Efficient Seismic Modelling Using Finite Differences and Ray Tracing

Ray tracing and hybrid modelling techniques such as the combination of dynamic ray tracing and finite difference (FD) solvers are standard tools in reservoir modelling. However, accurate wave amplitudes using dynamic ray tracing are difficult to obtain whereas 3D FD simulations are too computer memory consuming. When the spatial distribution of elastic properties in earth models can be approximated by a 2.5D heterogeneous structure, we propose a modelling strategy that combines 2D FD simulations with kinematic ray tracing. We demonstrate the accuracy of our modelling approach with help of two numerical examples.