Azimuthal anisotropy analysis of walkaround vertical seismic profiling vertical seismic profiling: a case study from Saudi Arabia

Understanding fracture orientations is important for optimal field development of fractured reservoirs because fractures can act as conduits for fluid flow. This is especially true for unconventional reservoirs (e.g., tight gas sands and shale gas). Using walkaround Vertical Seismic Profiling (VSP) technology presents a unique opportunity to identify seismic azimuthal anisotropy for use in mapping potential fracture zones and their orientation around a borehole. Saudi Aramco recently completed the acquisition, processing and analysis of a walkaround VSP survey through an unconventional tight gas sand reservoir to help characterize fractures. In this paper, we present the results of the seismic azimuthal anisotropy analysis using seismic traveltime, shear‐wave splitting and amplitude attenuation. The azimuthal anisotropy results are compared to the fracture orientations derived from dipole sonic and image logs. The image log interpretation suggests that an orthorhombic fracture system is present. VSP data show that the P‐wave traveltime anisotropy direction is NE to SW. This is consistent with the cemented fractures from the image log interpretation. The seismic amplitude attenuation anisotropy direction is NW to SE. This is consistent with one of the two orientations obtained using transverse to radial amplitude ratio analysis, with the dipole sonic and with open fracture directions interpreted from image log data.     

Non-hyperbolic moveout inversion of wide-azimuth P-wave data for orthorhombic media

The azimuthally varying non‐hyperbolic moveout of P‐waves in orthorhombic media can provide valuable information for characterization of fractured reservoirs and seismic processing. Here, we present a technique to invert long‐spread, wide‐azimuth P‐wave data for the orientation of the vertical symmetry planes and five key moveout parameters: the symmetry‐plane NMO velocities, V⁽¹⁾_nmo and V⁽²⁾_nmo , and the anellipticity parameters, η⁽¹⁾, η⁽²⁾ and η⁽³⁾ . The inversion algorithm is based on a coherence operator that computes the semblance for the full range of offsets and azimuths using a generalized version of the Alkhalifah–Tsvankin non‐hyperbolic moveout equation. The moveout equation provides a close approximation to the reflection traveltimes in layered anisotropic media with a uniform orientation of the vertical symmetry planes. Numerical tests on noise‐contaminated data for a single orthorhombic layer show that the best‐constrained parameters are the azimuth ? of one of the symmetry planes and the velocities V⁽¹⁾_nmo and V⁽²⁾_nmo , while the resolution in η⁽¹⁾ and η⁽²⁾ is somewhat compromised by the trade‐off between the quadratic and quartic moveout terms. The largest uncertainty is observed in the parameter η⁽³⁾ , which influences only long‐spread moveout in off‐symmetry directions. For stratified orthorhombic models with depth‐dependent symmetry‐plane azimuths, the moveout equation has to be modified by allowing the orientation of the effective NMO ellipse to differ from the principal azimuthal direction of the effective quartic moveout term. The algorithm was successfully tested on wide‐azimuth P‐wave reflections recorded at the Weyburn Field in Canada. Taking azimuthal anisotropy into account increased the semblance values for most long‐offset reflection events in the overburden, which indicates that fracturing is not limited to the reservoir level. The inverted symmetry‐plane directions are close to the azimuths of the off‐trend fracture sets determined from borehole data and shear‐wave splitting analysis. The effective moveout parameters estimated by our algorithm provide input for P‐wave time imaging and geometrical‐spreading correction in layered orthorhombic media.     

SKS波对地壳裂隙各向异性的响应——理论地震图研究

穿透含裂隙、裂缝地壳8s视周期的SV波的理论地震图研究表明,当地壳平均裂隙密度高于0.01即横波各向异性高于1%时,非对称面内不同方位的SKS波均发生分裂;地震图中直接的记录显示是切向T分量上出现SKS波的振动,其振幅随地壳平均裂隙密度的增大而增强,甚至能与径向R分量上的振幅相当.局限于上地壳的强裂缝各向异性同样能引起SKS分裂.长周期SKS波分裂对地壳内裂隙、裂缝的分布缺乏分辨率.直立平行排列裂隙、裂缝使得SKS分裂T分量记录特征具有方位对称性,这来自于HTI介质中快、慢波偏振和到时差随方位变化的对称性;而倾斜裂隙、裂缝使得该方位对称性丧失.对实际观测SKS分裂的偏振解释需要考虑地壳裂隙各向异性,特别是断裂附近的强裂缝各向异性.     

Anisotropic inversion of refracted waves in vertical cable data in the presence of dip

Refracted arrivals are analysed to estimate the near‐surface anisotropy of marine sediments using a vertical‐cable (VC) configuration. In the presence of dip, the horizontal and vertical ray‐slownesses are obtained from the observed apparent slownesses in the up‐ and downdip directions using a sum or difference at each azimuth. The multiple azimuths generated by a VC geometry permit the ray‐slowness distribution of the marine sediments to be determined. An inversion procedure is developed to provide dip and anisotropy parameters for refractive layers from the measured refraction traveltimes in multilayered azimuthally isotropic and anisotropic media. Two sets of transversely isotropic models are used to analyse the azimuthal variations of apparent and ray slownesses. In the first set, we fix the anisotropic parameters of the models but vary the dip (0°, 5° and 10°) to test the effects of the presence of dip. In the second set, we vary the P‐wave anisotropy strength (5.2%, 10.3%, 15.8% and 22.0%) to examine the sensitivity and accuracy of ray‐slowness approximations which are independent of dip. We test this inversion procedure on synthetic P‐wave VC data calculated for six different models by a finite‐difference method. The results of applications to real VC data acquired from the North Sea are also presented.     

Estimating azimuthal stress‐induced P‐wave anisotropy from S‐wave anisotropy using sonic log or vertical seismic profile data

Most sedimentary rocks are anisotropic, yet it is often difficult to accurately incorporate anisotropy into seismic workflows because analysis of anisotropy requires knowledge of a number of parameters that are difficult to estimate from standard seismic data. In this study, we provide a methodology to infer azimuthal P‐wave anisotropy from S‐wave anisotropy calculated from log or vertical seismic profile data. This methodology involves a number of steps. First, we compute the azimuthal P‐wave anisotropy in the dry medium as a function of the azimuthal S‐wave anisotropy using a rock physics model, which accounts for the stress dependency of seismic wave velocities in dry isotropic elastic media subjected to triaxial compression. Once the P‐wave anisotropy in the dry medium is known, we use the anisotropic Gassmann equations to estimate the anisotropy of the saturated medium. We test this workflow on the log data acquired in the North West Shelf of Australia, where azimuthal anisotropy is likely caused by large differences between minimum and maximum horizontal stresses. The obtained results are compared to azimuthal P‐wave anisotropy obtained via orthorhombic tomography in the same area. In the clean sandstone layers, anisotropy parameters obtained by both methods are fairly consistent. In the shale and shaly sandstone layers, however, there is a significant discrepancy between results since the stress‐induced anisotropy model we use is not applicable to rocks exhibiting intrinsic anisotropy. This methodology could be useful for building the initial anisotropic velocity model for imaging, which is to be refined through migration velocity analysis.     

Experimental study on the performance of an azimuthal acoustic receiver sonde for a downhole tool

A new azimuthal acoustic receiver sonde with a body and corresponding circuits was designed for a downhole tool. The 64‐sensor receiver sonde holds eight receiver stations that can be combined into at least 64 three‐sensor receiver subarrays. As a result, the receiver sonde can use different sensor combinations instead of different transducer types to produce multiple modes, including a phased azimuthal reception mode and conventional monopole, dipole, and quadruple modes. Laboratory measurements were conducted to study the performance of the azimuthal acoustic receiver sonde for a downhole tool, and the experimental results indicate that the receiver sonde provides a consistent reception performance. Individual sensors receive similar time‐domain waveforms, and their corresponding frequency bands and sensitivities are consistent within the measurement errors of around 5%. The direction of the reception main lobe is approximately parallel to its exterior normal direction. In addition, a receiver subarray with three sensors receives waveforms that have higher energy and narrower beamwidths. For individual sensors, the angular width of the dominant reception lobe is 191.3^° on average, whereas that of the individual receiver subarrays is approximately 52.1^° on average. The amplitude of the first arrival received by the receiver subarray centred at the primary sensor directly pointing to the source is approximately 2.2 times the average amplitude of the first arrivals received by the other receiver subarrays in the same receiver station. Thus, the maximum amplitude of the waveforms received by the receiver subarrays can be used to determine the direction of the incident waves. This approach represents a promising method for determining the reflector azimuth for acoustic reflection logging and three‐dimensional acoustic logging.     

中国数字地震台网(CDSN)单台站P波偏振分析

偏振分析可以定量描述地震波的质点运动。 P波质点运动在水平方向上发生偏振, 使得传播方向会偏离台站与地震震源之间大圆弧的方向。 P波偏振分析可以用来约束地下结构以及反映地震各向异性, 提供与剪切波分裂等手段不同的证据。 本文介绍并使用主成分分析(Principle Component Analysis, PCA)的方法, 计算了单一地震台的P波偏振, 同时, 利用谐和分析, 对台站下方的各向异性进行了分析。 将P波偏振分析应用到中国数字地震台网(China Digital Seismograph Network, CDSN)的四个台站10年左右的数据, 筛选并分析了震相清晰、 信噪比高的远震三分量初至P波的质点运动, 拟合出四个台站接收到的地震事件后方位角与P波水平偏离角度之间的三角函数曲线, 计算出拉萨台、 昆明台下方上地幔各向异性的偏振方向分别为66°和57°, 大致呈现北东东方向。     

A method for inversion of layered shear wavespeed azimuthal anisotropy from Rayleigh wave dispersion using the Neighborhood Algorithm

Seismic anisotropy provides important constraints on deformation patterns of Earth's material. Rayleigh wave dispersion data with azimuthal anisotropy can be used to invert for depth-dependent shear wavespeed azimuthal anisotropy, therefore reflecting depth-varying deformation patterns in the crust and upper mantle. In this study, we propose a two-step method that uses the Neighborhood Algorithm(NA) for the point-wise inversion of depth-dependent shear wavespeeds and azimuthal anisotropy from Rayleigh wave azimuthally anisotropic dispersion data. The first step employs the NA to estimate depthdependent VSV(or the elastic parameter L) as well as their uncertainties from the isotropic part Rayleigh wave dispersion data. In the second step, we first adopt a difference scheme to compute approximate Rayleigh-wave phase velocity sensitivity kernels to azimuthally anisotropic parameters with respect to the velocity model obtained in the first step. Then we perform the NA to estimate the azimuthally anisotropic parameters Gc/L and Gs/L at depths separately from the corresponding cosine and sine terms of the azimuthally anisotropic dispersion data. Finally, we compute the depth-dependent magnitude and fast polarization azimuth of shear wavespeed azimuthal anisotropy. The use of the global search NA and Bayesian analysis allows for more reliable estimates of depth-dependent shear wavespeeds and azimuthal anisotropy as well as their uncertainties.We illustrate the inversion method using the azimuthally anisotropic dispersion data in SE Tibet, where we find apparent changes of fast axes of shear wavespeed azimuthal anisotropy between the crust and uppermost mantle.     

Anisotropic P-wave attenuation measured from a multi-azimuth surface seismic reflection survey

A system of aligned vertical fractures produces azimuthal variations in stacking velocity and amplitude variation with offset, characteristics often reported in seismic reflection data for hydrocarbon exploration. Studies of associated attenuation anisotropy have been mostly theoretical, laboratory or vertical seismic profiling based. We used an 11 common‐midpoint‐long portion of each of four marine surface‐seismic reflection profiles, intersecting each other at 45° within circa 100 m of a common location, to measure the azimuthal variation of effective attenuation, Q⁻¹_eff and stacking velocity, in a shallow interval, about 100 m thick, in which consistently orientated vertical fracturing was expected due to an underlying salt diapirism. We found qualitative and quantitative consistency between the azimuthal variation in the attenuation and stacking velocity, and published amplitude variation with offset results. The 135° azimuth line showed the least apparent attenuation (1000 Q⁻¹_eff= 16 ± 7) and the fastest stacking velocity, hence we infer it to be closest to the fracture trend: the orthogonal 45° line showed the most apparent attenuation (1000Q⁻¹_eff= 52 ± 15) and slowest stacking velocity. The variation of Q⁻¹_eff with azimuth φ is well fitted by 1000Q⁻¹_eff = 34 − 18cos[2(φ+40°)] giving a fracture direction of 140 ± 23° (±1SD, derived from ‘bootstrapping’ fits to all 11⁴ combinations of individual common‐midpoint/azimuth measurements), compared to 134 ± 47° from published amplitude variation with offset data. The effects of short‐window spectral estimation and choices of spectral ratio bandwidth and offset ranges used in attenuation analysis, individually give uncertainties of up to ±13° in fracture direction. This magnitude of azimuthal variation can be produced by credible crack geometries (e.g., dry cracks, radius 6.5 m, aspect ratio 3 × 10⁻⁵, crack density 0.2) but we do not claim these to be the actual properties of the interval studied, because of the lack of well control (and its consequences for the choice of theoretical model and host rock physical properties) and the small number of azimuths available here.     

利用全方位P波属性进行裂缝检测的地震方法

胜利油田存在着一种特殊的裂隙性油气藏,即泥岩裂隙油气藏。由于该类裂隙储层的孔隙度很小,岩石物性参数变化不灵敏,并表现出很强的各向异性,因此,其勘探难度很大。到目前为止,国内外还没有一套成熟的地质、物探、测井及钻井等资料综合分析的裂隙方位、分布、密度的识别方法。本文在研究国外裂缝检测方法的基础上,提出了波阻抗随方位变化(IPVA)的新方法,结合罗家地区的泥岩裂隙地震地质特征,研究了利用多方位 P 波资料检测定向垂直裂缝的地震采集、处理和识别方法,对不同共中心点 CMP 位置的全方位 P 波资料在速度随方位变化(VVA)及振幅随方位角变化(RVA)研究的基础上,进行波阻抗随方位变化(IPVA)的研究,用于识别裂缝的分布、走向及密度。经罗家地区实际资料的应用,见到了初步的效果,证明该方法是潜力较大的高角度裂隙的定量检测方法。     

3D description and inversion of reflection moveout of PS‐waves in anisotropic media

Common‐midpoint moveout of converted waves is generally asymmetric with respect to zero offset and cannot be described by the traveltime series t²(x²) conventionally used for pure modes. Here, we present concise parametric expressions for both common‐midpoint (CMP) and common‐conversion‐point (CCP) gathers of PS‐waves for arbitrary anisotropic, horizontally layered media above a plane dipping reflector. This analytic representation can be used to model 3D (multi‐azimuth) CMP gathers without time‐consuming two‐point ray tracing and to compute attributes of PS moveout such as the slope of the traveltime surface at zero offset and the coordinates of the moveout minimum. In addition to providing an efficient tool for forward modelling, our formalism helps to carry out joint inversion of P and PS data for transverse isotropy with a vertical symmetry axis (VTI media). If the medium above the reflector is laterally homogeneous, P‐wave reflection moveout cannot constrain the depth scale of the model needed for depth migration. Extending our previous results for a single VTI layer, we show that the interval vertical velocities of the P‐ and S‐waves (V_P0 and V_S0) and the Thomsen parameters ε and δ can be found from surface data alone by combining P‐wave moveout with the traveltimes of the converted PS(PSV)‐wave. If the data are acquired only on the dip line (i.e. in 2D), stable parameter estimation requires including the moveout of P‐ and PS‐waves from both a horizontal and a dipping interface. At the first stage of the velocity‐analysis procedure, we build an initial anisotropic model by applying a layer‐stripping algorithm to CMP moveout of P‐ and PS‐waves. To overcome the distorting influence of conversion‐point dispersal on CMP gathers, the interval VTI parameters are refined by collecting the PS data into CCP gathers and repeating the inversion. For 3D surveys with a sufficiently wide range of source–receiver azimuths, it is possible to estimate all four relevant parameters (V_P0, V_S0, ε and δ) using reflections from a single mildly dipping interface. In this case, the P‐wave NMO ellipse determined by 3D (azimuthal) velocity analysis is combined with azimuthally dependent traveltimes of the PS‐wave. On the whole, the joint inversion of P and PS data yields a VTI model suitable for depth migration of P‐waves, as well as processing (e.g. transformation to zero offset) of converted waves.     

利用地球简正模耦合研究上地幔过渡区方位各向异性

地震方位各向异性广泛存在于地球上地幔中,目前利用地震体波或面波分析研究上地幔各向异性的地球物理方法有很多种,但是由于各自的局限性均难以分析上地幔过渡区中的各向异性特征.方位各向异性可导致球形简正模和环形简正模之间发生耦合.地球长周期自由振荡的简正模可深入到上地幔过渡区.本文利用各向异性地球模型计算各向异性简正模耦合深度敏感核,表明长周期(250~400 s)简正模各向异性耦合(如₀S₂₀-₀T₂₁ 和₀S₂₅-₀T₂₅)的敏感度峰值在400~600 km之间.在不受地球自转影响的台站,如位于南极极点的QSPA站,仍然可以观测到强烈的简正模耦合现象.本文的研究表明:只有在地震观测台站靠近长周期球形振荡的节点时,才能在其观测数据中观测到各向异性耦合现象,许多各向异性耦合在震后18~24 h期间最强,并可导致垂直方向的环形简正模的振幅大于球形耦合简正模的振幅.这些特征是在地震观测数据中寻找各向异性耦合的重要线索.长周期简正模的方位各向异性耦合为我们提供了一个新的认识上地幔过渡区各向异性的窗口.     

P-waveform analysis for local subduction geometry south of Puget Sound,Washington

The local subduction geometry at a site south of Puget Sound in western Washington is investigated using teleseismicP-waveforms recorded on a three-component event triggered seismograph. The data are processed using source equalization deconvolution in order to isolate locally convertedP-to-S arrivals and stacked to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. Stable arrivals in the radial component indicate an oceanic Moho within the subducted slab at a depth of about 53 km beneath the station. Observed amplitude variations with azimuth in the radial data, as well as qualitative aspects of the tangential data, are used to establish a slab dip of 16° to the southeast. Our results are compatible with previous results from a site 60 km to the west, and further confirm a substantial warp in the regional geometry of the subducted Juan de Fuca plate.     

青藏高原中部Quasi-Love波的识别及其转换点揭示的东西向方位各向异性变化

目前人们利用4种基本的地震波现象研究地震各向异性,如横波双折射、面波散射、与传播方向有关的走时异常和PS转换波震相.本文利用面波散射产生的Quasi-Love（QL）波研究青藏高原上地幔顶部的各向异性结构特征.首先利用中国地震台网昌都（CAD）台记录的地震波形资料识别出产生QL波的路径,并利用合成地震记录和垂直偏振极性分析证实所观测到的为QL波,而不是高阶振型的Rayleigh波或其他体波震相;然后由Rayleigh波、Love波和QL波的群速度估算了各向异性结构横向变化的转换点;不同周期时,转换点的位置不同,这种频率依赖性还需要进一步的模拟研究.Love波向Rayleigh波耦合（产生QL波）的转换点位置揭示了青藏高原面波方位各向异性变化特征,并以南北向构造带的东西分段性、上地幔流引起的地球内力诱导岩石形变解释了青藏高原各向异性的东西向差异性.     

转换波方位各向异性裂缝检测技术研究及应用

HTI裂缝各向异性介质中,转换波随方位角的变化比较复杂,目前还没有解析公式可以表达其变化特征,只能通过物理实验或数值模拟来分析其应用的可能性.数值模拟结果表明,转换波在裂缝各向异性介质中传播时,其R分量和T分量的振幅属性都具有明显的方位各向异性特征,R分量振幅方位各向异性拟合椭圆的长轴方向指示裂缝方位,这与纵波方位各向异性特征相似;根据P波AVAZ方位各向异性分析原理,对转换波R分量振幅方位各向异性曲线进行方位椭圆拟合,寻找椭圆的长轴方向,即裂缝主方位,再由P波AVAZ技术中振幅响应与炮检方向和裂缝走向之间的夹角关系式得到裂缝的发育密度,从而构建转换波方位各向异性AVAZ裂缝检测技术.该技术已用于川西新场气田某区块的裂缝储层预测,取得了较好的应用效果.     

Lithology and hydrocarbon mapping from multicomponent seismic data

Elastic rock properties can be estimated from prestack seismic data using amplitude variation with offset analysis. P‐wave, S‐wave and density ‘reflectivities’, or contrasts, can be inverted from angle‐band stacks. The ‘reflectivities’ are then inverted to absolute acoustic impedance, shear impedance and density. These rock properties can be used to map reservoir parameters through all stages of field development and production. When P‐wave contrast is small, or gas clouds obscure reservoir zones, multicomponent ocean‐bottom recording of converted‐waves (P to S or Ps) data provides reliable mapping of reservoir boundaries. Angle‐band stacks of multicomponent P‐wave (Pz) and Ps data can also be inverted jointly. In this paper Aki‐Richards equations are used without simplifications to invert angle‐band stacks to ‘reflectivities’. This enables the use of reflection seismic data beyond 30° of incident angles compared to the conventional amplitude variation with offset analysis. It, in turn, provides better shear impedance and density estimates. An important input to amplitude variation with offset analysis is the V_s/V_p ratio. Conventional methods use a constant or a time‐varying V_s/V_p model. Here, a time‐ and space‐varying model is used during the computation of the ‘reflectivities’. The V_s/V_p model is generated using well log data and picked horizons. For multicomponent data applications, the latter model can also be generated from processing V_s/V_p models and available well data. Reservoir rock properties such as λρ, μρ, Poisson's ratio and bulk modulus can be computed from acoustic impedance, shear impedance and density for pore fill and lithology identification. λ and μ are the Lamé constants and ρ is density. These estimations can also be used for a more efficient log property mapping. V_p/V_s ratio or Poisson's ratio, λρ and weighted stacks, such as the one computed from λρ and λ/μ, are good gas/oil and oil/water contact indicators, i.e., pore fill indicators, while μρ mainly indicates lithology. μρ is also affected by pressure changes. Results from a multicomponent data set are used to illustrate mapping of gas, oil and water saturation and lithology in a Tertiary sand/shale setting. Whilst initial log crossplot analysis suggested that pore fill discrimination may be possible, the inversion was not successful in revealing fluid effects. However, rock properties computed from acoustic impedance, shear impedance and density estimates provided good lithology indicators; pore fill identification was less successful. Neural network analysis using computed rock properties provided good indication of sand/shale distribution away from the existing wells and complemented the results depicted from individual rock property inversions.     

Normal moveout velocity for pure‐mode and converted waves in layered orthorhombic medium

We study the azimuthally dependent hyperbolic moveout approximation for small angles (or offsets) for quasi‐compressional, quasi‐shear, and converted waves in one‐dimensional multi‐layer orthorhombic media. The vertical orthorhombic axis is the same for all layers, but the azimuthal orientation of the horizontal orthorhombic axes at each layer may be different. By starting with the known equation for normal moveout velocity with respect to the surface‐offset azimuth and applying our derived relationship between the surface‐offset azimuth and phase‐velocity azimuth, we obtain the normal moveout velocity versus the phase‐velocity azimuth. As the surface offset/azimuth moveout dependence is required for analysing azimuthally dependent moveout parameters directly from time‐domain rich azimuth gathers, our phase angle/azimuth formulas are required for analysing azimuthally dependent residual moveout along the migrated local‐angle‐domain common image gathers. The angle and azimuth parameters of the local‐angle‐domain gathers represent the opening angle between the incidence and reflection slowness vectors and the azimuth of the phase velocity ψ_phs at the image points in the specular direction. Our derivation of the effective velocity parameters for a multi‐layer structure is based on the fact that, for a one‐dimensional model assumption, the horizontal slowness and the azimuth of the phase velocity ψ_phs remain constant along the entire ray (wave) path. We introduce a special set of auxiliary parameters that allow us to establish equivalent effective model parameters in a simple summation manner. We then transform this set of parameters into three widely used effective parameters: fast and slow normal moveout velocities and azimuth of the slow one. For completeness, we show that these three effective normal moveout velocity parameters can be equivalently obtained in both surface‐offset azimuth and phase‐velocity azimuth domains.     

Observations of teleseismicP wave coda for underground explosions

The earlyP wave coda (5–15 sec after the first arrival) of underground explosions at the Nevada Test Site is studied in the time domain using 2082 teleseismic short-period recordings, with the intent of identifying near-source contributions to the signals in the frequency range 0.2–2.0 Hz. Smaller magnitude events tend to have relatively high coda levels in the 0.4–0.8 Hz frequency band for both Yucca Flat and Pahute Mesa explosions. Coda complexity in this low-frequency passband is negatively correlated with burial depth for Pahute Mesa events but is only weakly correlated with depth for Yucca Flat events. Enhanced excitation of relatively long-period scattered waves for smaller, less deeply buried events is required to explain this behavior. Coda complexity in the 0.8–1.1 Hz band is positively correlated with magnitude and depth for Pahute Mesa events, but has no such dependence for Yucca Flat events. This may result from systematic variations between the spectra of direct signals and coda arrivals caused bypP interference for the largest events, all of which were detonated at Pahute Mesa. Another possible explanation is a frequency-dependent propagation effect on the direct signals of the larger events, most of which were located in the center of the mesa overlying strong lateral velocity gradients in the crust and upper mantle. Event average complexity varies spatially for both test sites, particularly in the 0.8–1.1 Hz band, providing evidence for frequency-dependent focussing or scattering by near-source structure. Both the direct arrivals and the early coda have strong azimuthal amplitude patterns that are produced by defocussing by mantle heterogeneity. The direct arrivals have stronger coherent azimuthal patterns than the early coda for Pahute Mesa events, indicating more pronounced deep crustal and shallow mantle defocussing for the direct signals. However, for Yucca Flat events the direct arrivals have less coherent azimuthal patterns than the coda, suggesting that a highly variable component of near-source scattering preferentially affecting the downgoing energy is superimposed on a pattern produced by mantle heterogeneity that affects the entire signal. This complicated behavior of the direct arrivals may be the result of triplications and caustics produced by the complex basement structure known to underlie the Yucca Flat test site. The presence of strong azimuthal patterns in the early coda indicates that source strength estimates based on early coda are subject to biases similar to those affecting estimates based on direct arrivals.