Exploring velocity-spreading factor and consequences through dynamic ray-tracing in general anisotropic media: A comprehensive tutorial

In seismic imaging, understanding the relationship between wavefront-propagation velocity and time-interval velocity is crucial for achieving optimal resolution. However, this task becomes even more challenging when considering anisotropic situations. To accurately account for the influence of anisotropy on wavefronts, it is essential to have a solid grasp of the underlying physics. Unfortunately, the anisotropy model that best describes the medium is often unknown. To address this issue, we utilize paraxial-ray theory in a ray-centered coordinate system to study the wavefront phenomenon. This approach allows us to develop explicit expressions that describe the physics of the problem. Using this theoretical framework, we can accurately generalize the relationship between time-migration rays and Dix velocity by incorporating the velocity-spreading factor for general anisotropic media. This factor lets us determine the type of anisotropy present in the medium. Moreover, the velocity-spreading factor provides valuable information for various applications, including model building, time-imaging, and time-to-depth conversion. Overall, the presented theoretical framework offers a comprehensive understanding of wavefront propagation in anisotropic media, which can aid in improving the knowledge of the phenomena that form seismic images.