Shear Wave Velocity in Geoscience: Applications, Energy-Efficient Estimation Methods, and Challenges

Shear wave velocity (Vs) is a key geomechanical variable in subsurface exploration, essential for hydrocarbon reservoirs, geothermal reserves, aquifers, and emerging use cases, like carbon capture and storage (CCS), offshore geohazard assessment, and deep Earth exploration. Despite its broad significance, no comprehensive multidisciplinary review has evaluated the latest applications, estimation methods, and challenges in Vs prediction. This study provides a critical review of these aspects, focusing on energy-efficient prediction techniques, including geophysical surveys, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence (AI). AI-driven models, particularly machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), have demonstrated superior accuracy by capturing complex subsurface relationships and integrating diverse datasets. While AI offers automation and reduces reliance on extensive field data, challenges remain, including data availability, model interpretability, and generalization across geological settings. Findings indicate that integrating AI with geophysical and remote sensing methods has the potential to enhance Vs prediction, providing a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to conventional approaches. Additionally, key challenges in Vs estimation are identified, with recommendations for future research. This review offers valuable insights for geoscientists and engineers in petroleum engineering, mining, geophysics, geology, hydrogeology, and geotechnics.