Anisotropic parameters and P-wave velocity for orthorhombic media

Although orthorhombic (or orthotropic) symmetry is believed to be common for fractured reservoirs, the difficulties in dealing with nine independent elastic constants have precluded this model from being used in seismology. A notation introduced in this work is designed to help make seismic inversion and processing for orthorhombic media more practical by simplifying the description of a wide range of seismic signatures. Taking advantage of the fact that the Christoffel equation has the same form in the symmetry planes of orthorhombic and transversely isotropic (TI) media, we can replace the stiffness coefficients by two vertical (P and S) velocities and seven dimensionless parameters that represent an extension of Thomsen's anisotropy coefficients to orthorhombic models. By design, this notation provides a uniform description of anisotropic media with both orthorhombic and TI symmetry. The dimensionless anisotropic parameters introduced here preserve all attractive features of Thomsen notation in treatin...

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