Two‐point Ray Tracing in General 3d Media1

The modelling of realistic 3D geology and wave‐propagation phenomena is an important aspect of exploration geophysics. Ongoing research on a new model representation in terms of strongly reflecting interfaces described by surface patches, and on two‐point (i.e. source‐receiver) non‐zero‐offset ray tracing in such models, is presented. Examples are used to demonstrate how this model representation facilitates the description of geological unconformities such as pinched‐out layers, overhangs and reverse faults. Neither pseudo‐layers, nor ‘transparent’ or zero‐impedance extensions are needed for surfaces that do not naturally cover the geological window under study. These are therefore no longer layered models and consequently they require new ray‐tracing techniques which are described and exemplified.