KallweitWood SeisRes0PhaseWavelets Revisited

Seismic Resolution of Zero-Phase Wavelets
R. S. Kallweit and L. C. Wood

Amoco Houston Division
DGTS January 12, 1977
This PowerPoint version of the material, was compiled by Greg Partyka (October 2006)
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Quiz
Given:
Seismic section whitened between 5Hz and 60Hz
11ms measured two-way interval time
18,000ft/sec interval velocity of bed
Find the thickness of a carbonate encased in shale:

99ft
49.5ft
18ft
any one of the above
none of the above
Seismic Resolution of Zero-Phase Wavelets, R. S. Kallweit and L. C. Wood, Amoco Houston Division DGTS, January 12, 1977
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Quiz
Define the ormsby wavelet (f1-f2-f3-f4) that has the same resolving
power as a 65Hz Ricker wavelet.
24-26-99-101
11-13-88-110
14-18-31-125
all of the above
roll on your own: __-__-__-__
f2
amplitude
f1
f3
f4
frequency
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Summary
Temporal Resolution:
The time interval between the wavelets primary lobe inflection
points
The minimum two-way time through a thinning bed as measured
on a seismic trace.
Different types of zero-phase wavelets may be compared in terms of

temporal resolution.
The ability of zero-phase wavelets to resolve thin beds can be

separated from variations in side-lobe tuning effects.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
What are the Limits of Temporal Resolution?
As interval times through a thinning bed becomes less and less, how
accurately do the measured times represent the actual, vertical twoway travel times through the bed?
This questions may be further divided into two related questions:

1. How thin can a bed become and still be resolvable? In other
words, when is the measured interval time essentially the
same as the true interval time?
1. What are the errors between the true interval times and the
measured interval times through thick beds?
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Why Zero-Phase?
The use of wavelets that are not zero-phase greatly complicates the
analysis of seismic resolution.
The use of zero-phase wavelets simplifies resolution because traces

containing zero-phase wavelets will have seismic interfaces located in
general at the centers of the peaks and troughs of the trace
(neglecting tuning effects and noise).
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
A Historical Perspective
Since past work on the subject of seismic resolution is considered by

many investigators to be definitive, new concepts and results will be
examined carefully and compared with those in the literature.
We begin our study in the field of optics by examining the Rayleigh
criterion of resolution,
We consider next a resolution criterion developed by Ricker
(1953), and finally
We consider the criterion established by Widess in 1957 and
published again in Geophysics in 1973.
In each case, the theoretical limits of resolution will be related to

parameters that can be measured on the wavelet that is convolved
with the reflectivity sequence.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Rayleighs Criterion
Optical diffraction patterns caused by light transmitting through a

narrow slit may seem far removed from seismic resolution.
It establishes a criterion of resolution which is often cited by many
investigators in regard to seismic wavelets.
Rayleighs work relates to resolution of two diffraction patterns.

Two wavelets are resolved when their separation is greater-than or
equal-to the peak-to-trough time of the convolving wavelet.
The text book Fundamentals of Optics by Jenkins and White (1957)

is a good reference.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Rayleighs Criterion
sin2x
x2
b
Rayleigh chose to keep the mathematical relationships involved simple.

When applied to wavelets other than sin2x / x2, the dimple-to-dimple
amplitude ratios may vary.
0.81A
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Rickers Criterion
A bed, represented by two upright polarity spikes convolved with a

wavelet, reaches the limit of resolvability when the bed becomes so
thin as to cause a flat spot to appear in place of the two maxima.
This occurs a a spike separation interval that can be derived equating

to zero the second derivative of the convolving wavelet.
This observation was made first by Ricker in his classic paper

Wavelet Contraction, Wavelet Expansion, and the Control of Seismic
Regulation by Norman Ricker (1953) Geophysics, Vol. 18, No. 4, p.
769-792.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Rickers Criterion
Ricker also recognized that as a bed, represented by two spikes of

equal amplitudes but opposite polarities, becomes thinner and thinner,
the complex waveform produced by convolving the spike pair with a
wavelet looks more and more like the time derivative of the convolving
wavelet.
It was left to Widess to expand on this concept further in his paper:

How Thin is a Thin Bed by M. B. Widess (1973) Geophysics, Vol. 38,
No. 6, P. 1176-1180.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Rickers Criterion
Relates to resolution of two Ricker Wavelets.
Y(f) =
f
f1
2
2
e1 - (f/f )
1
b
Flat
d2(Kt)
A a7R
b
Rayleighs Criterion
dt
= 0
Rickers Criterion
Wavelet Contraction, Wavelet Expansion, and the Control of Seismic Regulation

by Norman Ricker (1953) Geophysics, Vol. 18, No. 4, p. 769-792.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
The Widess Criterion
Widess considered a thin bed as one where the complex waveform

across it does not differ significantly from the derivative of the
convolving wavelet itself.
This definition is useful for thin bed detectability studies, but causes
problems when it comes to thin bed resolvability considerations.
At the bed thickness Widess first considers a bed to become a thin
bed, i.e., when the bed thickness is about /8; the apparent thickness
is actually /4.6 which is the peak-to-trough time of the derivative of a
Ricker wavelet.
J. Farr in his paper: How High is High Resolution (1976) SEG
Preprint, states that a bed as thin as /40 may be detectable. It should
be understood, however, that the apparent thickness remains at /4.6.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
The complex waveform across a thin bed approaches the time

derivative of the incident wavelet as the bed thins to zero thickness.
Widess states, A thin bed is one whose thickness is less than about
/8 where is the predominant wavelength
Comment: The minimum time directly measurable through a thin
bed may be calculated from d2(Kt) / dt2 = 0
For a Ricker wavelet then, a thin bed is one which has a thickness
less than /4.6
How Thin is a Thin Bed by M. B. Widess (1973) Geophysics, Vol. 38, No. 6, P. 1176-1180.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
(Kt)
Sonic Log
Sonic Log
Thick Bed
Thin Bed
= Predominant Period
1 / = Predominant Frequency. Not to be confused with Peak frequency.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Kallweit and Wood Proposition
We now propose a definition of seismic resolution, in context of thin

bed resolvability that ties together both Rickers and Widess criteria
and relates both of them to parameters that can be measured on the
incident wavelet itself.
In order to separate the concept of resolvability from the related

concept of detectability, the term Temporal Resolution (TR) will be
used to denote resolvability.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Temporal Resolution
The term temporal resolution of a zero-phase wavelet may be

defined as the time interval between the wavelets primary lobe
inflection points. This time may be derived from the equation:
d2(Kt)/dt2 = 0
This is the minimum two-way time through a thinning bed as

measured directly on a seismic trace. A wavelets inflection points are
found by setting equal to zero the second derivative of the wavelet
itself.
Peak frequency (f1)is not to be confused with the term predominant

frequency which is defined in the literature as the reciprocal of the
wavelets breadth (Tb).
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
TR
amplitude
Temporal Resolution (TR) of the Ricker Wavelet
Tb
peak frequency:
temporal resolution:
wavelet breadth:
peak-to-trough:
relationship of Tb to TR:
Kt = [ 1 2(f1 t)2 ] e -(f t)
f1
frequency
f1
TR
Tb
Tb / 2
TR
= 1 / (3.0)f1
= 1 / (1.3)f1
= 1 / (2.6)f1
= 0.43Tb = 0.86Tb / 2
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Temporal Resolution in Relation to a Sinc Wavelet
Let us now discuss temporal resolution in relation to the band-pass

sinc wavelet.
This wavelet represents the output of an amplitude whitening process
such as programs DAFD and WELCON.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Peak-to-trough separation (ms) or apparent thickness (ms)
Temporal Resolution
TR
Tb / 2
Peak-to-Trough Time Separation

60
50
Peak Amplitude of Wavelet
40
30
20
8 Hz 64 Hz Sinc Wavelet
10
10
20
30
40
50
60
Model spike separation (ms) or actual thickness (ms)

G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Temporal Resolution of the Low-Pass Sinc Wavelet
The low-pass sinc wavelet can be analyzed in terms of its mid

frequency in order to establish a similarity to the analysis of the Ricker
wavelet.
A low-pass sinc wavelet is not realizable in actual practice because it

has frequencies extending to zero Hertz; nevertheless, it is instructive
to study this wavelet.
Temporal resolution is established in terms of the maximum

frequency, and results can be used in the discussion of the bandpass
sinc wavelet.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
TR
amplitude
Temporal Resolution of the Low-Pass Sinc Wavelet
Kt =
T0
Tb
fm
f4
2 f4 sin (2 f4 t)
(2 f4 t)
frequency
wavelet breadth:
peak-to-trough:
1st zero crossings:
TR
Tb
Tb / 2
T0
= 1 / (3.0)fm
= 1 / (1.4)fm
= 1 / (2.8) fm
= 1 / 2fm
= 1 / (1.5)f4
= 1 / (0.7)f4
= 1 / (1.4)f4
= 1 / f4
relationship of Tb to TR
TR
= 0.47Tb
= 0.93Tb /G.2Partyka (Oct 06)
Temporal Resolution (TR) of the Bandpass Sinc Wavelet
The band-pass sinc wavelet is the difference between two (f1 and f4)
sinc functions.
the f1 sinc function has negligible effect on the temporal resolution of

the wavelet for band-pass ratios of 2-octaves and greater.
The resulting ability to relate temporal resolution to the highest, and

only the highest, frequency of a wavelet leads to some very useful
and quite accurate approximations.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Non-Binary Complexity
What is the effect on temporal resolution when the amplitude of the

second spike of a set of alternate polarity spike pairs is varied.
temporal resolution decreases slightly and in fact approaches the
peak-to-trough time of the convolving wavelet.
This behaviour is due to the constructive interference of the main

trough of the positive spike wavelet on the center lobe of the negative
spike wavelet.
Note also that the pseudo-thinning pocket just prior to temporal

resolution, is enlarged. Application of these temporal resolution
concepts is discussed in the attached report on Designing Optimum
Zero-Phase Wavelets.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Temporal Resolution (TR) of the Bandpass Sinc Wavelet
Kt =
f4 sinc
f1 sinc
f1
(2 f4 t)
amplitude
band-pass sinc
f4
2 f4 sin (2 f4 t)
TR
T0
2 f1 sin (2 f1 t)
(2 f1 t)
fm = (f1 + f4) / 2
f1
Tb
fm
f4
frequency
wavelet breadth:
peak-to-trough:
1st zero crossings:
TR
Tb
Tb / 2
T0
= 1 / (1.5)f4
= 1 / (0.7)f4
= 1 / (1.4)f4
= 1 / (2fm)
; 2 octaves (where f4 / f1 .ge. 4)

; all octaves
relationship of Tb to TR:
TR
= 0.47Tb = 0.93Tb / 2
; for sincs .ge. 2 octaves
T
sinc and
Ricker
wavelets
are
when
f1 (peak
frequency
Ricker)
= f4 (sinc) / 2G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Seismic
R ofResolution
of Zero-Phase
Wavelets,
R. S. Kallweit
andequal
L. C. Wood,
Amoco Houston
Division
DGTS, January 12,
1977
Sinc Bandwidth and Temporal Resolution with Constant fmax

30
peak-to-trough separation (ms)
30
20
10
TR
0
10
264 Hz Sinc
(5 octaves)
20
spike separation (ms)
30
20
10
TR
0
1664 Hz Sinc
(2 octaves)
10
20
30
Conclusion: Temporal Resolution is the same for all sinc wavelets

of 2 octaves and greater bandwidths having the same f max
TR = 1 / (1.5)fmax
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Temporal Resolution (TR) for All Band-Pass Sinc Wavelets
2.0
TR for all band-pass sinc wavelets
1.9
TR = 1 / C f4
Resolution constant (C)
1.8
1.7
1/2 ms dTR for 64 Hz f4
TR 30-64 sinc = TR 4-64 sinc within 1/2 ms
1.6
1.51
1.5
1.4
2
1
4
2
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
4
f 4 / f1
octaves
G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Temporal Resolution (TR) with Spike Pairs of Unequal Amplitude

30
1.0
25
1.51
1.0
-1.0
1.0
-0.8
20
16-to-64 Hz 2-octave sinc wavelet

convolved with
alternate polarity spike pairs
of unequal amplitude
-0.6
15
10
TR
10
15
20
25
30

G. Partyka (Oct 06)
Next?
Application of these temporal resolution concepts.
Designing Optimum Zero-Phase Wavelets.
G. Partyka (Oct 06)

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Seismic Resolution of Zero-Phase Wavelets

R. S. Kallweit and L. C. Wood

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Find the thickness of a carbonate encased in shale:

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Different types of zero-phase wavelets may be compared in terms of

The ability of zero-phase wavelets to resolve thin beds can be

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

What are the Limits of Temporal Resolution?

This questions may be further divided into two related questions:

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

The use of zero-phase wavelets simplifies resolution because traces

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Since past work on the subject of seismic resolution is considered by

In each case, the theoretical limits of resolution will be related to

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Optical diffraction patterns caused by light transmitting through a

Rayleighs work relates to resolution of two diffraction patterns.

The text book Fundamentals of Optics by Jenkins and White (1957)

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Rayleigh chose to keep the mathematical relationships involved simple.

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

A bed, represented by two upright polarity spikes convolved with a

This occurs a a spike separation interval that can be derived equating

This observation was made first by Ricker in his classic paper

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Ricker also recognized that as a bed, represented by two spikes of

It was left to Widess to expand on this concept further in his paper:

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Relates to resolution of two Ricker Wavelets.

Wavelet Contraction, Wavelet Expansion, and the Control of Seismic Regulation

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

The Widess Criterion

Widess considered a thin bed as one where the complex waveform

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

The Widess Criterion

The complex waveform across a thin bed approaches the time

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

The Widess Criterion

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Kallweit and Wood Proposition

We now propose a definition of seismic resolution, in context of thin

In order to separate the concept of resolvability from the related

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

The term temporal resolution of a zero-phase wavelet may be

This is the minimum two-way time through a thinning bed as

Peak frequency (f1)is not to be confused with the term predominant

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Temporal Resolution (TR) of the Ricker Wavelet

Kt = [ 1 2(f1 t)2 ] e -(f t)

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Temporal Resolution in Relation to a Sinc Wavelet

Let us now discuss temporal resolution in relation to the band-pass

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Peak-to-trough separation (ms) or apparent thickness (ms)

Peak-to-Trough Time Separation

Peak Amplitude of Wavelet

Model spike separation (ms) or actual thickness (ms)

G. Partyka (Oct 06)

Temporal Resolution of the Low-Pass Sinc Wavelet

The low-pass sinc wavelet can be analyzed in terms of its mid

A low-pass sinc wavelet is not realizable in actual practice because it

Temporal resolution is established in terms of the maximum

G. Partyka (Oct 06)