Sesimic diffractions and tectonic overprint

What is it about?

Seismic diffractions describe backscattering from interfaces with either a curvature growing locally to infinity or a size much smaller than the prevailing wavelength of the incident seismic wave. A dedicated processing of seismic diffractions provides an additional and complementary approach in seismic interpretation of faults and assessment of the tectonic overprint.

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Why is it important?

Assessment of tectonic overprint is conventionally done by reflection imaging. Tectonic features, e.g., faults or fractures, are imaged indirectly by means of discontinuities of the reflections. Geological heterogeneities in the subsurface can act as scattering points or scattering edges, which both evoke diffracted waves. Diffracted waves are a direct seismic response from subsurface heterogeneities so that allow a direct imaging of them.