Physical modeling of an anisotropic thrust

Donald C. Lawton, Gary F. Margrave, Eric V. Gallant

A physical model of a fold-fault system has been constructed using fibreglass resin in a cloth weave. The material is approximately transversely isotropic with Thomsen anisotropy parameters = 0.39 and = 0.01. Construction of the model in a layered manner enabled it to be curvilinear, which better represents geology than piecewise linear models previously used in the modelling laboratory. Zero-offset data collected across the model successfully demonstrate the integrity of the construction technique, and isotropic time migration of the zero-offset data imaged targets within the model. A full complement of seismic data sets (2D, 3D, 3C) will be acquired over the model and will be available to test processing algorithms, particularly migration.