| Abstract: | Synthetic vertical seismic profiles (VSP) provide a useful tool in the interpretation of VSP data, allowing the interpreter to analyze the propagation of seismic waves in the different layers. A zero-offset VSP modeling program can also be used as part of an inversion program for estimating the parameters in a layered model of the subsurface. Proposed methods for computing synthetic VSP are mostly based on plane waves in a horizontally layered elastic or anelastic medium. In order to compare these synthetic VSP with real data a common method is to scale the data with the spherical spreading factor of the primary reflections. This will in most cases lead to artificial enhancement of multiple reflections. We apply the ray series method to the equations of motion for a linear viscoelastic medium after having done a Fourier transformation with respect to the time variable. This results in a complex eikonal equation which, in general, appears to be difficult to solve. For vertically traveling waves in a horizontally layered viscoelastic medium the solution is easily found to be the integral along the ray of the inverse of the complex propagation velocity. The spherical spreading due to a point source is also complex, and it is equal to the integral along the ray of the complex propagation velocity. Synthetic data examples illustrate the differences between spherical, cylindrical, and plane waves in elastic and viscoelastic layered media. |
