Near Vertical Fractured Zones Imaging Using Refracions in The Vertical Seismic Profiling

Abstract

Summary The paper looks into a situation typical for the Verkhnekamskoe potash deposit. When performing vertical seismic profiling, refractions are recorded that are formed on a rigid acoustic boundary separating terrigenous rocks from a high-velocity salt stratum. The properties and regularities of refractions propagation during vertical seismic profiling are described. A technique for summing refractions is proposed for constructing a supergather that allows tracing and obtaining quantitative estimates of near vertical fractured zones. Combination of the proposed technique and seismic tomography expands the possibilities of borehole seismic geological interpretation.