Improving the accuracy of the expanded anisotropic eikonal equation at larger offsets using Levin T-transformation

In an anisotropic model, traveltime can be determined approximately by numerical solution of the eikonal equation in terms of an anellipticity parameter η, using perturbation theory. However, its accuracy decreases under the effect of strong anisotropy at larger offsets. It becomes invalid for determining normal moveout velocity and anellipticity parameter in seismic processing. We propose a new approach using Levin T-transformation to transform the expanded traveltime in the transversely isotropic medium with vertical axis of symmetry (VTI) into rational form. The objective of this study is to provide a new traveltime approximation that is more accurate at larger offsets. In this study, we derive Levin algorithm and determine the optimal value of Levin parameters, which is a key step in achieving better accuracy. In a numerical experiment, we compare the accuracy between Levin T-transformation and second sequence of Shanks transformation in a homogeneous VTI medium. We also implement both approximations in a velocity analysis and stacking traces using synthetic common midpoint gathers on a multilayer earth model. The proposed method shows a superiority in accuracy to existing methods over a range of offsets with offset-to-depth ratio up to 6 and anellipticity parameter 0–0.5.