - 6.0
Limestones 2.0 - 6.0
Cretaceous chalk 2.0 - 2.5
Jurassic oolites and bioclastic limestones 3.0 - 4.0
Carboniferous limestone 5.0 - 5.5
Dolomites 2.5-6.5
Salt 4.5 - 5.0
Anhydrite 4.5 - 6.5
Gypsum 2.0 - 3.5

Kearey and Brooks, 1991

P-wave velocities vp for different material in (km/s)

Igneous / Metamorphic rocks

Granite 5.5 - 6.0
Gabbro 6.5 - 7.0
Ultramafic rocks 7.5 - 8.5
Serpentinite 5.5 - 6,5

Pore fluids
Air 0.3
Water 1.4 - 1.5
Ice 3.4
Petroleum 1.3 - 1.4

Other materials
Steel 6.1
Iron 5.8
Aluminium 6.6
Concrete 3.6

Kearey and Brooks, 1991

Velocities

zm  zn zm  zn
Interval-Velocity VI  
tm  tn τm
dz
Instantaneous Velocity Vinst 
dt
n n

 z v τ
i i i
Average-Velocity Vav  i 1
n
 i 1
n

τ
i 1
i τ
i 1
i

tm : measured reflected ray traveltime

m : one-way reflected ray traveltime only through mth layer
Several horizontal layers

V1, 1 t1
t2
v2 , 2
t3
Measured
v3 , 3
traveltimes

v τ 2
i i
RMS-velocity (root-mean-square) v2  i 1
n
rms
τ i 1
i
Dix’ Formula

Conversion from v rms in vint (interval velocities)

VRMS , n  1
tn  1
 VRMS , n  2 tn  VRMS , n  1 2 tn  1 
V int   
t n  tn  1 n-1
 
tn
V int
VRMS , n
n

Vrms is approximated by the stacking velocity that is obtained by

NMO correction of a CMP measurement.
(when maximum offset is small compared with reflector depth)
Anisotropy

Fast

Slow

Anisotropy(seismic): Variation of seismic velocity depending

on the direction in which it is measured.