Three‐dimensional primary zero‐offset reflections

Zero‐offset reflections resulting from point sources are often computed on a large scale in three‐dimensional (3-D) laterally inhomogeneous isotropic media with the help of ray theory. The geometrical‐spreading factor and the number of caustics that determine the shape of the reflected pulse are then generally obtained by integrating the so‐called dynamic ray‐tracing system down and up to the two‐way normal incidence ray. Assuming that this ray is already known, we show that one integration of the dynamic ray‐tracing system in a downward direction with only the initial condition of a point source at the earth’s surface is in fact sufficient to obtain both results. To establish the Fresnel zone of the zero‐offset reflection upon the reflector requires the same single downward integration. By performing a second downward integration (using the initial conditions of a plane wave at the earth’s surface) the complete Fresnel volume around the two‐way normal ray can be found. This should be known to ascertain the validity of the computed zero‐offset event. A careful analysis of the problem as performed here shows that round‐trip integrations of the dynamic ray‐tracing system following the actually propagating wavefront along the two‐way normal ray need never be considered. In fact some useful quantities related to the two‐way normal ray (e.g., the normal‐moveout velocity) require only one single integration in one specific direction only. Finally, a two‐point ray tracing for normal rays can be derived from one‐way dynamic ray tracing.