Abstract

In this paper, we study the dependence of P- and converted-wave reflection coefficients with incidence angle and azimuth for azimuthally anisotropic elastic media. Computing P- and converted-wave reflection coefficients using exact formulation, and inverting them using their asymptotic representations, we find that the P-wave reflection coefficient alone does not provide robust estimates of anisotropy parameters. If, on the other hand, the P-wave reflection is analyzed in conjunction with the converted-wave reflection, it is possible to get robust estimates of many useful anisotropic parameters. In the presence of fracture-induced anisotropy, these parameters can be directly linked with fracture orientation and fracture density. We, therefore, conclude that both P- and converted-wave data are necessary for estimating fracture parameters from surface seismic data