Weak anisotropy media approximation for downhole microseismic data processing

In microseismic data processing workflows velocity model building is a significant step controlling further location accuracy. Although it was already discussed the way of use of anisotropic velocity model, the weak anisotropy approximation is somehow not covered in the discussion. We here address the idea of the use of weak anisotropy approximation for microseismic events location. For homogeneous models it was shown that the use of weak anisotropy approximation does not causes severe shifts in microsesimic events locations. On the other hand in case of strong media anisotropy assessed model parameters in weak anisotropy approximation do not correspond to the actual ones which makes this approximation not useful if the media parameters are of prime interest.