The analysis and application of simplified two-parameter moveout equation for C-waves in VTI anisotropy media

Several parameters are needed to describe the converted-wave （C-wave） moveout in processing multi-component seismic data, because of asymmetric raypaths and anisotropy. As the number of parameters increases, the converted wave data processing and analysis becomes more complex. This paper develops a new moveout equation with two parameters for C-waves in vertical transverse isotropy （VTI） media. The two parameters are the C-wave stacking velocity （Vc2） and the squared velocity ratio （7v,i） between the horizontal P-wave velocity and C-wave stacking velocity. The new equation has fewer parameters, but retains the same applicability as previous ones. The applicability of the new equation and the accuracy of the parameter estimation are checked using model and real data. The form of the new equation is the same as that for layered isotropic media. The new equation can simplify the procedure for C-wave processing and parameter estimation in VTI media, and can be applied to real C-wave processing and interpretation. Accurate Vc2 and Yvti can be deduced from C-wave data alone using the double-scanning method, and the velocity ratio model is suitable for event matching between P- and C-wave data.     

低信噪比转换波地震资料静校正(英文)

Converted waves have slow velocity and low signal-to-noise ratio. It is also difficult to pick first-breaks and bin the common-conversion-points （CCP）. Some statics methods, which work well for P-wave data, can＇t be effectively used for solving convertedwave statics problems. This has become the main obstacle to breakthroughs in convertedwave data processing. To improve converted-wave static corrections, first, a statics method based on the common-receiver-point （CRP） stack is used for the initial receiver static correction to enhance the coherency of the CRP stack. Second, a stack-power-maximization static correction which improves the continuity of the CCP stack is used for detailed receiver statics. Finally, a non-surface-consistent residual moveout correction of the CCP gathers is used to enhance the stack power of reflection signals from different depths. Converted-wave statics are solved by the joint use of the three correction methods.     

Suppressing random noise to broaden the useful bandwidth of seismic reflection data

The signal-to-noise ratio （SNR） of seismic reflection data in many areas is rather poor and conventional two-dimensional filters designed to suppress noise with different moveout from the signal tend to generate artifacts. We have extended a method of multichannel filtering, based on the hypothesis that signals on adjacent channels are similar, for enhancing the SNR on stacked sections. Using only the mid-range frequencies where the SNR is highest, the event trend is found for overlapping windows on the section and the average signal vector is calculated. Then the data from the full bandwidth section are projected onto the spatially varying unit similarity vectors and the results are merged for the overlapping windows. Application of the method to synthetic data containing steeply dipping events and to a stacked section for a marine 2D line has produced good results. The modifications we have introduced carry a small overhead in computing time but they should enable the method to be used effectively even on sections containing steep dips.     

Estimation of Thomsen＇s anisotropic parameters from walkaway VSP and applications

Estimation of Thomsen＇s anisotropic parameters is very important for accuratetime-to-depth conversion and depth migration data processing. Compared with othermethods, it is much easier and more reliable to estimate anisotropic parameters that arerequired for surface seismic depth imaging from vertical seismic profile （VSP） data, becausethe first arrivals of VSP data can be picked with much higher accuracy. In this study, wedeveloped a method for estimating Thomsen＇s P-wave anisotropic parameters in VTImedia using the first arrivals from walkaway VSP data. Model first-arrival travel times arecalculated on the basis of the near-offset normal moveout correction velocity in VTI mediaand ray tracing using Thomsen＇s P-wave velocity approximation. Then, the anisotropicparameters 0 and e are determined by minimizing the difference between the calculatedand observed travel times for the near and far offsets. Numerical forward modeling, usingthe proposed method indicates that errors between the estimated and measured anisotropicparameters are small. Using field data from an eight-azimuth walkaway VSP in TarimBasin, we estimated the parameters 0 and e and built an anisotropic depth-velocity modelfor prestack depth migration processing of surface 3D seismic data. The results showimprovement in imaging the carbonate reservoirs and minimizing the depth errors of thegeological targets.     

新疆天山地区的波速比异常分析

Based on the seismic observation report data provided by the Xinjiang Digital Seismic Network from 2009 to 2014,we calculate the wave velocity ratio and its background value for medium and small earthquakes by using the multi-station method in Tianshan,Xinjiang.This paper analyzes the variation of the wave velocity ratio disturbance value to highlight the abnormal,and also back-traces 7 moderate earthquakes at the research area.The results show that:(1)the background value of the wave velocity ratio is almost 1.70,the wave velocity ratio obviously decreases in the middle-eastern part of Tianshan and the region near the Puchang fault;(2)the wave velocity ratio disturbance value is mostly low in the epicenter before four earthquakes of M≥5.0 from 2011 to 2013 in the study area;(3)before 7 moderate strong earthquakes,the earthquake events with low value of the wave velocity ratio account for over 60% of corresponding total events near the epicenters,and the low value of the wave velocity ratio is relatively obvious before moderate earthquakes.     

Migration velocity modeling based on common reflection surface gather

The common-reflection-surface (CRS) stacking is a new seismic imaging method, which only depends on seismic three parameters and near-surface velocity instead of macro-velocity model. According to optimized three parameters obtained by CRS stacking, we derived an analytical relationship between three parameters and migration velocity field, and put forward CRS gather migration velocity modeling method, which realize velocity estimation by optimizing three parameters in CRS gather. The test of a sag model proved that this method is more effective and adaptable for velocity modeling of a complex geological body, and the accuracy of velocity analysis depends on the precision of optimized three parameters.     

Seismic Signatures of Rock Pore Structure

Rock pore structure is one of the important parameters in controlling both seismic wave velocity and permeability in sandstones and carbonate rocks. For a given porosity of two similar rocks with different pore structures, their acoustic wave speeds can differ 2 km/s, and permeability can span nearly six orders of magnitude from 0.01 mD to 20 D in both sandstone and limestone. In this paper, we summarize a two-parameter elastic velocity model reduced from a general poroelastic theory, to characterize the effect of pore structures on seismic wave propagation. For a given mineralogy and fluid type of a reservoir, this velocity model is defined by porosity and a frame flexibility factor, which can be used in seismic inversion and reservoir characterization to improve estimation of porosity and reserves. The frame flexibility factor can be used for quantitative classification of rock pore structure types (PST) and may be related to pore connectivity and permeability, using both poststack and prestack seismic data. This study also helps explain why amplitude versus offset analysis (AVO) in some cases fails for the purpose of fluid detection: pore structure effect on seismic waves can mask all the fluid effects, especially in carbonate rocks.     

Study on the processing method of nighttime CO_2 eddy covariance flux data in ChinaFLUX

At present, using Eddy Covariance (EC) method to estimate the "true value" of carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystem arrests more attention. However, one issue is how to solve the uncertainty of observations (especially the nighttime CO2 flux data) appearing in post-processing CO2 flux data. The ratio of effective and reliable nighttime EC CO2 flux data to all nighttime data is relatively low (commonly, less than 50%) for all the long-term and continuous observation stations in the world. Thus, the processing method of nighttime CO2 flux data and its effect analysis on estimating CO2 flux annual sums are very important. In this paper, the authors analyze and discuss the reasons for underestimating nighttime CO2 flux using EC method, and introduce the general theory and method for processing nighttime CO2 flux data. By analyzing the relationship between nighttime CO2 flux and air fraction velocity u., we present an alternate method, Average Values Test (AVT), to determine the thresholds of fraction velocity (u.c) for screening the effective nighttime CO2 flux data. Meanwhile, taking the data observed in Yucheng and Changbai Mountains stations for an example, we analyze and discuss the effects of different methods or parameters on nighttime CO2 flux estimations. Finally, based on the data of part ChinaFLUX stations and related literatures, empirical models of nighttime respiration at different sites in ChinaFLUX are summarized.     

Bayesian seismic inversion for estimating fluid content and fracture parameters in a gas-saturated fractured porous reservoir

Understanding the effects of in situ fluid content and fracture parameters on seismic characteristics is important for the subsurface exploration and production of fractured porous rocks. The ratio of normal-to-shear fracture compliance is typically utilized as a fluid indicator to evaluate anisotropy and identify fluids filling the fractures, but it represents an underdetermined problem because this fluid indicator varies as a function of both fracture geometry and fluid content. On the bases of anisotropic Gassmann's equation and linear-slip model, we suggest an anisotropic poroelasticity model for fractured porous reservoirs. By combining a perturbed stiffness matrix and asymptotic ray theory, we then construct a direct relationship between the PP-wave reflection coefficients and characteristic parameters of fluids(P-and S-wave moduli) and fractures(fracture quasi-weaknesses), thereby decoupling the effects of fluid and fracture properties on seismic reflection characterization.By incorporating fracture quasi-weakness parameters, we propose a novel parameterization method for elastic impedance variation with offset and azimuth(EIVOA). By incorporating wide-azimuth observable seismic reflection data with regularization constraints, we utilize Bayesian seismic inversion to estimate the fluid content and fracture parameters of fractured porous rocks. Tests on synthetic and real data demonstrate that fluid and fracture properties can be reasonably estimated directly from azimuthal seismic data and the proposed approach provides a reliable method for fluid identification and fracture characterization in a gas-saturated fractured porous reservoir.     

基于虚拟偏移距方法的各向异性转换波保幅叠前时间偏移

In this paper, we use the method of pseudo-offset migration （POM） to complete converted wave pre-stack time migration with amplitude-preservation in an anisotropic medium. The method maps the original traces into common conversion scatter point （CCSP） gathers directly by POM, which simplifies the conventional processing procedure for converted waves. The POM gather fold and SNR are high, which is favorable for velocity analysis and especially suitable for seismic data with low SNR. We used equivalent anisotropic theory to compute anisotropic parameters. Based on the scattering wave traveltime equation in a VTI medium, the POM pseudo-offset migration in anisotropic media was deduced. By amplitude-preserving POM gather mapping, velocity analysis, stack processing, and so on, the anisotropic migration results were acquired. The forward modeling computation and actual data processing demonstrate the validity of converted wave pre-stack time migration with amplitude-preservation using the anisotropic POM method.     

Converted-wave seismology in anisotropic media Revisited,Part II: Application to parameter estimation

In transversely isotropic media with a vertical symmetry axis (VTI), the converted-wave (C-wave) moveout over intermediate-to-far offsets is determined by four parameters. These are the C-wave stacking velocity V _C2, the vertical and effective velocity ratios γ ₀and γ _eff, and the anisotropic parameter X _eff. We refer to the four parameters as the C-wave stacking velocity model. The purpose of C-wave velocity analysis is to determine this stacking velocity model. The C-wave stacking velocity model V _C2, γ ₀, γ _geff, and X _eff can be determined from P- and C-wave reflection moveout data. However, error propagation is a severe problem in C-wave reflection-moveout inversion. The current short-spread stacking velocity as deduced from hyperbolic moveout does not provide sufficient accuracy to yield meaningful inverted values for the anisotropic parameters. The non-hyperbolic moveout over intermediate-offsets (x/z from 1.0 to 1.5) is no longer negligible and can be quantified using a background γ. Non-hyperbolic analysis with a γ correction over the intermediate offsets can yield V _C2 with errors less than 1% for noise free data. The procedure is very robust, allowing initial guesses of γ with up to 20% errors. It is also applicable for vertically inhomogeneous anisotropic media. This improved accuracy makes it possible to estimate anisotropic parameters using 4C seismic data. Two practical work flows are presented for this purpose: the double-scanning flow and the single-scanning flow. Applications to synthetic and real data show that the two flows yield results with similar accuracy but the single-scanning flow is more efficient than the double-scanning flow. This work is funded by the Edinburgh Anisotropy Project of the British Geological Survey. First Author Li Xiangyang, he is currently a professorial research seismologist (Grade 6) and technical director of the Edinburgh Anisotropy Project in the British Geological Survey. He also holds a honorary professorship multicomponent seismology at the School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh. He received his BSc(1982) in Geophysics from Changchun Geological Institute, China, an MSc (1984) in applied geophysics from East China Petroleum Institute (now known as the China University of Petroleum), and a PhD (1992) in seismology from the University of Edinburgh. During 1984–1987, he worked as a lecturer with the East China Petroleum Institute. Since 1991, he has been employed by the British Geological Survey. His research interests include seismic anisotropy and multicomponent seismology.     

Prestack migration velocity analysis based on simplified two-parameter moveout equation

Stacking velocity V _C2, vertical velocity ratio γ ₀, effective velocity ratio γ _eff, and anisotropic parameter χ _eff are correlated in the PS-converted-wave (PS-wave) anisotropic prestack Kirchhoff time migration (PKTM) velocity model and are thus difficult to independently determine. We extended the simplified two-parameter (stacking velocity V _C2 and anisotropic parameter k _eff) moveout equation from stacking velocity analysis to PKTM velocity model updating and formed a new four-parameter (stacking velocity V _C2, vertical velocity ratio γ ₀, effective velocity ratio γ _eff, and anisotropic parameter k _eff) PS-wave anisotropic PKTM velocity model updating and process flow based on the simplified two-parameter moveout equation. In the proposed method, first, the PS-wave two-parameter stacking velocity is analyzed to obtain the anisotropic PKTM initial velocity and anisotropic parameters; then, the velocity and anisotropic parameters are corrected by analyzing the residual moveout on common imaging point gathers after prestack time migration. The vertical velocity ratio γ ₀ of the prestack time migration velocity model is obtained with an appropriate method utilizing the P- and PS-wave stacked sections after level calibration. The initial effective velocity ratio γ _eff is calculated using the Thomsen (1999) equation in combination with the P-wave velocity analysis; ultimately, the final velocity model of the effective velocity ratio γ _eff is obtained by percentage scanning migration. This method simplifies the PS-wave parameter estimation in high-quality imaging, reduces the uncertainty of multiparameter estimations, and obtains good imaging results in practice.     

再论各向异性介质转换波地震学,第二部分:参数计算研究

在具有垂直对称轴横向各向同性介质中，利用四种参数来确定中间至远偏移距转换波（C-波）动校正。它们是C-波叠加速度Vc2，垂直速度比和有效速度比γ0和γeff以及各向异性参数χeff。我们将这四种参数作为C波叠加速度模型。C-波速度分析的目的就是确定这种叠加速度模型。C-波叠加速度模型Vc2，γ0，γeff，和χeff可以由P-波和C-波反射动校正资料获得。然而错误的传播是C-波反射动校正反演中的严重问题。当前短排列叠加速度由于是从双曲线动校正推算而得，因而其精度不足以为各向异性参数提供有意义的反演值。中间偏移非双曲线动校正不再被人们所勿略，而是可以用一个背景γ加以量化。非双曲线分析通过中间偏移距的γ校正量可以产生Vc2，若数据不含燥音，其误差小于1％。方法稳健，允许γ启始假定值的误差达20％。该方法也适用垂直非均匀各向异性介质。精度的提高使能够用4分量地震资料计算各向异性参数。为此提出了两种工作流程：双扫描和单扫描流程。理论数据和实际数据的应用表明这两种流程得出的结果其精度相似，但是单扫描流程比双扫描更有效。     

Common-reflection-surface stack — a real data example

The simulation of a zero-offset (ZO) stack section from multi-coverage reflection data is a standard imaging method in seismic processing. It significantly reduces the amount of data and increases the signal-to-noise ratio due to constructive interference of correlated events. Conventional imaging methods, e.g., normal moveout (NMO)/dip moveout (DMO)/stack or pre-stack migration, require a sufficiently accurate macro-velocity model to yield appropriate results, whereas the recently introduced common-reflection-surface stack does not depend on a macro-velocity model. For two-dimensional seismic acquisition, its stacking operator depends on three wavefield attributes and approximates the kinematic multi-coverage reflection response of curved interfaces in laterally inhomogeneous media. The common-reflection-surface stack moveout formula defines a stacking surface for each particular sample in the ZO section to be simulated. The stacking surfaces that fit best to actual events in the multi-coverage data set are determined by means of coherency analysis. In this way, we obtain a coherency section and a section of each of the three wavefield attributes defining the stacking operator. These wavefield attributes characterize the curved interfaces and, thus, can be used for a subsequent inversion. In this paper, we focus on an application to a real land data set acquired over a salt dome. We propose three separate one-parametric search and coherency analyses to determine initial common-reflection-surface stack parameters. Optionally, a subsequent optimization algorithm can be performed to refine these initial parameters. The simulated ZO section obtained by the common-reflection-surface stack is compared to the result of a conventional NMO/DMO/stack processing sequence. We observe an increased signal-to-noise ratio and an improved continuity along the events for our proposed method — without loss of lateral resolution.     

Stacking velocities in the presence of overburden velocity anomalies

Lateral velocity changes (velocity anomalies) in the overburden may cause significant oscillations in normal moveout velocities. Explicit analytical moveout formulas are presented and provide a direct explanation of these lateral fluctuations and other phenomena for a subsurface with gentle deep structures and shallow overburden anomalies. The analytical conditions for this have been derived for a depth-velocity model with gentle structures with dips not exceeding 12°. The influence of lateral interval velocity changes and curvilinear overburden velocity boundaries can be estimated and analysed using these formulas. An analytical approach to normal moveout velocity analysis in a laterally inhomogeneous medium provides an understanding of the connection between lateral interval velocity changes and normal moveout velocities. In the presence of uncorrected shallow velocity anomalies, the difference between root-mean-square and stacking velocity can be arbitrarily large to the extent of reversing the normal moveout function around normal incidence traveltimes. The main reason for anomalous stacking velocity behaviour is non-linear lateral variations in the shallow overburden interval velocities or the velocity boundaries.
A special technique has been developed to determine and remove shallow velocity anomaly effects. This technique includes automatic continuous velocity picking, an inversion method for the determination of shallow velocity anomalies, improving the depth-velocity model by an optimization approach to traveltime inversion (layered reflection tomography) and shallow velocity anomaly replacement. Model and field data examples are used to illustrate this technique.     

VERTICAL HETEROGENEITY AND MOVEOUT IN THE ONE-DIMENSIONAL MEDIUM*

Since the important contributions of Dürbaum and Dix, 30 years ago, velocity profile estimation procedures on horizontally layered and vertically heterogeneous media from seismic probing data have been based largely on hyperbolic moveout models and RMS and stacking velocity concepts. Re-examination of the fundamentals reveals that quantitative velocity heterogeneity and canonical valocity profiles have been implicit factors for moveout modelling and for profile inversion in the use of the Dix procedure. Heterogeneity h is the ratio (and v_RMS the geometric or harmonic mean) of the path-average and time-average velocities for a raypath or, in a more restricted sense, for the normal ray belonging to a velocity profile. The canonical profile for a given velocity profile or profile segment is a moveout-equivalent monotonically increasing ramp-like profile. The ramp or constant gradient in depth is the simplest velocity profile approximator which can explicitly accommodate velocity heterogeneity. A ramp model structure is detailed which facilitates moveout simulation and model parameter estimation, and the parametric effects are explored. The horizontal offset range is quantified for which this model can give good moveout approximations.     

一种倾角时差校正和叠前成象方法

本文从测量射线参数出发进行反向射线追踪,导出倾角时差校正（DMO）的公式。经过DMO后,可以从一组等炮检距剖面得出共分角线点道集。用于对这些道集进行叠加的速度值与界面倾角无关。对经过DMO的资料的等时切片进行叠前成象（PSI）,就可以把分布在圆上的绕射能量沿圆弧加起来,并放在圆弧上对应于最大炮检距的位置。经过这两种处理,再应用标准的速度分析和叠加方法,就可得出偏移后的剖面。这两种处理均与速度无关。最后用物理模型试验说明了DMO和PSI的效果是好的。     

OFFSET CONTINUATION OF SEISMIC SECTIONS*

Geometrical acoustic and wave theory lead to a second-order partial differential equation that links seismic sections with different offsets. In this equation a time-shift term appears that corresponds to normal moveout; a second term, dependent on offset and time only, corrects the moveout of dipping events. The zero-offset stacked section can thus be obtained by continuing the section with maximum offset towards zero, and stacking along the way the other common-offset sections. Without the correction for dip moveout, the spatial resolution of the section is noticeably impaired, thus limiting the advantages that could be obtained with expensive migration procedures. Trade-offs exist between multiplicity of coverage, spatial resolution, and signal-to-noise; in some cases the spatial resolution on the surface can be doubled and the aliasing noise averaged out. Velocity analyses carried out on data continued to zero offset show a better resolution and improved discrimination against multiples. For instance, sea-floor multiples always appear at water velocity, so that their removal is simplified. This offset continuation can be carried out either in the time-space domain or in the time-wave number domain. The methods are applied both to synthetic and real data.