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Zoeppritz equations
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In geophysics and reflection seismology, the Zoeppritz equations are a set of

equations that describe the partitioning of seismic wave energy at an interface,
typically a boundary between two different layers of rock. They are named after
their author, the German geophysicist Karl Bernhard Zoeppritz, who died before
they were published in 1919.[1]
The equations are important in geophysics because they relate the amplitude
of P-wave, incident upon a plane interface, and the amplitude of reflected and
refracted P- and S-waves to the angle of incidence.[2] They are the basis for
investigating the factors affecting the amplitude of a returning seismic wave
when the angle of incidence is altered - also known as amplitude versus offset
analysis - which is a helpful technique in the detection of petroleum reservoirs.
The Zoeppritz equations were not the first to describe the amplitudes of
reflected and refracted waves at a plane interface. Cargill Gilston Knott used an
approach in terms of potentials almost 30 years earlier, in 1899, to derive
Knott's equations. Both approaches are valid and Zoeppritz's approach is more
easily understood.[2]

Diagram showing the mode

conversions that occur when a P-wave
reflects off an interface at non-normal
incidence

Contents
1 Equations
1.1 Shuey Equation
2 See also
3 Further reading
4 References
5 External links

Equations

[ edit ]

There are 4 equations with 4 unknowns and although they can be solved, they do not give an intuitive understanding
for how the reflection amplitudes vary with the rock properties involved (density, velocity etc.).[3] Several attempts have
been made to develop approximations to the Zoeppritz Equations, such as Bortfelds (1961) and Aki & Richards
(1980),[4] but the most successful of these is the Shuey's, which assumes Poisson's ratio to be the elastic property
most directly related to the angular dependence of the reflection coefficient.

Shuey Equation [ edit ]

The 3-term Shuey Equation can be written a number of ways, the following is a common form:[5]

where

and
;
where =angle of incidence;
wave velocity in medium;
contrast across interface;

= P-wave velocity in medium;

= P-wave velocity contrast across interface; = S= S-wave velocity contrast across interface; = density in medium;
= density

A proposed better approximation of Zoeppritz equations:

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and

In the Shuey Equation, R(0) is the reflection coefficient at normal incidence and is controlled by the contrast in acoustic
impedances. G, often referred to as the AVO gradient, describes the variation of reflection amplitudes at intermediate
offsets and the third term, F, describes the behaviour at large angles/far offsets that are close to the critical angle. This
equation can be further simplified by assuming that the angle of incidence is less than 30 degrees (i.e. the offset is
relatively small), so the third term will tend to zero. This is the case in most seismic surveys and gives the Shuey
Approximation:

See also

[ edit ]

Amplitude versus offset, a practical application of the phenomenon described by these equations.
Karl Zppritz (Geographer) (de)

Further reading

[ edit ]

A full derivation of these equations can be found in most exploration geophysics text books, such as:
Sheriff, R. E., Geldart, L. P., (1995), 2nd Edition. Exploration Seismology. Cambridge University Press.

References

[ edit ]

1. ^ Zoeppritz, Karl (1919). Erdbebenwellen VII. VIIb. ber Reflexion und Durchgang seismischer Wellen durch
Unstetigkeitsflchen. Nachrichten von der Kniglichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Gttingen, Mathematischphysikalische Klasse, 66-84.
2. ^ a b Sheriff, R. E., Geldart, L. P., (1995), 2nd Edition. Exploration Seismology. Cambridge University Press.
3. ^ Shuey, R. T. (April 1985). "A simplification of the Zoeppritz equations" . Geophysics 50 (9): 609614.
Bibcode:1985Geop...50..609S . doi:10.1190/1.1441936 .
4. ^ Aki, K. and Richards, P. G., 1980, Quantitative seismology: Theory and methods, v.1 : W.H. Freeman and Co.
5. ^ Avesth, P, T Mukerji and G Mavko (2005). Quantitative seismic interpretation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
UK

External links

[ edit ]

crewes.org
Categories: Seismology measurement Petroleum geology

This page was last modified on 30 December 2015, at 01:25.

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