THREE-DIMENSIONAL SEISMIC MODELING FOR ARBITRARY VELOCITY DISTRIBUTIONS *

The growing awareness of the significance of three-dimensional interpretation of seismic reflection data carries with it a need for better understanding of the role of the velocity configuration in the production of reflection patterns. Modeling the reflection responses of a simple dipping plane reflector through velocity models of various degrees of complexity demonstrates the importance of overlying velocities in determining the reflection pattern. Modeling is accomplished using a raytracing technique which determines total travel time of the normal incidence raypath through an arbitrary iso-velocity layer model.