Seismic Interferometry: Research Trends and Technological Introduction

Abstract

In the seismic interferometry (SI) method, cross correlation of seismic recordings at two receivers is performed to retrieve an estimate of the seismic trace at one of the receivers while the other acts as a so-called “virtual source” to obtain subsurface information. In this article, basic SI theories are described, and past cases in which SI methods were used are analyzed. SI, which mainly uses cross correlation, can be performed using deconvolution or coherence, and each SI method can be applied to seismic reflection, refraction, and surface wave survey data. Because the virtual source can be positioned at all receiver locations and active sources are not necessary, SI is an extremely effective monitoring technique. SI has been applied to such fields as geological imaging, fault detection, and structural health.