Ilya Tsvankin

Professor, Geophysics

Ilya Tsvankin

Contact

303-273-3060
ilya@mines.edu
Personal website

Labs and Research Centers

Education

  • PhD, Geophysics, Moscow State University
  • BS and MS, Exploration Geophysics, Moscow State University

Research Areas

  • Seismic wave propagation
  • Processing and inversion of seismic data for anisotropic media
  • Multicomponent seismology
  • Fracture characterization

Publications

Books

  • Tsvankin, I., 2012, Seismic signatures and analysis of reflection data in anisotropic media: Society of Exploration Geophysicists, third edition (previous editions published by Elsevier in 2001 and 2005). SEG Bookmart
  • Tsvankin, I., and V. Grechka, 2011, Seismology of azimuthally anisotropic media and seismic fracture characterization: Society of Exploration Geophysicists. SEG Bookmart
  • Tsvankin, I., 1995, Seismic wavefields in layered isotropic media: Samizdat Press, Colorado School of Mines. Samizdat

Papers

  • Sethi, H., J. Shragge, and I. Tsvankin, 2021, Mimetic finite-difference coupled-domain solver for anisotropic media: Geophysics, 86, no. 1, T45-T59.
  • Liu, Y., and I. Tsvankin, 2021, Methodology of time-lapse elastic full-waveform inversion for VTI media: Journal of Seismic Exploration, 30, 257-270.
  • Arora, Y., and I. Tsvankin, 2020, Anisotropic traveltime tomography of diffraction arrivals based on eikonal equation: Journal of Seismic Exploration, 29, 455-475.
  • Singh, S., I. Tsvankin, and E. Zabihi Naeini, 2020, Full-waveform inversion with borehole constraints for elastic VTI media: Geophysics, 85, no. 6, R553-R563. 
  • Li, V., A. Guitton, I. Tsvankin, and T. Alkhalifah, 2019, Image-domain wavefield tomography for VTI media: Geophysics, 84, no. 2, C119-C128.
  • Liu, Q., and I. Tsvankin, 2019, Stacking-velocity tomography for tilted orthorhombic media: Geophysics, 84, no. 3, C171-C180.
  • Wang, H., and I. Tsvankin, 2018, Methodology of waveform inversion for acoustic orthorhombic media: Journal of Seismic Exploration, 27, 201-226.
  • Arora, Y., and I. Tsvankin, 2018, Analysis of diffractions in dip-angle gathers for transversely isotropic media: Journal of Seismic Exploration, 27, 515-530.
  • Singh, S., I. Tsvankin, and E. Zabihi Naeini, 2018, Bayesian framework for elastic full-waveform inversion with facies information: The Leading Edge, 37, no. 12, 924-931.
  • Li, V., H. Wang, I. Tsvankin, E. Diaz, and T. Alkhalifah, 2017, Inversion gradients for acoustic VTI wavefield tomography: Geophysics, 82, no. 4, WA55-WA65.
  • Bai, T., I. Tsvankin, and X. Wu, 2017, Waveform inversion for attenuation estimation in anisotropic media: Geophysics, 82, no. 4, WA83-WA93.
  • Jarillo Michel, O., and I. Tsvankin, 2017, Waveform inversion for microseismic velocity analysis and event location in VTI media: Geophysics, 82, no. 4, WA95-WA103.
  • Smith, S., and I. Tsvankin, 2016, Inversion of multicomponent seismic time shifts for reservoir pressure and length: A feasibility study: Geophysical Prospecting, 64, 83-101.
  • Kamath, N., and I. Tsvankin, 2016, Elastic full-waveform inversion for VTI media: Methodology and sensitivity analysis: Geophysics, 81, no. 2, C53-C68.
  • Bai, T., and I. Tsvankin, 2016, Time-domain finite-difference modeling for attenuative anisotropic media: Geophysics, 81, no. 2, C69-C77.
  • Li, V., I. Tsvankin, and T. Alkhalifah, 2016, Analysis of RTM extended images for VTI media: Geophysics, 81, no. 3, S139-S150.
  • Arora, Y., and I. Tsvankin, 2016, Separation of diffracted waves in transversely isotropic media: Studia Geophysica et Geodaetica, 60, no. 3, 487-499.
  • Zabihi Naeini, E., T. Alkhalifah, I. Tsvankin, N. Kamath, and J. Cheng, 2016, Main components of full-waveform inversion for reservoir characterization: First Break, 34, 37-48.
  • Tamimi, N., I. Tsvankin, and T. L. Davis, 2015, Estimation of VTI parameters using slowness-polarization inversion of P- and SV-waves: Journal of Seismic Exploration, 24, 455-474.
  • Jarillo Michel, O., and I. Tsvankin, 2015, Estimation of microseismic source parameters by 2D anisotropic waveform inversion: Journal of Seismic Exploration, 24, 379-400.
  • Jarillo Michel, O., and I. Tsvankin, 2014, Gradient calculation for waveform inversion of microseismic data in VTI media: Journal of Seismic Exploration, 23, 201-217.
  • Shekar, B., and I. Tsvankin, 2014, Point-source radiation in attenuative anisotropic media: Geophysics, 79, no. 5, WB25-WB34.
  • Shekar, B., and I. Tsvankin, 2014, Kirchhoff modeling for attenuative anisotropic media using Gaussian beams: Geophysics, 79, no. 5, WB51-WB61.
  • Wang, X., and I. Tsvankin, 2013, Multiparameter TTI tomography of P-wave reflection and VSP data: Geophysics, 78, no. 5, WC51-WC63.
  • Kamath, N., and I. Tsvankin, 2013, Full-waveform inversion of multicomponent data for horizontally layered VTI media: Geophysics, 78, no. 5, WC113-WC121.
  • Cai, P., and I. Tsvankin, 2013, Joint migration velocity analysis of PP- and PS-waves for VTI media: Geophysics, 78, no. 5, WC123-WC135.
  • Smith, S., and I. Tsvankin, 2013, Sensitivity of compaction-induced multicomponent seismic time shifts to variations in reservoir properties: Geophysics, 78, no. 5, T151-T163.
  • Wang, X., and I. Tsvankin, 2013, Ray-based gridded tomography for tilted transversely isotropic media: Geophysics, 78, no. 1, C11-C23.
  • Takanashi, M., and I. Tsvankin, 2012, Moveout analysis of wide-azimuth data in the presence of lateral velocity variation: Geophysics, 77, no. 3, U49-U62.
  • Shekar, B., and I. Tsvankin, 2012, Anisotropic attenuation analysis of crosshole data generated during hydraulic fracturing: The Leading Edge, 31, no. 5, 588-593.
  • Behura, J., I. Tsvankin, E. Jenner, and A. Calvert, 2012, Estimation of interval velocity and attenuation anisotropy from reflection data at Coronation Field: The Leading Edge, 31, no. 5, 580-587.
  • Smith, S., and I. Tsvankin, 2012, Modeling and analysis of compaction-induced traveltime shifts for multicomponent seismic data: Geophysics, 77, no. 6, T221-T237.
  • Takanashi, M., and I. Tsvankin, 2012, Migration velocity analysis for TI media in the presence of quadratic lateral velocity variation: Geophysics, 77, no. 6, U87-U96.
  • Fuck, R. F., I. Tsvankin, and A. Bakulin, 2011, Influence of background heterogeneity on traveltime shifts for compacting reservoirs: Geophysical Prospecting, 59, 78-89.
  • Takanashi, M., and I. Tsvankin, 2011, Correction for the influence of velocity lenses on nonhyperbolic moveout inversion for VTI media: Geophysics, 76, no. 3, WA13-WA21.
  • Wang, X., and I. Tsvankin, 2011, Moveout inversion of wide-azimuth P-wave data for tilted TI media: Geophysics, 76, no. 3, WA23-WA29.
  • Shekar, B., and I. Tsvankin, 2011, Estimation of shear-wave interval attenuation from mode-converted data: Geophysics, 76, no. 6, D11-D19.
  • Tsvankin, I., J. Gaiser, V. Grechka, M. van der Baan, and L. Thomsen, 2010, Seismic anisotropy in exploration and reservoir characterization: An overview: Geophysics, 75, no. 5, 75A15-75A29.
  • Wang, X., and I. Tsvankin, 2010, Stacking-velocity inversion with borehole constraints for tilted TI media: Geophysics, 75, no. 5, D69-D77.
  • Sollner, W., I. Tsvankin, and E. F. F. Silva, 2010, Multi-azimuth prestack time migration for anisotropic, weakly heterogeneous media: Journal of Seismic Exploration, 19, 187-206.
  • Behera, L., and I. Tsvankin, 2009, Migration velocity analysis for tilted transversely isotropic media: Geophysical Prospecting, 57, 13-26.
  • Fuck, R. F., A. Bakulin, and I. Tsvankin, 2009, Theory of traveltime shifts around compacting reservoirs: 3D solutions for heterogeneous anisotropic media: Geophysics, 74, no. 1, D25-D36.
  • Ayzenberg, M., I. Tsvankin, A. Aizenberg, and B. Ursin, 2009, Effective reflection coefficients for curved interfaces in transversely isotropic media: Geophysics, 74, no. 5, WB33-WB53.
  • Behura, J., and I. Tsvankin, 2009, Role of the inhomogeneity angle in anisotropic attenuation analysis: Geophysics, 74, no. 5, WB177-WB191.
  • Behura, J., and I. Tsvankin, 2009, Reflection coefficients in attenuative anisotropic media: Geophysics, 74, no. 5, WB193-WB202.
  • Behura, J., and I. Tsvankin, 2009, Estimation of interval anisotropic attenuation from reflection data: Geophysics, 74, no. 6, A69-A74.
  • Fuck, R. F., and I. Tsvankin, 2009, Analysis of the symmetry of a stressed medium using nonlinear elasticity: Geophysics, 74, no. 5, WB79-WB87.
  • Wang, X., and I. Tsvankin, 2009, Estimation of interval anisotropy parameters using velocity-independent layer stripping: Geophysics, 74, no. 5, WB117-WB127.
  • Tsvankin, I., 2008, Properties of evanescent waves in anisotropic media: Journal of Seismic Exploration, 17, 237-251.
  • Xu, X., and I. Tsvankin, 2008, Moveout-based geometrical-spreading correction for PS-waves in layered anisotropic media: Journal of Geophysics and Engineering, 5, 195-202.
  • Yan, J., and I. Tsvankin, 2008, AVO-sensitive semblance analysis for wide-azimuth data: Geophysics, 73, no. 2, U1-U11.
  • Zhu, Y., I. Tsvankin, P. Dewangan, and K. van Wijk, 2007, Physical modeling and analysis of P-wave attenuation anisotropy in transversely isotropic media: Geophysics, 72, no. 1, D1-D7.
  • Zhu, Y., and I. Tsvankin, 2007, Plane-wave attenuation anisotropy in orthorhombic media: Geophysics, 72, no. 1, D9-D19.
  • Landro, M., and I. Tsvankin, 2007, Seismic critical-angle reflectometry: A method to characterize azimuthal anisotropy?: Geophysics, 72, no. 3, D41-D50.
  • Zhu, Y., I. Tsvankin, and I. Vasconcelos, 2007, Effective attenuation anisotropy of thin-layered media: Geophysics, 72, no. 5, D93-D106.
  • Xu, X., and I. Tsvankin, 2007, A case study of azimuthal AVO analysis with anisotropic spreading correction: The Leading Edge, 26, no. 12, 1552-1561.
  • Tsvankin, I., and V. Grechka, 2006, Developments in seismic anisotropy: Treating realistic subsurface models in imaging and fracture detection: CSEG Recorder, 31 (special edition), 43-46.
  • Tsvankin, I., and V. Grechka, 2006, Interview to the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists: CSEG Recorder, 31 (No. 4), 14-26. Reprinted in The Leading Edge, 25 (No. 10), 1244-1251.
  • Zhu, Y., and I. Tsvankin, 2006, Plane-wave propagation in attenuative transversely isotropic media: Geophysics, 71, no. 2, T17-T30.
  • Dewangan, P., and I. Tsvankin, 2006, Modeling and inversion of PS-wave moveout asymmetry for tilted TI media: Part 1 – Horizontal TTI layer: Geophysics, 71, no. 4, D107-D122.
  • Dewangan, P., and I. Tsvankin, 2006, Modeling and inversion of PS-wave moveout asymmetry for tilted TI media: Part 2 – Dipping TTI layer: Geophysics, 71, no. 4, D123-D134.
  • Dewangan, P., I. Tsvankin, M. Batzle, K. van Wijk, and M. Haney, 2006, PS-wave moveout inversion for tilted TI media: A physical-modeling study: Geophysics, 71, no. 4, D135-D143.
  • Dewangan, P., and I. Tsvankin, 2006, Velocity-independent layer stripping of PP and PS reflection traveltimes: Geophysics, 71, no. 4, U59-U65.
  • Vasconcelos, I., and I. Tsvankin, 2006, Nonhyperbolic moveout inversion of wide-azimuth P-wave data for orthorhombic media: Geophysical Prospecting, 54, 535-552.
  • Sarkar, D., and I. Tsvankin, 2006, Anisotropic migration velocity analysis: Application to a data set from West Africa: Geophysical Prospecting, 54, 575-587.
  • Fuck, R. F., and I. Tsvankin, 2006, Seismic signatures of two orthogonal sets of vertical microcorrugated fractures: Journal of Seismic Exploration, 15, 183-208.
  • Behura, J., and I. Tsvankin, 2006, Small-angle AVO response of PS-waves in tilted transversely isotropic media: Geophysics, 71, no. 5, C69-C79.
  • Xu, X., and I. Tsvankin, 2006, Anisotropic geometrical-spreading correction for wide-azimuth P-wave reflections: Geophysics, 71, no. 5, D161-D170.
  • Xu, X., and I. Tsvankin, 2006, Azimuthal AVO analysis with anisotropic spreading correction: A synthetic study: The Leading Edge, 25, no. 11, 1336-1342.
  • Grechka, V., Pech, A., and I. Tsvankin, 2005, Parameter estimation in orthorhombic media using multicomponent wide-azimuth reflection data: Geophysics, 70, no. 2, D1-D8.
  • Xu, X., I. Tsvankin, and A. Pech, 2005, Geometrical spreading of P-waves in horizontally layered, azimuthally anisotropic media: Geophysics, 70, no. 5, D43-D54.
  • Al-Zayer, R., and I. Tsvankin, 2005, Image gathers of SV-waves in homogeneous and factorized VTI media: Geophysics, 70, no. 5, D55-D64.
  • Grechka, V., and I. Tsvankin, 2004, Characterization of dipping fractures in a transversely isotropic background: Geophysical Prospecting, 52, 1-10.
  • Pech, A., and I. Tsvankin, 2004, Quartic moveout coefficient for a dipping azimuthally anisotropic layer: Geophysics, 69, 699-707.
  • Sarkar, D., and I. Tsvankin, 2004, Migration velocity analysis in factorized VTI media: Geophysics, 69, 708-718.
  • Grechka, V., A. Bakulin, and I. Tsvankin, 2003, Seismic characterization of vertical fractures described as general linear-slip interfaces: Geophysical Prospecting, 51, 117-130.
  • Grechka, V., and I. Tsvankin, 2003, Feasibility of seismic characterization of multiple fracture sets: Geophysics, 68, 1399-1407.
  • Pech, A., I. Tsvankin, and V. Grechka, 2003, Quartic moveout coefficient: 3D description and application to tilted TI media: Geophysics, 68, 1600-1610.
  • Sarkar, D., and I. Tsvankin, 2003, Analysis of image gathers in factorized VTI media: Geophysics, 68, 2016-2025.
  • Grechka, V., and I. Tsvankin, 2002, NMO-velocity surfaces and Dix-type formulas in anisotropic heterogeneous media: Geophysics, 67, 939-951.
  • Grechka, V., and I. Tsvankin, 2002, PP+PS=SS: Geophysics, 67, 1961-1971.
  • Grechka, V., and I. Tsvankin, 2002, Processing-induced anisotropy: Geophysics, 67, 1920-1928.
  • Grechka, V., and I. Tsvankin, 2002, The joint nonhyperbolic moveout inversion of PP and PS data in VTI media: Geophysics, 67, 1929-1932.
  • Tsvankin, I., and V. Grechka, 2002, 3D description and inversion of reflection moveout of PS-waves in anisotropic media: Geophysical Prospecting, 50, 301-316.
  • Grechka, V., A. Pech, and I. Tsvankin, 2002, P-wave stacking-velocity tomography for VTI media: Geophysical Prospecting, 50, 151-168.
  • Grechka, V., A. Pech, and I. Tsvankin, 2002, Multicomponent stacking-velocity tomography for transversely isotropic media: Geophysics, 67, 1564-1574.
  • Grechka, V., I. Tsvankin, A. Bakulin, J. O. Hansen, and C. Signer, 2002, Joint inversion of PP and PS reflection data for VTI media: A North Sea case study: Geophysics, 67, 1382-1395.
  • Grechka, V., I. Tsvankin, A. Bakulin, C. Signer, and J. O. Hansen, 2002, Anisotropic inversion and imaging of PP and PS reflection data in the North Sea: The Leading Edge, 21, No. 1, 90-97.
  • Bakulin, A., V. Grechka, and I. Tsvankin, 2002, Seismic inversion for the parameters of two orthogonal fracture sets in a VTI background medium: Geophysics, 67, 292-299.
  • DeVault, B., T. L. Davis, I. Tsvankin, R. Verm, and F. Hilterman, 2002, Multicomponent AVO analysis, Vacuum field, New Mexico: Geophysics, 67, 701-710.
  • Tsvankin, I., 2001, Seismic signatures and analysis of reflection data in anisotropic media: Elsevier Science.
  • Le Stunff, Y., V. Grechka, and I. Tsvankin, 2001, Depth-domain velocity analysis in VTI media using surface P-wave data: Is it feasible?: Geophysics, 66, 897-903.
  • Grechka, V., A. Pech, I. Tsvankin, and B. Han, 2001, Velocity analysis for tilted transversely isotropic media: A physical-modeling example: Geophysics, 66, 904-910.
  • Tsvankin, I., and V. Grechka, 2000, Dip moveout of converted waves and parameter estimation in transversely isotropic media: Geophysical Prospecting, 48, 257-292.
  • Grechka, V., and I. Tsvankin, 2000, Inversion of azimuthally dependent NMO velocity in transversely isotropic media with a tilted axis of symmetry: Geophysics, 65, 232-246.
  • Grechka, V., P. Contreras, and I. Tsvankin, 2000, Inversion of normal moveout for monoclinic media: Geophysical Prospecting, 48, 577-602.
  • Han, B., T. Galikeev, V. Grechka, J. Le Rousseau, and I. Tsvankin, 2000, A synthetic example of anisotropic P-wave processing for a model from the Gulf of Mexico: in Ikelle, L., and A. Gangi, Eds., Anisotropy 2000: Fractures, converted waves and case studies: Proceedings of the 9th International Workshop on Seismic Anisotropy (9IWSA), Soc. Expl. Geophys.
  • Rommel, B. E., and I. Tsvankin, 2000, Analytic description of P-wave ray direction and polarization in orthorhombic media: in Ikelle, L., and A. Gangi, Eds., Anisotropy 2000: Fractures, converted waves and case studies: Proceedings of the 9th International Workshop on Seismic Anisotropy (9IWSA), Soc. Expl. Geophys.
  • Grechka, V., and I. Tsvankin, 2000, Velocity analysis of converted waves based on the hyperbolic moveout equation: The RTM method: in Ikelle, L., and A. Gangi, Eds., Anisotropy 2000: Fractures, converted waves and case studies: Proceedings of the 9th International Workshop on Seismic Anisotropy (9IWSA), Soc. Expl. Geophys.
  • Bakulin, A., V. Grechka, and I. Tsvankin, 2000, Estimation of fracture parameters from reflection seismic data – Part I: HTI model due to a single fracture set: Geophysics, 65, 1788-1802.
  • Bakulin, A., V. Grechka, and I. Tsvankin, 2000, Estimation of fracture parameters from reflection seismic data – Part II: Fractured models with orthorhombic symmetry: Geophysics, 65, 1803-1817.
  • Bakulin, A., V. Grechka, and I. Tsvankin, 2000, Estimation of fracture parameters from reflection seismic data – Part III: Fractured models with monoclinic symmetry: Geophysics, 65, 1818-1830.

Recent Courses

  • Seismic Data Processing
  • Introduction to Seismology I
  • Introduction to Seismology II
  • Advanced Seismology

Awards and Recognitions

  • SEG Outstanding Educator (2020)
  • Honorary Membership Award of the SEG (2015)
  • Virgil Kauffman Gold Medal Award of the SEG (1996)
  • Elected a Fellow of the Institute of Physics (2011)
  • Best Paper in Geophysics Award of the SEG (2009)
  • Honorable Mention for Best Paper in Geophysics Award of the SEG (1999, 2002)
  • Shell Faculty Fellow, recipient of Shell Faculty Career Initiation Grant (1996 – 99)
  • Gold Medal in Geophysics for Outstanding Young Scientists of the Soviet Academy of Sciences (1988)