1. n. [Geophysics]

A type of refraction survey to help define a salt-sediment interface near a wellbore. The source is typically placed directly above the top of a salt dome and the receivers are placed at a number of locations within the borehole. This technique takes advantage of the fact that sound travels faster through the salt than the surrounding soft sediments, such as in the US Gulf Coast. This survey measures the fastest travel path, with part of its path through the salt. The resultant traveltimes are then inverted via a model to obtain a profile of the salt flanks relative to the borehole.

See related terms: radial refraction,  refraction,  salt-proximity vertical seismic profile,  source,  survey