Although the industry resorts to shear wave propagation when the usual compressional response is poor, the main promise of the shear wave response is in its combination with the compressional one. However, this is possible only when the quality and resolution of the two responses are similar.

The first part of the coursebook is devoted to overcoming the difficulties associated with shear wave acquisition. Converted mode operation is covered in detail using real-life examples. The particularities of sea bottom receivers are also examined.

The second part of the coursebook reviews the processing and the main challenges of the shear converted modes: static corrections, gathering, velocity analysis and compensation for shear wave splitting in axial anisotropy. The course gives a detailed description of processing sequences. 2D and 3D results, yielding natural axis orientation of layers, are compared in shear and PS converted modes.

The third part of the coursebook is devoted to case histories where new attributes, such as Vp/Vs ratio, crack density, or fracture orientation, are illustrated in a reservoir characterization context. These case histories can guide the geophysicist to decide if a particular geological situation can be best handled using shear waves.