Efficient Finite-difference Algorithm for Simulation of Seismic Waves in Models with Anisotropic Formations

Anisotropy is wide-spread in the Earth’s interior; however anisotropic formations typically comprise relatively small part of the models. It means that use of computationally expensive numerical algorithms for full anisotropy inside whole computational domain is rather inefficient. So, we present an original advanced finite-difference algorithm based on the domain decomposition technique with individual scheme, used inside subdomains. It means that in the main part of the model which is isotropic or VTI, a standard staggered grid scheme (SSGS) is utilized while the Lebedev anisotropy-oriented scheme is used inside domains with anisotropic formations. On the one hand this approach is as efficient and computationally cheap as SSGS. On the other hand it allows simulation of seismic wave propagation in arbitrary anisotropic formations.