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Reflections
Reflections of sound waves from the subsurface arrive at the geophones some measurable time after the source pulse. If we know the speed of sound in the earth and the geometry of the wave path, we can convert that seismic travel time to depth. By measuring the arrival time at successive surface locations we can produce a profile, or cross-section, of seismic travel times. A simple concept.
In practice, the speed of sound in the earth varies enormously. Dry, unconsolidated sand might carry sound waves at 800 feet per second (ft/s) or less. At the other extreme, unfractured granite might have a velocity in excess of 20,000 ft/s. The more layers between the surface and the layer of interest, the more complicated the velocity picture. Various methods are used to estimate subsurface velocities including refraction analysis, borehole geophysical measurements, estimates from known lithologic properties, and analysis of reflection times at increasing offsets. Generally, a combination of velocity estimation methods will give the best results.
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