REFLECTION-TRANSMISSION COEFFICIENTS AND AZIMUTHAL ANISOTROPY IN MARINE SEISMIC STUDIES

We introduce two methods for inferring the direction of vertical fractures from marine seismic data. First we derive the necessary reflection and transmission coefficients for an interface between a liquied and an azimuthally anisotropic solid. Next we show that multicomponent ocean bottom seismometer data from surface airgun sources along two perpendicular shot lines can be rotated into the principal directions of azimuthal anisotropy to determine the orientation of vertical fractures. Finally we show that P-wave amplitude versus offset (AVO) depends on the orientation of the shot line with respect to the vertical fractures. Thus P-wave AVO can also be used to determine fracture orientation.