ALBERT

Notes: This second part deals with a subject analogous to the one developed in the first part, but related to surface irregularities with a non-cylindrical structure. In this part we have taken into consideration both the effects due to potential electrodes and the effects due to current electrodes.The study of these cases has been made with the help of mathematical theory, but it has been necessary to extend this theory from the case of cylindrical bodies to the case of non-cylindrical ones.Finally, as conclusion to both parts of the paper, some pages have been dedicated to the details of the calculation procedure, in order to demonstrate its practical htness for the study of this problem.

Notes: The usual computation methods in refraction seismic in the Sahara often involve considerable shot distances. Therefore, in addition to a high consumption of explosives, difficulties of operation and interpretation arise.In order to cut down the shot distances, it was necessary to study with great care the refracted waves having the shortest possible traveling path along the marker. Such paths correspond to the zone of great relative energy resulting, on one hand, from the sudden increase of reflected energy beyond the critical angle (total reflection) and, on the other hand, from the sudden appearance of refracted energy. The proposed method is founded on correlations of traces located in this “critical zone” on the different records shot on a profile; in order to get around certain difficulties due to insufficient knowledge of the marker velocity, the interpreter is led to select a constant correlation distance, at least for sections of the profile.The paper describes in detail the setting up and utilization of the proposed method, analyses a few examples and gives an estimate of the advantages and the restrictions of this method.

Notes: It was felt that Faust's first law was the best guide in classifying data concerning velocities and their correlation with lithology, even if, on a local basis, other laws fit the observed values better.Data have been re-examined which were provided chiefly by borehole measurements, both conventional and continuous, but also by some particularly reliable velocity profiles. “Faust's coefficient” has been computed for a series of geological formations, i.e. the ratio of true velocity to the value resulting from Faust's law, according to the age and present depth of the formation.Some graphs are shown, in the first place concerning the Sahara, and especially the Palaeozoic. It can be seen that the only formation showing values notably less than I disappears.On the other hand, values greater than I can be noticed for the quartzitic Ordovician of limited thickness.This comparison has been continued on a broader basis, using, in particular, data published by Faust and Wyrobek. The data concerning the very homogeneous Westphalian result in an average value slightly less than I.The Aquitanian basin has been studied in greater detail, owing to the closer spacing of the measurements.Generally speaking, the Middle and Upper Jurassic, the Cretaceous and the Eocene-Oligocene show values notably higher than the Palaeozoic in the Sahara. This seems to be connected with the higher proportion of limestones and dolomites. Values as high as 1.7 are observed in compact dolomites.Four maps are given, concerning the Oligocene, the Eocene-Paleocene (one of them excluding the Danian) and the Upper Cretaceous (exclusive of Danian), and a cross-section showing the link with lithology.Some discrepancies with regard to data from borehole samples are discussed.The question may be raised as to whether such studies can be carried out at the very beginning of exploration of a basin, on the basis of only a few logged wells. In the Aquitaine basin, data given by velocity profiles are in close agreement with those from wells as regards the Tertiary; but as regards the Mesozoic, information is meagre. In basins of the Sahara type, synthetic records have shown that interference of true and multiple reflections with each other is a major drawback. But on the other hand, the possibilities of a combined use of reflection and refraction in order to define lateral changes in velocities may not have been fully appreciated. Some computed examples are shown, since the results of a survey at present being carried out on this basis cannot yet be published.Finally, mention is made of the part played by the determination of anisotropy, and an appeal is made for more coöperation between geophysicists in this sphere.

Notes: The vertical component of the attraction exerted by a horizontal homogeneous polygon is obtained as the sum of terms proportional to the difference, for each of the vertices, between the external angle and its spherical perspective. A set of computation charts is presented, each for a fixed value of the angle of the polygon (22° 30′, 30°, 45°, 67° 30’ and 90°). These charts give the difference between the external angle and its spherical perspective as a function of the quotient of the distance from the sides to the vertical through the station over the depth. The chart for the right angle is an alignment chart, permitting a more accurate reading; the others are graphs in rectangular coördinates.For a remote station the result would be obtained as a small difference between relatively large quantities, and consequently with a not quite satisfactory precision. For these stations it is preferable to assume the entire mass to be concentrated in the centre of gravity.

Notes: In the laboratories of the agip mineraria a new apparatus has been developed which, utilizing reflected energy collected by several groups of seismometers, provides on a single trace an indication of the total energy level. This indication is controled in time according to an exponential characteristic, thus compensating for the attenuation which is effected in the subsurface. The apparatus enables indications of successive energy levels to be obtained for different shots, thus furnishing a time section even during the routine field work.

Notes: The factors affecting the response of a velocity-sensitive well geophone are discussed and it is shown that the geophone movement in response to a seismic pulse is primarily due to the pressure difference between its ends. Several practical examples are calculated to show that the first arrival waveform recorded by a geophone depends on the distance from an interface and that these changes in recorded waveform may give errors of up to 3 msec in well-velocity surveys. These errors may be minimised by using pressure geophones or by avoiding measurements at geological interfaces.

Notes: Surface charges in seismic refraction work in the sand dunes of the Sahara have been necessitated by the many problems involved in shot hole driving. These include lost circulation, unconsolidated surface sands and gravels, caving, poor shot efficiency etc.Tests were conducted in September 1958 in an attempt to evaluate some of the problems involved in surface shooting. This method is complicated by the large number of variables, 8 major ones, influencing the shot pattern.It is difficult to evaluate each of such a large number of variables by an exhaustive and systematic test procedure due to the prohibitive number of shots that this would involve. However, two series of tests contributed greatly to an understanding of the problem, although they left some points to be cleared up.Firstly shots were fired using small charges (less than 25 kg). These gave interesting results, however, they are not applicable to the heavy charges currently in use (500-1500 kg). These results refer primarily to the use of suspended charges which gave superior results to those obtained from surface charges layed on the ground. They also tend to indicate the influence of the weight of the charge. This is manifested by a saturation in seismic energy, as the size of the charge increases.The results obtained from the shooting (200 kg) of several individual charges are not as pronounced. The following conclusions are drawn:Nitrate explosives, in current use in the Sahara for several years, give good results in refraction.– The use of suspended shots does not result in sufficient gain in energy over the ground shots to justify their more complicated utilization: preparation, partial destruction of supports, safety etc. Hence further shooting of suspended charges has been abandoned.– The detonation of individual charges by use of primacord layed parallel to the line, in preference to simultaneous electrical detonation, gave superior results from the energy point of view (especially for high frequency arrivals) and simplified lay-out procedures. Hence this method was adopted.– As for the small charges the relation between seismic energy and weight of the individual charges shows a saturation effect which is less pronounced.–The distance between the individual charges appears to be the most important variable. The relation, seismic energy-distance between charges, indicates an increase in a linear manner for distances of 5 to 20 meters. It would appear as though the beneficial effect for greater distances diminishes beyond this point.Finally, it would appear as though it would be preferable for a given overall charge to reduce the weight of the individual charges and increase the distance between the individual charges. Obviously this rule has certain practical and economic limits. If the cost of the unit of seismic energy is evaluated it is preferable to utilize large distances between charges (20 m) but also relatively large individual charges (about 25 kg).The testing program was followed by nine months of surveying in different types of terrain. The parameters were etablished from the results of the testing program.Economically the following conclusions may be drawn: The average explosives consumption increased from 1000 kg for the shot–hole shots to 1500 kg for the surface shots. This increase, costwise, represents almost exactly the cost of shot hole drilling at the present price of explosives. Efforts are being made to have the price of explosives reduced and should this realize the net result will be a definite cost advantage in favor of surface shooting.In addition, the introduction of magnetic recording in refraction work to the Sahara in 1959 appears to indicate a substantial reduction in the size of the charges needed, hence, a further advantage to surface shooting.

Notes: Any set of isotropic layers is equivalent, in the long wavelength limit, to a unique transversely isotropic (TI) layer; to find the elastic moduli of that layer is a solved problem. The converse problem is to find a set of isotropic layers equivalent to a given TI media. Here, explicit necessary and sufficient conditions on the TI stiffness moduli for the existence of an equivalent set of isotropic layers are found by construction of a minimal decomposition consisting of either two or three isotropic constituent layers. When only two constituents are required, their elastic properties are uniquely determined. When three constituents are required, two have the same Poisson's ratio and the same thickness fraction, and even then there is a one-parameter family of satisfactory minimal decompositions. The linear slip model for fractured rock (aligned fractures in an isotropic background) yields a restricted range of transverse isotropy dependent on only four independent parameters. If the ratio of the normal to tangential fracture compliance is small enough, the medium is equivalent to thin isotropic layering and in general its minimal decomposition consists of three constituents.

Notes: Information on the mass and the spatial location of an arbitrary source body can be obtained by performing suitable integrations of 3D gravity and magnetic data along an infinite straight line. No assumptions on the density/magnetization distribution or the shape and location of the source are required.For an oblique borehole, a relationship between the lower limit of the source mass and the distance to the body is obtained. The mass contrast and the magnetic moment of the source can also be estimated.For a vertical borehole, both gravity and vertical magnetic component anomalies have equal areas to the left and right of the depth axis.The particular case of a horizontal gallery not intersecting the body is also studied. If the source is intersected, a lower limit is estimated for the maximum thickness of the body along the gallery. Information on the vertical coordinate of the centre of mass of the source can also be obtained.Numerical tests with synthetic gravity data support the theoretical results.

Notes: Refraction seismics with the shotpoints and the hydrophone cable on the sea-bottom, have become the standard geophysical method for investigating rock quality before constructing offshore tunnels in Norway. In connection with the construction of a sub-sea tunnel by the Norwegian Public Roads Administration, research work was carried out to compare two low-velocity zones, indicated by refraction seismics with other methods. A special resistivity cable for pole-dipole measurements on the sea-floor, with 10 m between the electrodes, was constructed. A 200 m long profile, crossing the two low-velocity zones, was measured with all combinations of electrode distances. The two zones were detected as low-resistivity zones. A special data processing technique to enhance the anomalies is described. Resistivity soundings in a seawater environment to detect fracture zones in the bedrock underneath the bottom sediments, are discussed. It is concluded that severely fractured zones, which may cause difficulties for the tunnel construction, can be detected both with sea-surface and sea-floor arrays using long electrode spacings.

Notes: In order to understand various aspects of radar wave propagation, a survey of electromagnetic wave behaviour relative to the geological characteristics of the formations prospected was undertaken. The sites chosen for the tests were a granite quarry and an underground schist working. By investigating an electrically resistive isotropic site and a conductive anisotropic site, it was demonstrated that non-conventional use of a radar system (antennae raised, various orientations of the transmitter/receiver, etc.) could improve data quality, and could allow information other than reflector depth to be collected (volume scattering intensity, isotropy, etc.). By studying wave propagation velocities, we underlined the difficulties encountered in establishing a velocity versus depth law, despite recourse to seismic data processing, such as NMO corrections. The results of field experiments, complemented by laboratory measurements of dielectric permittivities, clearly showed anisotropy effects: in the case of a path that is perpendicular to the schistosity plane, an electromagnetic wave propagates more slowly and is more attenuated than a wave parallel to the schistosity plane.

Notes: A 2D numerical finite-difference algorithm accounting for surface topography is presented. Higher-order, dispersion-bounded, cost-optimized finite-difference operators are used in the interior of the numerical grid, while non-reflecting absorbing boundary conditions are used along the edges. Transformation from a curved to a rectangular grid achieves the modelling of the surface topography. We use free-surface boundary conditions along the surface. In order to obtain complete modelling of the effects of wave propagation, it is important to account for the surface topography, otherwise near-surface effects, such as scattering, are not modelled adequately. Even if other properties of the medium, for instance randomization, can improve numerical simulations, inclusion of the surface topography makes them more realistic.

Notes: True-amplitude (TA) migration, which is a Kirchhoff-type modified weighted diffraction stack, recovers (possibly) complex angle-dependent reflection coefficients which are important for amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) inversion. The method can be implemented using existing prestack or post-stack Kirchhoff migration and fast Green's function computation programs. Here, it is applied to synthetic single-shot and constant-offset seismic data that include post-critical reflections (complex reflection coefficients) and caustics. Comparisons of the amplitudes of the TA migration image with theoretical reflection coefficients show that the (possibly complex) angle-dependent reflection coefficients are correctly estimated.

Notes: The Fourier pseudospectral method has been widely accepted for seismic forward modelling because of its high accuracy compared to other numerical techniques. Conventionally, the modelling is performed on Cartesian grids. This means that curved interfaces are represented in a ‘staircase fashion‘causing spurious diffractions. It is the aim of this work to eliminate these non-physical diffractions by using curved grids that generally follow the interfaces.A further advantage of using curved grids is that the local grid density can be adjusted according to the velocity of the individual layers, i.e. the overall grid density is not restricted by the lowest velocity in the subsurface. This means that considerable savings in computer storage can be obtained and thus larger computational models can be handled.One of the major problems in using the curved grid approach has been the generation of a suitable grid that fits all the interfaces. However, as a new approach, we adopt techniques originally developed for computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications. This allows us to put the curved grid technique into a general framework, enabling the grid to follow all interfaces. In principle, a separate grid is generated for each geological layer, patching the grid lines across the interfaces to obtain a globally continuous grid (the so-called multiblock strategy).The curved grid is taken to constitute a generalised curvilinear coordinate system, where each grid line corresponds to a constant value of one of the curvilinear coordinates. That means that the forward modelling equations have to be written in curvilinear coordinates, resulting in additional terms in the equations. However, the subsurface geometry is much simpler in the curvilinear space.The advantages of the curved grid technique are demonstrated for the 2D acoustic wave equation. This includes a verification of the method against an analytic reference solution for wedge diffraction and a comparison with the pseudospectral method on Cartesian grids. The results demonstrate that high accuracies are obtained with few grid points and without extra computational costs as compared with Cartesian methods.

Notes: Furness, P. 1993. Gradient Array Profiles over thin resistive veins. Geophysical Prospecting41, 113–130.Gradient array geoelectric surveys are commonly used to explore for buried sheet-like targets. It is demonstrated that under certain circumstances the responses of such features can become practically equivalent for a range of models differing considerably in resistivity and thickness. This is the dual of the familiar equivalence phenomenon associated with thin beds in geoelectric sounding operations. Hence the geoelectric response profiles over thin dipping resistive veins are conveniently studied by considering equivalent forms with vanishing thickness and infinite resistivity but with the same resistivity-thickness product. The effects of varying the dip, depth of burial, depth extent and resistivity–thickness product of such features on the gradient array response profiles are investigated by means of a series of numerical experiments. These demonstrate several effects of significance to survey design and data interpretation.In particular it is found that while the resistivity–thickness product influences the amplitude of the response profiles it has little effect on their form. A similar behaviour is found to be exhibited by veins with extended depth extent when the dip is varied.A complete quantitative interpretation of gradient array profiles over thin dipping resistive veins is thus only possible for veins of limited depth extent. For veins with an extended depth dimension, the data is ambiguous (in a practical sense) in terms of the dip and the resistivity–thickness product. Here, the interpretation can only be expected to deduce the horizontal and vertical locations of the vein apex.

Notes: When a seismic signal propagates through a finely layered medium, there is anisotropy if the wavelengths are long enough compared to the layer thicknesses. It is well known that in this situation, the medium is equivalent to a transversely isotropic material. In addition to anisotropy, the layers may show intrinsic anelastic behaviour. Under these circumstances, the layered medium exhibits Q anisotropy and anisotropic velocity dispersion.The present work investigates the anelastic effect in the long-wavelength approximation. Backus's theory and the standard linear solid rheology are used as models to obtain the directional properties of anelasticity corresponding to the quasi-compressional mode qP, the quasi-shear mode qSV, and the pure shear mode SH, respectively. The medium is described by a complex and frequency-dependent stiffness matrix. The complex and phase velocities for homogeneous viscoelastic waves are calculated from the Christoffel equation, while the wave-fronts (energy velocities) and quality factor surfaces are obtained from energy considerations by invoking Poynting's theorem.We consider two-constituent stationary layered media, and study the wave characteristics for different material compositions and proportions. Analyses on sequences of sandstone-limestone and shale-limestone with different degrees of anisotropy indicate that the quality factors of the shear modes are more anisotropic than the corresponding phase velocities, cusps of the qSV mode are more pronounced for low frequencies and midrange proportions, and in general, attenuation is higher in the direction perpendicular to layering or close to it, provided that the material with lower velocity is the more dissipative. A numerical simulation experiment verifies the attenuation properties of finely layered media through comparison of elastic and anelastic snapshots.

Notes: A statistical technique, based on the concept of a 1D energy density spectrum of the observed gravity field, has been used to compute ensemble average depths to various horizons containing causative sources of random geometric shape, size, density, etc. The plot of the logarithm of the energy of the observed Bouguer anomaly versus the angular frequency can be approximated, over a certain frequency band, by a linear segment whose slope is related to an average ensemble depth around which a random distribution of numerous anomalous sources exists. Suitable matched filters, based on the computed values of intercepts and slopes of several linear segments approximating the spectrum, have been used to deconvolve the gravity effects associated with the causative sources, occurring around their respective mean depths. The individual deconvolved gravity effects thus separated out have been modelled using the sin x/x method by assuming a fluctuating interface between two formations.The applicability of the present method has been assessed using two observed Bouguer anomaly profiles: one from Ujjain to Mahan, and the other from Jhansi to Mandla where Deep Seismic Sounding (DSS) results are available. The proposed geological crustal models along these two profiles exhibit reasonably good agreement with those obtained from DSS results. A geologically plausible model of the crust in a virgin region has been presented along a Bouguer anomaly profile from Jaipur to Raipur.The following main conclusions have been drawn from the present analysis: (1) The depths to the Moho and Archaean basement interfaces fluctuate between 33.2 and 36.8 km and between 4.6 and 7.0 km respectively. (2) The Narmada-Son Lineament (NSL) does not coincide exactly with the Moho upwarp beneath it. However, this offset is greater in the eastern part of the NSL rather than in the western part. (3) The development of the Satpura horst structure is due to a rise in the Moho interface in a compressional regime. (4) The intrabasement feature (depth from 5 to 12 km) represents a hybrid massif possibly formed due to an admixture of sialic and simatic crust under a tensional regime in the Ujjain-Mahan section.

Notes: The paper by Li and Oldenburg (1991) gives an important insight into d.c. charge accumulation problems. Nevertheless, their derivation concerning the role of the permittivity of the medium is not as straightforward as it could be. Another question, worth discussing, is the problem of double layers, which is missing from the authors’ paper.

Notes: Some factors affecting the resolution and accuracy of resistivity tomography are examined using numerical simulation. The inversion method used is based on smoothness-constrained least-squares and finite-element methods. An appropriate block discretization is obtained by dividing the target region into square blocks of size equal to half the minimum electrode spacing. While the effect of the damping factor on the resolution is significant, the resolution is not very sensitive to Gaussian noise as long as the damping factor is properly chosen, according to the noise level. The issue of choosing an optimum electrode array should be considered at the planning stage of a survey.When the instrumental accuracy is high, the dipole-dipole array is more suitable for resolving complex structures than the pole-pole array. The pole-dipole array gives somewhat less resolution than the dipole-dipole array but yields greater signal strength; thus, the pole-dipole array may be a good compromise between resolution and signal strength. The effect of an inhomogeneity located outside the target region may be very small if block discretization is done so as to represent the resistivity variations in both the target and outside regions.

Notes: Elastic redatuming can be carried out before or after decomposition of the multicomponent data into independent PP, PS, SP, and SS responses. We argue that from a practical point of view, elastic redatuming is preferably applied after decomposition. We review forward and inverse extrapolation of decomposed P- and S-wavefields. We use the forward extrapolation operators to derive a model of discrete multicomponent seismic data. This forward model is fully described in terms of matrix manipulations.By applying these matrix manipulations in reverse order we arrive at an elastic processing scheme for multicomponent data in which elastic redatuming plays an essential role. Finally, we illustrate elastic redatuming with a controlled 2D example, consisting of simulated multicomponent seismic data.

Notes: The dynamic response characterizing the induced-polarization (IP) phenomenon is modelled by a non-linear diffusion equation (Burger's equation) supplemented by relevant initial and boundary values. The analysis of the model yields a voltage step response and an impedance curve in the frequency domain which agree qualitatively with experimental measurements. Curve fits based on the model have been made in the case of electrochemical cell measurements. The diffusion coefficients estimated by means of these curves are of the same order of magnitude as those calculated using experimental measurements. The normalized transient with these diffusion coefficients agrees with observations, but probably has a shorter discharge time. We have also carried out a comparison with predictions obtained from a linear, finite diffusion layer model, thus showing that for most practical situations the nonlinear term modelling the migration effect can be neglected.

Notes: There is a general lack of awareness among ‘lay’ professionals (geophysicists included) regarding the limitations in the use of least-squares. Using a simple numerical model under simulated conditions of observational errors, the performance of least-squares and other goodness-of-fit criteria under various error conditions are investigated. The results are presented in a simplified manner that can be readily understood by the lay earth scientist. It is shown that the use of least-squares is, strictly, only valid either when the errors pertain to a normal probability distribution or under certain fortuitous conditions. The correct power to use (e.g. square, cube, square root, etc.) depends on the form of error distribution. In many fairly typical practical situations, least-squares is one of the worst criteria to use. In such cases, data treatment, ‘robust statistics’ or similar processes provide an alternative approach.

Notes: The borehole radar system, RAMAC, developed within the framework of the International Stripa Project, can be used in three different measuring modes; single-hole reflection, cross-hole reflection and cross-hole tomography. The reflection modes basically provide geometrical data on features located at some distance from the borehole. In addition the strength of the reflections indicate the contrast in electrical properties. Single-hole reflection data are cylindrically symmetrical with respect to the borehole, which means that a unique fracture orientation cannot be obtained. A method has been devised where absolute orientation of fracture zones is obtained by combining single-hole reflection data from adjacent holes. Similar methods for the analysis of cross-hole reflection data have also been developed and found to be efficient. The radar operates in the frequency range 20--60 MHz which gives a resolution of 1–3 m in crystalline rock. The investigation range obtained in the Stripa granite is approximately 100 m in the single-hole mode and 200--300 m in the cross-hole mode.Variations in the arrival time and amplitude of the direct wave between transmitter and receiver have been used for cross-hole tomographic imaging to yield maps of radar velocity and attenuation. The cross-hole measurement configuration coupled with tomographic inversion has less resolution than the reflection methods but provides better quantitative estimates of the values of measured properties.The analysis of the radar data has provided a consistent description of the fracture zones at the Stripa Cross-hole site in agreement with both geological and geophysical observations. Comparison of the radar results with seismic cross-hole data showed excellent agreement with respect to shape and location of the fracture zones in space. Comparison with hydraulic data shows that the features identified by radar are of hydrogeological significance.

Notes: The performances of least-squares orthogonal polynomial and relaxation techniques in the separation of regional and residual anomalies have been evaluated with a view to minimizing personal biasing. The advantage of orthogonal over nonorthogonal polynomials is their ability to estimate an optimum order of polynomial to represent the predominant regional trend in the data using an approximate 2D difference table, the Z-matrix. The correlation coefficients between residuals of two consecutive orders also give the same result. In the relaxation technique, a linear trend is assumed within each cell of the mesh of a square grid. A set of such linear segments can approximate any complicated regional trend. The performances of these two techniques have been evaluated using simulated gravity anomalies produced by 2D and 3D complex regional structures superimposed on residual fields due to cylinders and prismatic bodies, as well as three field examples taken from the published literature. The analyses have revealed that the relaxation technique produces excellent results when an optimum polynomial order rather than an arbitrary fixed one is used for computing the boundary conditions along the periphery of the map. Analyses have revealed that such boundary conditions provide minimum distortion near the two ends of the profile.

Notes: The Fourier spectral method and high-order differencing have both been shown to be very accurate in computing spatial derivatives of the acoustic wave equation, requiring only two and three gridpoints per shortest wavelength respectively. In some cases, however, there is a lack of flexibility as both methods use a uniform grid. If these methods are applied to structures with high vertical velocity contrasts, very often most of the model is oversampled. If a complicated interface has to be covered by a fine grid for exact representation, both methods become less attractive as the homogeneous regions are sampled more finely than necessary.In order avoid this limitation we present a differencing scheme in which the grid spacings can be extended or reduced by any integer factor at a given depth. This scheme adds more flexibility and efficiency to the acoustic modelling as the grid spacings can be changed according to the material properties and the model geometry. The time integration is carried out by the rapid expansion method. The spatial derivatives are computed using either the Fourier method or a high-order finite-difference operator in the x-direction and a modified high-order finite-difference operator in the z-direction. This combination leads to a very accurate and efficient modelling scheme. The only additional computation required is the interpolation of the pressure in a strip of the computational mesh where the grid spacing changes.

Notes: Gravity and magnetic data have been inverted to obtain the continuous lower surface of a 2.5 dimensional sedimentary basin. The non-linear problem is linearized and a solution is calculated through a recursive process until the predicted data matches the observed data. An average model is then calculated and a resolution analysis shows which features are uniquely determined. The results of individual inversion indicate that a final solution is initial model dependent but the average models are independent of the initial model except at the margins. The average model for the magnetic solutions have uniformly smaller spreads than the gravity solutions.The algorithms were applied to data from the Sanford Basin in North Carolina. The results indicate that the basin is asymmetrical in shape with a maximum depth of 3.2 km. Comparing these results with those obtained from a generalized linear inverse (GLI) algorithm indicate that the higher-frequency features determined from the GLI algorithm are not resolved.

Notes: Shear-wave velocity logs are useful for various seismic interpretation applications, including bright spot analyses, amplitude-versus-offset analyses and multicomponent seismic interpretations. Measured shear-wave velocity logs are, however, often unavailable.We developed a general method to predict shear-wave velocity in porous rocks. If reliable compressional-wave velocity, lithology, porosity and water saturation data are available, the precision and accuracy of shear-wave velocity prediction are 9% and 3%, respectively. The success of our method depends on: (1) robust relationships between compressional- and shear-wave velocities for water-saturated, pure, porous lithologies; (2) nearly linear mixing laws for solid rock constituents; (3) first-order applicability of the Biot–Gassmann theory to real rocks.We verified these concepts with laboratory measurements and full waveform sonic logs. Shear-wave velocities estimated by our method can improve formation evaluation. Our method has been successfully tested with data from several locations.

Notes: Six known methods of seismic phase unwrapping (or phase restoration) are compared. All the methods tested unwrap the phase satisfactorily if the initial function is a simple theoretical wavelet. None of the methods restore the phase of a synthetic trace exactly.An initial validity test of the phase-unwrapping method is that the sum of the restored wavelet phase spectrum and the restored pulse-trace phase spectrum (assuming the convolutional model for the seismic trace) must be equal to the restored phase spectrum of the synthetic trace. Results show that none of the tested methods satisfy this test. Quantitative estimation of the phase-unwrapping accuracy by correlation analysis of the phase deconvolution results separated these methods, according to their efficiency, into three groups. The first group consists of methods using a priori wavelet information. These methods make the wavelet phase estimation more effective than the minimum-phase approach, if the wavelet is non-minimum-phase. The second group consists of methods using the phase increment Δø(Δω) between two adjacent frequencies. These methods help to decrease the time shift of the initial synthetic trace relative to the model of the medium. At the same time they degrade the trace correlation with the medium model. The third group consists of methods using an integration of the phase derivative. These methods do not lead to any improvement of the initial seismic trace.The main problem in the phase unwrapping of a seismic trace is the random character of the pulse trace. For this reason methods based on an analysis of the value of Δø(Δω) only, or using an adaptive approach (i.e. as Δω decreases) are not effective. In addition, methods based on integration of the phase derivative are unreliable, due to errors in numerical integration and differentiation.

Notes: This is the first of a series of papers giving the solution of the inverse problem in seismic exploration. The acoustic approximation is used together with the assumption that the velocity field has the form 〈displayedItem type="mathematics" xml:id="mu1" numbered="no"〉〈mediaResource alt="image" href="urn:x-wiley:00168025:GPR998:GPR_998_mu1"/〉 . The forward problem is then linearized (thus neglecting multiple reflected waves) and the inverse problem of estimating δ is set up. Its rigorous solution can be obtained using an iterative algorithm, each step consisting of a classical Kirchhoff migration (hyperbola summation) plus a classical forward modeling step (circle summation).

Notes: The response of a seismic model to excitation by a source can be represented in terms of the action of reflection and transmission operators for portions of the structure. This approach provides a flexible framework for both modeling and processing problems.The operator development provides a physical description of the wave propagation process and, via the expansion of reverberation operators, gives a mechanism for assessing the accuracy of approximate developments. The representation suggests new ways of developing modeling algorithms by balancing the computational effort expended on minor and major features of the model.For processing problems, the operator representation shows the relation of processing stages to the seismic wave field and thereby indicates effective sequences of operations. For migration it is possible to specify an ideal pre-stack migration procedure in terms of the inverse of the propagation operators and to examine the problems which need to be overcome by practical algorithms.

Notes: A numerical method is presented for direct interpretation of resistivity sounding measurements. The early part of the resistivity transform curve derived from field observations by standard methods is approximated by a two-layer curve. The resistivity of the first layer is determined from the arithmetic mean of the successive computations which are carried on each of three successive discrete values of the resistivity transform curve. Using this mean value of the resistivity, the thickness of the first layer is computed from the sample values in pairs of the resistivity transform curve. After these determinations, the top layer is removed by Pekeris's reduction equation. The parameters of the second layer are obtained from the discrete values of the reduced transform curve (which corresponds to the second part of the resistivity transform curve) by the same procedure as described for the first layer.The same computational scheme is repeated until the parameters of all intermediate layers are obtained. The resistivity of the substratum is determined from the reduction equation.

Notes: In odd-depth structure the two-way traveltime to each boundary is constrained to be an odd integer. The odd-depth property of a model is exposed to possible refutation under a seismogram test. Test function is a simple transformation of a synthetic seismogram. For an odd-depth model the test function has identically the value 1.The testability of a synthetic seismogram over an odd-depth structure provides a method of deterministic deconvolution. There is no need of specialized assumptions, like the minimum-phase property, about the source wavelet. The deconvolution may be performed in the absence of the early segment of a seismogram.

Notes: Zero-offset-source VSP surveys provide information about the subsurface only within the Fresnel zone centered at the well. Offsetting the source location moves the reflection zones away from the well thus providing lateral cover.Conventional processing of this type of data gives rise to a distorted image of the subsurface. Using a simple ray-tracing scheme, this image may be reconstructed into the more familiar coordinate system of the surface seismic section. This simple data-independent mapping is based on the assumption of horizontal layering and requires a vertical velocity profile.The technique of placing the source away from the borehole was first applied to the single-offset-source VSP survey. However, data from any survey geometry (such as deviated well with rig source, walkaway VSP, etc.) can be mapped to the coordinate system defined by the appropriate seismic section.To obtain the best results from this type of survey the target area must be defined and simple modeling techniques used to optimize the source location(s). These pre-survey modeling methods may also be used to anticipate—and hence avoid a number of problem areas which experience has highlighted.The data from any VSP survey is the result of a realizable experiment and as such obeys the wave equation. This implies that the wave equation may be used to migrate the data to its true subsurface location. Theoretically, such a process is more secure than ray-tracing techniques, although its practice presents many difficulties.

Notes: A mathematical expression for potential of a direct current point source in an inhomoge-neous anisotropic earth is derived. The coefficient of anisotropy is given by f= (σr/σz), where σr and σz are the conductivities parallel and perpendicular to the bedding plane. It is assumed that σz varies with depth, whereas σr varies transversely. This potential may be useful in interpretation of geoelectrical data in specified geological situations. Master curves for Wenner and Schlumberger configurations are presented

Notes: Total magnetic intensity contour maps for the study region (between 2°E to 10°E and 56°N to 60°N) were digitized and converted to a regular grid of 285 × 285 points. The study area measures approximately 444 km × 444 km and the grid spacing is thus 1. 56 km. The International Geomagnetic Reference Field for 1975 was gridded for the above-used net, and from the two data sets a further grid of the ▵T field was generated. A large number of profiles were constructed which were suitable for depth determinations. The regular grid ▵T data is also convenient for the computation of the second vertical derivative. Using the method of vertical prisms of Vacquier et al. (1963), a large suite of curvature-depth indices was measured to complement the depths obtained from the intensity slopes and from boreholes which reach the crystalline basement. The depth to the magnetic basement has been contoured, and the resulting map is shown to be in good agreement with what is known about the deeper geology of the study area.The work reported here is part of a research project supported by Amoco Norway, BP Petroleum Development Ltd, Elf Aquitaine, Esso Exploration and Production, Norwegian Gulf, Norsk Hydro, Mobil Exploration Norway, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Royal Norwegian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (NTNF), Norske Shell, and Statoil.

Notes: Geophysical inversion involves the estimation of the parameters of a postulated earth model from a set of observations. Since the associated model responses can be nonlinear functions of the model parameters, nonlinear least-squares techniques prove to be useful for performing the inversion. A common type of inversion applies iterative damped linear least squares through use of the Marquardt-Levenberg method. Traditionally, this method has been implemented by solving the associated normal equations in conventional ways. However, Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) produces significant improvements in computational precision when applied to the same system of normal equations. Iterative least-squares modeling finds application in a wide variety of geophysical problems. Two examples illustrate the approach: (1) seismic wavelet deconvolution, and (2) the location of a buried wedge from surface gravity data. More generally, nonlinear least-squares inversion can be used to estimate earth models for any set of geophysical observations for which an appropriate mathematical description is available.

Notes: In this study we derive expressions for particle displacement or particle velocity anywhere inside a stratified earth and at its surface due to horizontal torque source located in the top layer. Equivalently, invoking Green's function reciprocity theorem, the solution applies also to the case of a surface or subsurface source when the resulting displacement or velocity is measured within the top layer.In order to evaluate the closed-form analytical solution economically and accurately it is advisable to introduce inelastic attenuation. Causal inelastic attenuation also lends the necessary realism to the computed seismic trace. To provide proof that the analytical solution is indeed correct and applicable to the multilayer case, a thick uniform overburden was assumed to consist of many thin layers. The correctness of the computed particle velocity response can be very simply verified by inspection. The computed response can also serve as a check on other less accurate methods of producing synthetic seismograms, such as the techniques of finite differences, finite elements, and various sophisticated ray-tracing techniques.It is not difficult to construct horizontal surface torque source. It appears that such source is well suited for seismic exploration in areas with a high-velocity surface layer. A realistic source function is analyzed in detail and normalized displacement response evaluated at different incidence angles in the near and the far fields.In an effort to distinguish the features of an SH torque seismogram from a pressure seismogram two models with identical layerings and layer parameters have been set up. As expected the torque seismogram is very different from the compressional seismogram. One desirable feature of a torque seismogram is the fast decay of multiples.Exact synthetic seismograms have many uses; some of them, such as the study of complex interference phenomena, phase change at wide angle reflection, channeling effects, dispersion (geometrical and material), absolute gain, and inelastic attenuation, can be carried out accurately and effortlessly. They can also be used to improve basic processing techniques such as deconvolution and velocity analysis.The numerical evaluation of the analytical solution of the wave equation as described in this paper has a long history. Most of the work leading to this paper was carried out by one of us (M. J. K.) in the years 1957 to 1968 at the Geophysical Research Corporation. However, the full testing of the various computer codes was carried out only very recently at the Phillips Petroleum Company.

Notes: In South and Central Goa iron ore occurs in two parallel belts with the general NW-SE Dharawar trend. The ore occurrence, however, is not continuous. There are barren zones as well as zones of very high concentration in some of which there are mining activities.Landsat MSS data have been interpreted over a zone covering both mineral belts in order to delineate the ore occurrences. As a guide line a known ore-bearing area has been considered along with the unknown zones.On the basis of two-dimensional plotting of gray level values it has been found that the MSS bands 4 and 7 are most suitable for the studies over iron-rich areas in Goa. Two techniques are described here for the processing of the MSS data; the separation of residual from the regional and MSS band-ratioing. It is observed that (i) the gray level residual maps of MSS bands 4 and 7 are of use in demarcating the iron-ore-bearing zones, and (ii) an existing mine, an abandoned mine, and a proved iron ore zone could be delineated by MSS band-ratioing. On the basis of the latter technique, a few areas with ore occurrence potential have been indicated.

Notes: The most common source of seismic energy is an explosion at some depth in a borehole. The radiated waves are reflected not only at the subsurface layers but also at the free surface. The earth's surface acts as a generator of both P- and S-waves.If the source depth is much less than the dominant wavelength the reflected waves resemble closely the waves generated by a single force. Theoretical seismograms were computed with different methods to look for the relevance of the surface-reflected waves. The numerical experiments show reflected shear waves even for small shotpoint—receiver distances. Due to their polarization these waves can be detected most easily on in-line horizontal geophones. The existence of these waves was examined during a conventional survey in Northern Germany. Conventional data analysis shows a large variability in the νp/νs ratio. The method used here produced a shear-wave section with a rather good signal-to-noise ratio down to 4 s S-wave reflection time.

Notes: We describe the concept of physico-geological models (PGMs) in geophysical exploration. They represent a “general model”, a spatial combination of a set of particular models (disturbing bodies). The modeling is called complete, incomplete or approximate, depending on the degree of characterization of the PGM by parameters such as dimension, shape and petrophysical property. Each of the three modeling types can be realized as a conceptual, and analytical, or a material PGM. Both deterministic and stochastic PGMs exist; deterministic models are mainly used to investigate the possibilities of a geophysical method, while stochastic models serve to substantiate complex geophysical interpretations.Depending on the geological problem, PGMs are subdivided into multi-alternative models (geological mapping, prediction, general prospecting) and double alternative models (specialized prospecting).An exploration-oriented classification of the PGMs of mineral deposits is discussed. According to this classification the variety of known genetic deposit types is reduced to a limited number of generalized PGM types. The development of typical PGMs is illustrated with examples of magnetitic deposits of Siberia.

Notes: An inverse problem is one in which the parameters of a model are determined from measured seismic data. Important to the solution of inverse problems is the issue of whether or not a solution exists. In this paper we show, in a constructive manner, that a solution does exist to the specific inverse problem of determining the parameters of a horizontally stratified, lossless, isotropic and homogeneous layered system that is excited by a non-normal incidence (NNI) plane wave. Mode conversion between P- and S-waves is included.We develop a seven-step layer-recursive procedure for determining all of the parameters for layer j. These parameters are P-wave and S-wave velocities and angles of incidence, density, thickness, traveltimes, and reflection- and transmission-coefficient matrices. Downward continuation of data from the top of one layer to the top of the next lower layer is an important step in our procedure, just as it is in normal incidence (NI) inversion. We show that, in order to compute all parameters of layer j, we need to (and can) compute some parameters for layer j+ 1. This is a non-causal phenomenon that seems to be necessary in NNI inversion but is not present in NI inversion.

Notes: The suitability of VLF ground surveys in the investigation of shallow two-dimensional structures is analyzed. For such structures the polar formalism is derived, necessary in practice since the transmitters are generally not in the structural strike or profile. A simple vertical dike is considered to demonstrate the striking anisotropy which can be expected over such a structure, in particular the high apparent resistivity along the direction of a well-conducting dike and the low resistivity across it. The theory is then confronted with the practical example of an asymmetrical vertical dike resulting from a strike-slip fault. Modelling of the survey results is very successful and yields good confirmation of the polar behaviour. VLF ground surveys thus provide a quick and powerful tool for the study of geological accidents within about 100 m of the surface.

Notes: A new mode of operation for the Turam electromagnetic exploration system is proposed in which the transmitter loop is placed across the expected trend of a conductor and the receiver is operated along lines parallel to one side of the transmitter. The concept appears to offer several benefits which include greatly extended traverse length, the use of large coil spacing, rejection of the effects of conductive environments, and consistency in the indication of target dip.

Notes: Determination of thickness of sediments (usually of high conductivity) overlying a high-resistivity basement is one of the basic problems of electrical exploration methods. This paper proposes to determine horizontal electrical conductance on the basis of impedance calculated from electrical and magnetic fields of distant quasi-static (low-frequency) point sources. Using the proposed method, horizontal conductance of the sediments can be determined also from artificial quasi-static noise-impulses coming from sources of unknown position and intensity. The results of analogue modeling and field examples prove the potential of the proposed technique.

Notes: Since the early years of seismic surveying, field engineers and observers have been faced with the appearance of interference at power-line frequency (and harmonics) on seismic records: 60 Hz in the Americas, 50 Hz in Eurasia; and 16 2/3 Hz (the train supply frequency in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) in part of Europe. Such interference is picked up from the ground surface through electric leakage between geophone leads and ground.To minimize power-line interference, the autobalancer automatically performs a balancing procedure by adjusting two potentiometers on each channel—essentially the same operation as manually performed by seismic operators for decades. The first 24-channel system became operational in 1977.The first-generation design comprised two 256-position electronic switching potentiometers. Over 4 years of experience with this system in all parts of the world has shown its value under a variety of field conditions. Improvements up to 30 dB were often found, sometimes even up to 40 dB. Balancing time was about 30 s.A second-generation design was field-tested in 1981. Potentiometer stepping is now performed at three levels: coarse, medium, and fine. This leads to faster operation and better resolution: balancing time is about 10 s; improvements up to 60 dB are occasionally found.A later modification gives a further reduction of the balancing time to 5 s in 60 Hz areas or 6 s in 50 Hz areas.

Notes: The technique of digital linear filtering is used for transformation of apparent resistivity data from one electrode configuration into another. Usually filter spectra are determined via the discrete Fourier transforms of input and output functions: the filter characteristic is the quotient of the spectra of the output function and input function.In this paper, the transformation of the apparent resistivities is presented for four electrode configurations (Wenner, the two-electrode, Schlumberger, and dipole configurations). In our method, there is no need to use the discrete Fourier transform of the input and output functions in order to determine the filter spectrum for converting apparent resistivity in one electrode configuration to any other configuration. Sine responses for determination of the derivative of apparent resistivities are given in analytical form.If the filter spectrum for converting the apparent resistivity to the resistivity transform for one electrode configuration is known, the filter spectra for transforming the apparent resistivity to the resistivity transform for any electrode configurations can be calculated by using newly derived expressions.

Notes: In the western coal-mining area of Ruhrkohle AG, reflection seismic prospecting for the Carboniferous coal measures is severely impaired by structures with halokinetic features. These structures make the interface between Mesozoic and Paleozoic layers, i.e., the top of Zechstein in general, very rugged. Unfortunately the velocity contrast at this interface is very high in that area, the ratio of velocities being 1.5 to 2.0. Therefore, migration and stacking become a problem.Three types of migration are presented:〈list xml:id="l1" style="custom"〉1(f, x)-time-migration with vertical time-to-depth conversion as a second step.2Kirchhoff migration down to a level determined approximately by the highest points of the top of Paleozoics, i.e., 0.35 s, and Kirchhoff-downward continuation for all times exceeding 0.35 s. Intermediate static corrections for these latter times with subsequent (f, k)-time-migration and final vertical time-to-depth conversion.3Direct depth migration in the (f, x)-domain using three interval velocities.In all cases an intermediate picking of the velocity interfaces is necessary. In case 2 this occurs at an earlier stage of the process than in case 1, and in case 3 at a still earlier stage.The results of the second and third migration procedures are superior to those of the first. Possibilities for misinterpretation of faults are reduced considerably when the second or third migration procedure is applied.

Notes: Airborne electromagnetic methods are most commonly used in mineral exploration. However, new developments, such as multifrequency capability and digital on-board field recording, as well as improvements in instrumentation resulting in high signal-to-noise ratios in recorded data, have made their application in geological mapping possible.A three-frequency airborne EM survey carried out over an area northwest of Timmins, Ontario, was interpreted in terms of thickness and resistivity of the layers of a two-layer earth section. Since both in-phase and quadrature components are measured, this provides six independent parameters at each point in space. Based on prior geological information and a preliminary interpretation of the field records, two two-layer models of the subsurface seemed to be appropriate for most of the survey area. An automatic computerized interpretation procedure was devised to interpret the field data at each point in terms of thickness and resistivity parameters of those two models. When the geology is more complex, the data do not fit the models and no interpretations are made. Two maps illustrating the variation of the resistivity and the thicknesses of the layers were constructed from the interpreted data. These maps agree with the known geological information about the distribution of glacial clay in the area. Areas where the layered models do not fit are known to be areas where the geology is complex with a large number of dykes and other lateral inhomogeneities. The study shows that multifrequency airborne EM surveys can be very useful in geological mapping over inaccessible terrain and can significantly help the mapping geologist where outcrops are scarce.

Notes: Shear (= S) wave studies in addition to compressional (= P) wave surveys have revealed that S-wave velocities are much more variable than P-wave velocities. This strongly affects Poisson's ratio σ, especially in young sediments. It is shown that σ has a great influence on the directivity pattern, i.e., on the radiation and receiving characteristic of horizontal sources and receivers. For their calculation, well-known surface boundary conditions and White's statement of the reciprocity relation (White 1965) are used. They also form the basis for the combination of source and receiver patterns essential for practical field work. The various combinations of horizontally and vertically arranged sources and receivers are investigated with regard to their directivity pattern, their amplitude ratio and, in general, to their usefulness in seismic prospecting.

Notes: Previously ignored characteristics of the seismic recording instrument are presently experienced as limitations as more sophisticated interpretive methods using wider frequency ranges are developed to extract stratigraphic information from seismic land data for hydrocarbon and mineral exploration. Most of these limitations arise from inadequate characteristics of the first element of the seismic instrument: the geophone. A geophone does not faithfully follow the motion of the earth for higher frequencies due to poor geophone-earth coupling. This filtering effect brings about time shifts that are dependent on the frequency and the soil type. A geophone can also produce spurious outputs, brought about by the motion of the suspended part of the geophone, with a magnitude comparable to that of the desired output. The suspension is made very compliant to obtain the required sensitivity. A compliant suspension, however, gives a large sag. The geophone can therefore only be used in one position, tolerating little tilt. A compliant suspension also widens the traveling range of the movable part. Minor sensitivity changes with travel are then noticeable as nonlinearity, since the surface wave is large with respect to the reflected wave. A compliant suspension is usually realized in the form of thin, spirally shaped spring-spiders. Such suspensions exhibit transverse or rotational resonances that are in or close to the seismic frequency band. Excited by ground roll, they can produce considerable undesirable output.The novel geophone we describe is a light-weight (17 g) acceleration-sensitive transducer which gives good ground coupling and partial correction for the increasing damping in the earth with increasing frequencies. It employs internal hybrid electronics for a magnetodynamic velocity-nulling feedback system. Velocity nulling makes the movable part of the geophone virtually rigid with respect to the housing. This makes the geophone characteristics independent of the suspension. The springs used are stiff in a transverse and rotational direction so that the suspension resonances are well outside the useful frequency band. This suspension also allows the geophone to be used in any orientation while being only sensitive to the vibration component along the main axis. The feedback system makes the sensitivity flat within 1 dB from 2 Hz to 500 Hz, with a phase tolerance smaller than 5°. The geophone is robust, has no moving internal wires, employs a current output [sensitivity 1 mA/(m s−2)] and internal gain so that the signal-to-cable-noise ratio is improved. This type of output allows parallel connection without any interaction between the geophones.

Notes: Propagation in the plane of mirror symmetry of a monoclinic medium, with displacement normal to the plane, is the most general circumstance in anisotropic media for which pure shear-wave propagation can occur at all angles. Because the pure shear mode is uncoupled from the other two modes, its slowness surface in the plane is an ellipse. When the mirror symmetry plane is vertical the pure shear waves in this plane are SH waves and the elliptical SH sheet of the slowness surface is, in general, tilted with respect to the vertical axis. Consider a half-space of such a monoclinic medium, called medium M, overlain by a half-space of isotropic medium I with plane SH waves incident on medium M propagating in the vertical symmetry plane of M. Contrary to the appearance of a lack of symmetry about the vertical axis due to the tilt of the SH-wave slowness ellipse, the reflection and transmission coefficients are symmetrical functions of the angle of incidence, and further, there exists an isotropic medium E with uniquely determined density and shear speed which gives exactly the same reflection and transmission coefficients underlying medium J as does monoclinic medium M. This means that the underlying monoclinic medium M can be replaced by isotropic medium E without changing the reflection and transmission coefficients for all values of the angle of incidence. Thus no set of SH seismic experiments performed in the isotropic medium in the symmetry plane of the underlying half-space can reveal anything about the monoclinic anisotropy of that underlying half-space. Moreover, even when the underlying monoclinic half-space is stratified, there exists a stratified isotropic half-space that gives the identical reflection coefficient as the stratified monoclinic half-space for all angles of incidence and all frequencies.

Notes: There are two types of masked layers in seismic refraction work: the velocity reversal (low-velocity layer) and the hidden layer (insufficient velocity contrast or layer thickness). On the basis of an analytical formulation of the general case of a masked layer under an overburden of plane and parallel multiple refractors the two limiting cases are discussed: the solution resulting from an uncritical interpretation of the measured time-distance curve and the blind zone solution. Between these two limiting cases there is a variety of possible masked layer solutions. These no-blind zone solutions—as well as the blind zone solution itself—are formulated separately for the velocity inversion and the hidden layer case.For the evaluation of some no-blind zone solution a diagram is presented which can be used for any case of multiple refractors in the overburden of the masked layer. However, it is only for the three- and the four-layer case that a blind zone interpretation by use of diagrams is advisable. Such diagrams are presented together with the basic sets of formulae which contain as parameters only ratios of velocities and layer thicknesses. As the velocity of the masked layer is usually unknown the diagrams are principally constructed to show the dependence on the masked layer velocity. This is useful for estimation of the largest possible error.

Notes: Wave equation migration techniques have shown the limits of traditional stacking methods with data from tectonically complicated areas. An improved stack can be obtained utilizing the dip-moveout correction technique based on offset continuation. The properties and the limits of the algorithms used are summarized briefly.Several synthetic and real data examples are shown and compared with the results obtained using conventional processing in order to show the focusing effects and the strong improvement in signal-to-noise ratios, both at the stacked and migrated section level. The possibility of exploiting this technique to transform multiple coverage into increased spatial resolution is illustrated with examples.

Notes: The far-field signatures from a comprehensive and systematic airgun pulse test have been analyzed. Empirical relations between the characteristic signature parameters and depth (5–12 m), pressure (100–137 bar = 10–13.7 MPa) and total chamber volume (0.65–9.5 l) have been derived. Also, the influence of using waveshape kits in different positions within the chamber has been tested.The results indicate that:〈list xml:id="l1" style="custom"〉1 The amplitude is proportional to chamber pressure to the power 3/4.2 The bubble period is nearly independent of the position of the waveshape plate.3 The increase in primary/bubble amplitude ratio is inversely proportional to the chamber volume above the waveshape plate.4 The amplitude is independent of airgun depth.Suggestions and comments regarding this work from Dr B. Ursin and Dr A. Ziolkowski are appreciated. The field work was supported by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate through the Continental Shelf Project at the Seismological Observatory, University of Bergen.An airgun allowing for continuous variation of the chamber volumes was supplied by GECO (Geophysical Company of Norway). The purchase of two airguns was financed by Norske Getty Exploration A/S.

Notes: For over 20 years, powerful VLF transmitters have been used as electromagnetic sources for subsurface investigations in mining exploration. Measurements initially concerned the vertical component of the magnetic field or the inclination of the field and were later extended to measurement of the horizontal electric field in the direction of the transmitter, to determine the resistivity of the terrain. Measurement of the electric field is usually performed with electric lines, grounded or not, with lengths of at least 5 m.This paper presents the concept of a VLF resistivity meter with a very short electric sensor (1 m) and the results obtained with it. This technique improves the measurement of the electric field, which is in principle a point value. It also permits a higher spatial sampling rate and, by closely linking the electric sensor with the magnetic sensor on a lightweight mount, makes it possible for the instrument to be used by a single operator.In addition, transformation of the electric field data, analogous to reduction to the pole in magnetism, is proposed to correct the horizontal deformation of the anomalies created by polarization of the primary field. Comparison with direct current electrical measurements shows highly satisfactory correlations. This transformation, validated for VLF, can be extended to any electrical or electromagnetic method using a uniform primary field, i.e. gradient array in direct current or low-frequency magnetotellurics. We call this verticalization of the electric field.Resistivity measurements and mapping using the VLF frequency range can be applied not only to mining but also to a wide range of shallow geophysical studies (hydrology, civil engineering, etc.) and are not limited to problems concerning the location of conductive targets

Notes: In recent years, geophysical methods (shallow seismic, electromagnetic, resistivity, ground penetrating radar) have been increasingly applied to overburden investigations. Their effectiveness has been found to depend significantly on local geological conditions. Compared with advanced seismic techniques, EM methods are faster and hence more cost-effective, but they have not been considered sufficiently accurate.Analysis is carried out of data obtained with the multifrequency horizontal-loop method (HLEM) in northeastern Ontario, where the overburden consists of Quaternary glacial and glaciolacustrine sediments. Surveying along 1-6 km long profiles permitted recognition of bedrock inhomogeneities and selection of sites suitable for HLEM data interpretation using the layered model. Phasor diagrams and computer inversion based on the ridge regression technique were used to interpret HLEM soundings obtained at eight frequencies. Interpreted layer resistivities and thicknesses were correlated with the results of Rotasonic drilling at 70 sites. Relatively accurate estimates of overburden thickness (within 10%) could be obtained in about 80% of the cases. Nine examples of HLEM soundings are given and discussed: three each of one-, two- and three-layer situations. An appropriate interpretation model cannot be selected simply by minimizing the rms error or by analysing the parameter resolution matrix. Frequently, the most effective way of evaluating a solution is to consider whether resistivity values determined by inversion fit any of the ranges determined by statistical analyses of sediment resistivities. A previously published study of electrical properties of Quaternary sediments indicated that resistivities of clay, till and sand are stable within a fairly large area, such as the one under investigation. While the application of HLEM methods to mapping of Quaternary sediments can be considered a success, interpretation of EM data in regions covered by glacial sediments is more difficult than in weathered terrains, where near-surface layering is more predictable. The problem of equivalence causes non-uniqueness in interpretation. Thickness equivalence, which results in poor resistivity estimates, was found to affect areas convered by sand and till. Conductance equivalence caused poor resolution of thickness and resistivity for thin clay layers (less than 10 m).

Notes: In a layered earth the seismic reflection response for incidence at non-normal angles is dependent upon the elastic constants and thicknesses of the layers.The possibility is investigated of increasing the diagnostic value of seismic data by using the phase and the frequency v. offset information in addition to that from the amplitude v. offset.The combined amplitude, phase and frequency versus offset (APF.VO) analysis is carried out through the computation of amplitude, phase and frequency indicators based on the analytical description of seismic traces.Both synthetic and actual data are examined.From the analyses of synthetic seismograms, it is shown that modifying the velocities and thicknesses of a given target layer, by introducing different pore fluids or lithological conditions, produces changes in APF.VO plots. In particular, the effects related to interference among reflections and to critical angle phenomena are clearly detected by both the phase and amplitude v. offset indicators in terms of phase shifts and amplitude variations. The frequency indicator is mainly controlled by the spectrum of the propagating wavelet.Since the basic synthetic model is derived from an existing well, located close to a seismic line, some actual CDP gathers are analysed. Features related to interference and critical angle are again evident in the APF.VO plots of the actual data. The amplitude indicator appears to be reasonably stable while the phase shows a higher spatial variability and a stronger sensitivity to noise.Differential interference with offset often occurs in actual layered structures and distorts seismic data significantly. Therefore AVO interpretation and AVO inversion procedures must also tackle this problem. Knowledge of phase and frequency variations v. offset may help classical AVO interpretation and yield further information for use in inversion techniques.

Notes: The principles of imaging, for example that of prestack migration, can be applied to cross-borehole seismic geometry just as they can to surface seismic configurations. However, when using actual cross-borehole data, a number of difficulties arise that are rarely or never encountered in imaging surface seismic data: discontinuities may reflect or diffract incident seismic waves in any direction. If a discontinuity lies between the lines of sources and receivers, forward-scattered, or interwell, events may be recorded. If a discontinuity lies outside the interwell region, back-scattered, or extra-well, events may be recorded. Many angles of incidence are possible, and all possible reflected modes (P–P, P–S, S–P and S–S) are present, frequently in nearly equal proportions. The planes of the reflectors dip from 0 to ±90°.In order to deal with these complexities we first separate propagation modes at the receiver borehole using both polarization and velocity. Next we compensate for phase distortion due to dispersion. Finally, and most importantly, we migrate or image the data in cross-borehole common-source gathers. To do this, a finite-difference solution to the 2D scalar wave equation, using reverse time, for an arbitrary distribution of velocities, is used to project the separated, reflected-diffracted wavefield back into the medium.There are four reflection modes (P–P, P–S, S–P and S–S), so we can apply four different imaging conditions. The zones outside the boreholes as well as inside the boreholes can be imaged with these conditions.These operations are repeated for each common-source gather: each common-source gather generates four partial images in each image space. This multiplicity of partial images can be stacked in various combinations to yield a final image of the subsurface.Our experiments using solid (not fluid) physical models indicate that when these procedures are correctly applied, high quality cross-borehole images can be obtained. These images appear with great clarity even though some of the weak diffractions causing diffraction images may be almost totally obscured by other high-amplitude events on the raw data.

Notes: Among the approaches generally used to measure attenuation from field data, the study of the first pulse broadening appears to be one of the more promising methods to estimate the quality factor Q for different geological formations including soils. Using a numerical scheme, we studied the evolution of the pulse shape in the neighbourhood of the source in order to establish the limits of the method. It was found that the pulse width variations depend strongly upon source depth. At short distances from the source, the pulse shape is controlled mainly by the near-field terms and/or the onset of surface waves. The investigations proved that the pulse-broadening method is reliable for distances greater than about 1.2 wavelengths. From numerical experiments, the maximum error in Q-determination is found to be 10% in the half-space case.

Notes: When large quantities of seismic data are involved it is impossible to examine all gathers by eye for AVO anomalies. The standard approach is to compute, for each amplitude profile (at a specific time) on each gather, the intercept and gradient of a straight-line fit to seismic amplitudes. These intercepts and gradients are each plotted as a sort of seismic section - an intercept section, and a gradient section.Estimation of the intercept and gradient for a straight-line fit to each amplitude profile proceeds traditionally via least-squares. Two undesirable features can be hidden from the user by the fitting procedure, namely (i) the effect of outlying or uncharacteristic amplitudes on the intercept and gradient estimates, and (ii) complete breakdown of the straight-line model for the amplitudes, thus rendering meaningless the intercept and gradient estimates. It should be remembered that least-squares can always fit any sequence of numbers to any other sequence of numbers; checks are needed to show that the result is meaningful.It is shown that statistically robust estimation methods can greatly limit the damage done by outlying amplitudes, and that a simple test on the model, the runs-statistic, is capable of detecting breakdown of the straight-line assumption. It is demonstrated using two seismic data sets that these two techniques, used in tandem, facilitate much better quality control of AVO intercept and gradient calculations.

Notes: Among resistivity methods, models containing two dipping discontinuity surfaces with a conductive medium between them have been considered in this study. The theoretical apparent resistivity curves obtained for such models were calculated using Alfano's integral equation for various dip angles of planes at different array distances from the contacts. The results obtained showed that it is possible to achieve the dip values of the discontinuities under particular conditions, but ambiguities cannot be ruled out.

Notes: The accuracy of short length digital linear filter operators can be substantially increased if the sampling interval as well as the abscissa shift are properly adjusted. This may be done by a trial and error process of adjustment of these parameters until the error made by the filter operator, applied to a suitably chosen test function, is smallest.As an illustration of the application of this method, 7-, 11- and 19-point filters for the calculation of Schlumberger apparent resistivity from a known resistivity transform are designed. Errors with the new 7-point filter are seen to be less than those with a 19-point filter of conventional design. The errors with the new 19-point filter are two to three orders of magnitude smaller than those made by the conventional 19-point filter.The new method should provide digital linear operators that allow significant improvements in accuracy for comparable computation efforts, or substantial reduction in computation for comparable accuracy of results, or something of both.

Notes: A well-known technique for the migration of normal-incidence two-way travel-time maps is extended to common-source-point travel-time data. The travel time and the travel-time gradient are used to compute the parameters defining the tangent plane of the reflecting interface. It is also shown how the curvature matrix of the received wavefront can be used to compute the curvature of the reflecting interface. The method is initially derived for common-source-point data and then extended to common-midpoint data.In a three-dimensional medium the wavefront curvature matrix is computed by solving a 2 × 2 symmetric matrix Riccati equation. In a two-dimensional medium and in a medium with constant velocity gradient, the wavefront curvature matrix is computed by solving a scalar Riccati equation and two linear equations. The migration procedures are also simplified.When the velocity function is unknown, the migration procedures cannot be used. An inverse modeling algorithm which simultaneously performs the migration and estimates the velocity function must then be applied. Two different inversion schemes are discussed briefly.

Notes: Time-domain-induced polarization (IP) laboratory measurements were performed on about 200 fine sediment samples with varying water content. The results permitted an analysis of IP properties of clays, loams, silts, and sands.Particular emphasis has been given to the analysis of the chargeability m as a function of lithotype and the water content.By analyzing decay curves, a new parameter was identified. It is a statistically specific characteristic of the lithotype and is independent of the water content. Therefore, it provides a diagnostic parameter for lithotype identification. In association with the values of chargeability and electrical resistivity, this parameter permits a reliable evaluation of water content and yields useful information about the porosity and permeability of the lithotype.

Notes: Approaches to the reduction of bias in the computation of the elements of the magnetotelluric impedance tensor have been proposed in the past by several authors. In this paper a clear distinction is made between random errors and bias errors. No effort is made to reduce either, but the emphasis is on their estimation. Both types of errors depend critically upon the polarization of the magnetic field. The random error increases with increasing noise-to-signal ratio in the electrical field, and it is rather insensitive to noise in the magnetic field. The bias error increases with increasing noise-to-signal ratio in the magnetic field. Expressions for random errors and maximum bias errors are developed and discussed using a single station set-up. Random errors with a reference station set-up are also calculated.

Notes: When an electric current is introduced to the earth, it sets up a distribution of charges both on and beneath the earth's surface. These charges give rise to the anomalous potential measured in the d. c. resistivity experiment. We investigate different aspects of charge accumulation and its fundamental role in d. c. experiments. The basic equations and boundary conditions for the d. c. problem are first presented with emphasis on the terms involving accumulated charges which occur wherever there is a non-zero component of electric field parallel to the gradient of conductivity. In the case of a polarizable medium, the polarization charges are also present due to the applied electric field, yet they do not change the final field distribution. We investigate the precise role of the permittivity of the medium. The charge buildup alters the electric fields and causes the refraction of current lines; this results in the well-known phenomenon of current channelling. We demonstrate this by using charge density to derive the refraction formula at a boundary. An integral equation for charge density is presented for whole-space models where the upper half-space is treated as an in-homogeneity with zero conductivity. The integral equation provides a tool with which the charge accumulation can be examined quantitatively and employed in the practical forward modelling. With the aid of this equation, we investigate the effect of accumulated charges on the earth's surface and show the equivalence between the half-space and whole-space formulations of the problem. Two analytic examples are presented to illustrate the charge accumulation and its role in the d. c. problem. We investigate the relationship between the solution for the potential via the image method and via the charge density. We show that the essence of the image method solution to the potential problem is to derive a set of fictitious sources which produce the same potential as does the true charge distribution. It follows that the image method is viable only when the conductivity structure is such that the effect of the accumulated charge can be represented by a set of point images. As numerical examples, we evaluate quantitatively the charge density on the earth's surface that arises because of topography and the charge density on a buried conductive prism. By these means, we demonstrate the use of the boundary element technique and charge density in d. c. forward modelling problems.

Notes: Model-based inversion of seismic reflection data is a global optimization problem when prior information is sparse. We investigate the use of an efficient, global, stochastic optimization method, that of simulated annealing, for determining the two-way traveltimes and the reflection coefficients.We exploit the advantage of an ensemble approach to the inversion of full-scale target zones on 2D seismic sections.In our ensemble approach, several copies of the model-algorithm system are run in parallel. In this way, estimation of true ensemble statistics for the process is made possible, and improved annealing schedules can be produced.It is shown that the method can produce reliable results efficiently in the 2D case, even when prior information is sparse.

Notes: It is well known that seismic inversion based on local model optimization methods, such as iterative use of linear optimization, may fail when prior information is sparse. Where the seismic events corresponding to reflectors of interest remain to be identified, a global optimization technique is required.We investigate the use of a global, stochastic optimization method, that of simulated annealing, to solve the seismic trace inversion problem, in which the two-way traveltimes and reflection coefficients are to be determined. The simulated annealing method is based on an analogy between the model-algorithm system and a statistical mechanical system. We exploit this analogy to produce improved annealing schedules. It is shown that even in cases of virtually no prior information about two-way traveltimes and reflection coefficients, the method is capable of producing reliable results.

Notes: Until the present time the ‘ rock-coal-rock’ layer sequence and offsets in coal-seams in underground coal mines have been detected with the aid of seismic waves and geoelectric measurements. In order to determine the geometrical and petrophysical parameters of the coal-seam situation, the data recorded using seismic and geoelectric methods have been inverted independently. In consequence, the inversion of partially inaccurate data resulted in a certain degree of ambiguity. This paper presents the first results of a joint inversion scheme to process underground vertical seismic profiling data, geolectric resistivity and resistance data.The joint inversion algorithm makes use of the damped least-squares method and its weighted version to solve the linearized set of equations for the seismic and geolectric unknowns. In order to estimate the accuracy and reliability of the derived geometrical and petrophysical layer parameters, both a model covariance matrix and a correlation matrix are calculated. The weighted least-squares algorithm is based on the method of most frequent values (MFV). The weight factors depend on the difference between measured data and those calculated by an iteration process.The joint inversion algorithm is tested by means of synthetic data. Compared to the damped least-squares algorithm, the MFV inversion leads to smaller estimation errors as well as lower sensitivities due to the choice of the initial model. It is shown that, compared to an independent inversion, the correlation between the model parameters is definitely reduced, while the accuracy of the parameter estimation is appreciably increased by the joint inversion process. Thus the ambiguity is significantly reduced.Finally, the joint inversion algorithm using the MFV method is applied to underground field data. The model parameters can be derived with a sufficient degree of accuracy, even in the case of noisy data.

Notes: An accurate estimate of the seismic wavelet on a seismic section is extremely important for interpretation of fine details on the section and for estimation of acoustic impedance. In the absence of well-control, the recognized best approach to wavelet estimation is to use the technique of multiple coherence analysis to estimate the coherent signal and its amplitude spectrum, and thence construct the seismic wavelet under the minimum-phase assumption.The construction of the minimum-phase wavelet is critically dependent on the decay of the spectrum at the low-frequency end. Traditional methods of cross-spectral estimation, such as frequency smoothing using a Papoulis window, suffer from substantial side-lobe leakage in the areas of the spectrum where there is a large change of power over a relatively small frequency range. The low-frequency end of the seismic spectrum (less than 4 Hz) decays rapidly to zero. Side-lobe leakage causes poor estimates of the low-frequency decay, resulting in degraded wavelet estimates.Thomson's multitaper method of cross-spectral estimation which suffers little from side-lobe leakage is applied here, and compared with the result of using frequency smoothing with the Papoulis window. The multitaper method seems much less prone to estimating spuriously high coherences at very low frequencies. The wavelet estimated by the multitaper approach from the data used here is equivalent to imposing a low-frequency roll-off of some 48 dB/oct (below 3.91 Hz) on the amplitude spectrum. Using Papoulis smoothing the equivalent roll-off is only about 36 dB/oct. Thus the multitaper method gives a low-frequency decay rate of the amplitude spectrum which is some 4 times greater than for Papoulis smoothing. It also gives more consistent results across the section. Furthermore, the wavelet obtained using the multi-taper method and seismic data only (with no reference to well data) has more attractive physical characteristics when compared with a wavelet extracted using well data, than does an estimate using traditional smoothing.

Notes: The most diagnostic effect of anisotropy on shear waves is shear-wave splitting. This phenomenon creates a distinctive signature in the 3D particle motion. Methods to extract the effects of anisotropy from shear-wave data attempt to measure details of this motion. Many techniques have been published recently which process the shear waves in the time or frequency domain. Here we examine the way in which information on the interference effects between the split shear waves is contained within the frequency domain, and suggest some criteria which may be used in future processing algorithms. The time-delay between the split shear waves, and the polarization direction of the leading shear wave can be converted into easily measured features from analysis of the Fourier spectrum of the shear-wave signal on each component of motion. These features arise in the spectral interference patterns which are formed by the interaction between the two closely-spaced and similar waveforms. The interference patterns are interpreted for synthetic and observed seismogram data.

Notes: Dipole-dipole induced polarization (IP) data are displayed typically as multi-level profiles, or as contours on vertical sectional plots referred to as pseudo-sections. The dipole-dipole array tends to yield IP anomalies in which the most anomalous values are displaced laterally from the source body. The data patterns are fairly interpretable on pseudo-sections or on multi-level profiles but are sufficiently complex to discourage the contouring of the data in plan.A method was developed for the presentation of dipole-dipole IP data on a contour map. The method consists of a simple averaging of data which can be performed manually if desired. It yields a single output value per station which reflects all levels of the pseudo-section, and is suitable for contouring in plan. The advantage of the technique is that it provides a quantitative picture of IP anomalies in their background or regional setting.

Notes: Constant offset sections can be mapped to a fixed offset and compared in order to provide a method of velocity analysis. The direct mapping to zero offset prior to stack might provide an alternative processing procedure to NMO and stack. The main advantage of such a procedure would lie in the correct treatment of cross-dips, but interpretational advantages might also follow from the performance of partial stacks biased to either high or low offset information.

Notes: Induced polarization and resistivity model studies over thin dykes for varying resistivity contrasts, depth of burial, and dip angles show striking parallelism of the surface apparent resistivity contours with the boundary of the body. This effect may be utilized for the estimation of strike length of the body. Results show that intermediate values of the electrode spacing is satisfactory for detection under widely varying conditions of resistivity contrast and depth. The percentage frequency effect (P.F.E.) and the metal factor (M.F.) responses are found to be more sensitive to the variation in the depth of burial than the resistivity responses. Pseudosections for P.F.E. and M.F. are concentrated much closer to the body than the resistivity pseudo-sections.

Notes: A direct interpretation scheme is developed which is capable of determining most of the geological features of a ground which can be assumed to be two dimensional in structure. This scheme extends the earlier work of Pekeris (1940) and Koefoed (1968) to the case where the basal layer of a ground is undulating. It also has a limited use for finding the parameters of a dipping dyke in the lower medium. Though the top and dip of the dyke can be determined, this is not true for the thickness.

Notes: Laboratory studies of absorption-frequency behavior in rocks often use spectral ratios of digitally recorded ultrasonic signals which have been transmitted through a rock sample and a reference sample of very low absorption, respectively. It is proposed to treat the digitally recorded signals as an autoregressive-moving average (ARMA) process which, using recursive filter concepts, can be represented as a ratio of two polynomials in the z-transform variable z. The numerator polynomial contains only that part of the signal that is modified by anelastic effects, whereas the denominator contains the elastic effects of the physical apparatus such as reverberations. Examples are given which show that this separation of the recorded signal greatly facilitates the laboratory investigation of loss mechanisms and absorption-frequency behavior based on spectral ratios.

Notes: The generalized integral equation for the electric potential governed by a quasi-harmonic equation can be derived via a variational formulation. For surface current distributions it is not always a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind. Numerical solutions of the general heterogeneous problem can be obtained with the “reciprocal averaging technique”, where the solution is obtained a second time after exchange of source and field points.

Notes: A method to calculate the resistivity transform of Schlumberger VES curves has been developed. It consists in approximating the field apparent resistivity data by utilizing a linear combination of simple functions, which must satisfy the following requirements: (i) they must be suitable for fitting the resistivity data; (ii) once the fitting function has been obtained they allow the kernel to be determined in an analytic way.The fitting operation is carried out by the least mean squares method, which also accomplishes a useful smoothing of the field curve (and therefore a partial noise filtering). It gives the possibility of assigning different weights to the apparent resistivity values to be approximated according to their different reliability.For several examples (theoretical resistivity curves in order to estimate the precision of the method and with field data to verify the practicality) yield good results with short execution time independent of shape the apparent resistivity curve.

Notes: We present a new method for the extraction and removal of the source wavelet from the reflection seismogram. In contrast to all other methods currently in use, this one does not demand that there be any mathematically convenient relationship between the phase spectrum of the source wavelet and the phase spectrum of the earth impulse response. Instead, it requires a fundamental change in the field technique such that two different seismograms are now generated from each source-receiver pair: the source and receiver locations stay the same, but the source used to generate one seismogram is a scaled version of the source used to generate the other. A scaling law provides the relationship between the two source signatures and permits the earth impulse response to be extracted from the seismograms without any of the usual assumptions about phase.We derive the scaling law for point sources in an homogeneous isotropic medium. Next, we describe a method for the solution of the set of three simultaneous equations and test it rigorously using a variety of synthetic data and two types of synthetic source waveform: damped sine waves and non-minimum-phase air gun waveforms. Finally we demonstrate that this method is stable in the presence of noise.

Notes: In this paper a theorem is demonstrated which allows—after the introduction of a suitable dipole kernel function or dipole resistivity transform function—to write the apparent resistivity function as an Hankel transformable integral expression.As a practical application of the theorem a procedure of quantitative interpretation of dipole soundings is suggested in which the dipole resistivity transform function obtained after inversion of the original dipole apparent resistivity data is used to control the goodness of the set of layering parameters which have been derived with our previous method of transformation of dipole sounding curves into equivalent Schlumberger diagrams.

Notes: The Hankel transform theorem can be applied to the inversion of gravity data for the buried sphere, the horizontal cylinder, and the vertical rod. This new approach leads to exact solutions of the transforms for the assumed bodies. A comparison with the classical procedure by Fourier transform reveals that for the sphere and the vertical rod, the Hankel transform is preferable.