Defining P-wave and S-wave stratal surfaces with nine-component VSPs

Nine-component vertical seismic profile (9C VSP) data were acquired across a three-state area (Texas, Kansas, Colorado) to evaluate the relative merits of imaging Morrow and post-Morrow stratigraphy with compressional (P-wave) seismic data and shear (S-wave) seismic data. 9C VSP data generated using three orthogonal vector sources were used in this study rather than 3C data generated by only a vertical-displacement source because the important SH shear mode would not have been available if only the latter had been acquired. The popular SV converted mode (or C wave) utilized in 3C seismic technology is created by P-to-SV mode conversions at nonvertical angles of incidence at subsurface interfaces rather than propagating directly from an SV source as in 9C data acquisition.