Polarity

 American polarity standard: An increase in

impedance yields positive amplitude .
 European (or Australian) polarity standard:
An increase in impedance yields negative
amplitude ,
 SEG polarity standard: the onset of a
compression from an explosive source is
represented by a negative number, that is, by a
downward deflection when displayed graphically
(Sheriff, 2001).
Measuring changes in pressure

I 2  I1
R pressure 
I 2  I1

American polarity standard

Measuring changes in displacement

I 2  I1
Rdisplacement 
I 2  I1

European polarity standard

 Polarity Standards
(from Alistair Brown)
(from
Alistair
Brown)
 Resolution

Ability to separate events

- detection versus resolution
 Resolution

Discussion: What is the effect of bandwidth on resolution?

Sheriff
Sheriff
Light Beam

Diffraction Pattern
sin2 x
x2

Intensity
b/2 = peak-to-trough distance

b
Kallweit and Wood
 Rayleigh’s Criterion

The limit of an instrument to distinguish objects is

when the two images are separated by the
peak/trough distance of the instrument’s diffraction
pattern.

Kallweit and Wood

 Limit of Resolution

Resolved Rayleigh’s Limit Unresolved

DECREASING SEPARATION

Kallweit and Wood

 Ricker Wavelet Parameters

WAVELET PARAMETERS
Inflection b = wavelet breadth
Points b/2 = peak-to-trough time
T0 = zero crossing time interval
TR = inflection point separation
b

Kallweit and Wood

Ricker’s Limit of Resolution

Ricker’s limit occurs when the time

separation of events is equal to the time
separation between wavelet main lobe
inflection points, TR.

Kallweit and Wood

 Comparison of Criteria

FLAT TOP

RESOLVED RAYLEIGH RICKER UNRESOLVED

DECREASING IMAGE SEPARATION

Kallweit and Wood

 A

C
Wavelet
Bandwidth
Effects D

F
 A
“Good” Wavelet Characteristics:

• Compact in time – short coda

B
• Large main-lobe to side-lobe amplitude
ratio

• Short main-lobe breadth

C

• Short main-lobe to side lobe time

• Zero phase? D
What is the effect of bandwidth and
center frequency on these characteristics?
E
Compare these characteristics for
zero-phase and 90o phase wavelets
with the same amplitude spectrum.
F
 Bandwidth

1.
Half-amplitude
point
Amplitude

FB

0.
0. Fc 100.
Frequency (Hz)
 Backus Criterion
Dirac-delta function

to
“Delta-ness”
D = 1/(Σ Wi (t-to)2)
 Discussion
• What does a 90o phase shift do to delta-
ness?

• Discuss the comparative resolution of zero

phase and 90o phase wavelets, minimum
phase, mixed phase, and integrated
wavelets.
 Pulsewidth
tB
tB = 1/FB
tC = 1/FC A
A/2

TIME
 TUNING THICKNESS

( )

Why the factor of 2?

Synthetic Wedge Model
Brown
Effect of Side
Lobes on
Tuning Curve
Behavior

Brown
Integration and Differentiation of
Wavelets
Integration and Differentiation of
Wavelets
• Integration is a low-pass filter (1/f)

• Differentiation is a low-cut filter (f)

 Impedance Ramp
• A ramp in impedance results in many
small reflection coefficients of the same
sign
Impedance Reflectivity
Profile Series

• When convolved with the wavelet, this

smooths the wavelet
• If the ramp is longer than the wavelet, it
integrates the wavelet
 Isolated Layer
• An single isolated layer imbedded in the same
material above and below has reflectivity that is
an impulse pair (equal and opposite reflection
coefficients).
Impedance Reflectivity
Profile Series

• This is called a “first-difference” filter which has

an effect similar to differentiation.
• Acts as a low cut filter.
Question: Why are gas sand reservoirs frequently higher frequency than nearby
reflections?
Neidel and Poggiagiolmi
Neidel and Poggiagiolmi
 Wavelet Shapes 3.B.1

Possible Seismic Signatures

Integral

Basic
Wavelet

1st
Derivative

2nd
Derivative

0
time Hilterman, 2003
 Bed Geometry Responses 3.B.2

Timing, Scale and Shape

Velocity

14222 ft/s
6000 ft/s
8000 ft/s

10666 ft/s

Timing Bed Scalar Shape Limit

Thick 1 Basic b>

4b
Thin Derivative b < /8
bed

 bed
Ramp Integral b>
4 b
b = bed thickness
bed = Vbed x Dominant Period
Hilterman, 2003
 Exercise
• Convolve the series (…1,-1,1,-1,1,-1,1,-1…)
with (1,1)
• Can the original time series be reconstructed
by convolving the output with the inverse of
(1,1)?
• Is there any way to calculate the original time
series?
 Question

Can resolution be improved

without increasing frequency?
 Discussion
• Can one “decrypt” high-frequency
information from encoded low-frequency
information?

• What is needed to recover “lost”

frequencies?
 Spectrum of
high-resolution
seismic

frequency
 Fresnel Zone

•That part of a reflecting interface

which returns energy within ½ cycle

•Separate events within a Fresnel

Zone cannot be resolved
 Exercise
Show that the width of a Fresnel zone is:

W = (2d + 2/4)1/2

where d is depth and  is wavelength.