Anisotropic migration of coincident VSP and cross-hole seismic reflection surveys

Seismic depth migration may result in false reflector positioning and destructive interference when an incorrect velocity field is used to convert from time to depth. The assumption of isotropy to describe anisotropic rocks is one major source of error in the velocity model, although individual survey images may not be impaired by such an approximation. When different survey types such as VSP and cross-hole reflection seismics have coincident illumination of the subsurface, it is important not only to produce consistent images upon depth migration, but also to determine a consistent velocity model. Using real data sets as examples, both objectives are successfully achieved when anisotropy is incorporated into the velocity model.