Detection of fault structure under a near-surface low velocity layer by seismic tomography: synthetics studies

We have developed a new method to detect a fault structure under a near-surface low velocity layer (LVL) by seismic tomography. The field study showed that the tomography image reconstructed using borehole-surface configuration had a different result from that of using a crosshole configuration. The image reconstructed by using a borehole-surface configuration showed a decrease in seismic velocities along boreholes, and also the tomogram result using both configurations can not detect the subsurface fault structure. These phenomena are caused by the low velocity layer (LVL) at the top of investigation area. The basic idea hard is based on a downward continuation principle. By knowing the thickness of the LVL and the top of bedrock enables us to place ‘virtual receiver’ and/or ‘virtual source’ below the LVL. In this way, we can reconstruct the image by various tomographic methodologies. As an advantage, this method is easy to be use with the aid of ray tracing methodology. It can also reduce the effect of the near-surface LVL and can maximize the reconstructed image. The final result of our synthetic images by ILST, SIRT, and modified SIRT shows high accuracy and resolution for detection of fault structure under the low velocity layer.