Modeling and Analysis of Frequency-Dependent AVO Responses in Anelastic Stratified Media

We investigate frequency‐dependent AVO responses based on a layered model and the generalized propagator matrix method, considering both the effect of frequency and attenuation associated with lithology, and interbed related to stratified structure. We propose a seamless procedure linking the rock physics modeling and the calculation for reflection coefficients for accurate consideration of complex stiffnesses by incorporating the fact that the propagator matrix method is implemented in frequency domain with frequency variables. The method can also consider distinct mechanism of dispersion and attenuation, because anelasticity of rocks predicted by different models is usually described by frequency‐dependent complex stiffnesses. Results of numerical stimulations indicate that, for a dispersive and attenuative layer with finite thickness, reflection amplitudes increase and then decrease with frequency which does not present low‐frequency anomalies. Meanwhile, frequency‐dependent AVO responses present more complicated variations in the presence of interbedded structure together with the effect of dispersion and attenuation of the strata. Finally, the improved algorithm for the calculation of frequency‐dependent AVO responses may help for the modeling and analysis of seismic reflections in the presence of dispersion, attenuation and layered structure.