Estimating the 3D location of scatterers from cross correlation times of scattered surface waves

In this study, a method inspired by the seismic interferometry is used to estimate three dimensional location of a scatterer by using cross-correlation times of scattered surface-waves. For this purpose, scattered surface waves are used. The method used in this study requires only one source and correlates only the scattered wavefield. The result is the correlation times of scattered surface-wave between the virtual source and the receivers. These correlation times do not correspond to physical travel time paths, so they are named as non-physical, ghost or spurious arrivals. For calculations, scattered wave field is isolated from the data and cross-correlation times are obtained for chosen virtual sources. A seismic trace is chosen as a virtual source and is cross-correlated with the traces along the receiver line. After the cross-correlation times are obtained, correlation times are picked at their maximum amplitudes and are used in the inversion. The problem is non-linear and the equation set is mixed-determined, thus the problem is solved with damped SVD (Singular Value Decomposition) method. For calculations, three dimensional interferometric travel time equation representing the scattered wavefield is used in inversion process. It is shown that the location of the scatterer is estimated successfully.