Energy distribution in wavelets and implications on resolving power

The suite of a wavelet is defined as being all wavelets that share a common amplitude spectrum and total energy but differ in phase spectra. Within a suite there are also classes of wavelets. A wavelet class has a common amplitude envelope and energy distribution. As such, it includes all wavelets that differ by only a constant‐angle phase shift. Of all wavelets within suite, the zero‐phase wavelet has the minimum energy envelope width; its energy is confined to minimum time dispersion. Therefore, the zero‐phase wavelet has maximum resolving power within the suite. Because a zero‐phase wavelet shares its amplitude envelope with a class of wavelets that differ by only a constant phase shift, all wavelets of the class also have maximum resolving power within the suite. The most familiar of these is the quadrature‐phase wavelet (90‐degree phase shift). Use of the complex trace results in an evaluation of the total energy, both potential and kinetic, of the wavelet signal. Assuming the wavelet signal is the output of a velocity geophone, partial energy represents only kinetic energy. Total energy better represents wavelet energy propagating through the earth. Use of partial energy (real signal only) applies a bias that favors the zero‐phase wavelets with respect to others of its class despite identical energy distribution. This bias is corrected when the wavelet envelope is used in the evaluation rather than wavelet trace amplitude. On a wiggle‐trace seismic section (amplitude display) a zero‐phase wavelet maintains a detectability advantage in the presence of noise because of a slightly greater amplitude; however, the advantage is lost in complex trace sections (energy displays) because both reflection strength and instantaneous frequency are independent of a constant phase shift in the wavelet. These sections are identical whether the wavelet is zero‐phase, quadrature‐phase or any other constant phase value, i.e., a wavelet within the zero‐phase class. (This does not imply that reflection strength sections should replace wiggle trace ones, only that they have advantages in the solution of some problems.)