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.     

VTI介质长偏移距非双曲动校正公式优化

常规Alkhalifah动校正公式精度低,不能精确描述各向异性介质长偏移距地震反射同相轴的时距关系.本文以提高VTI介质长偏移距地震资料动校正公式的精度为目标,在分析VTI介质常规动校正方程的基础上,根据误差最小原理建立优化校正系数图版,实现对常规动校正公式大偏移距误差的修正,建立最优化校正Alkhalifah动校正方程,实现了对VTI介质长偏移距地震资料常规动校正方程的改进.之后由Fomel群速度公式导出高精度VTI模型长偏移距时距函数,提出了高精度VTI介质长偏移距地震资料动校正方程.将以上的动校正方程用于各向异性参数反演,模型计算表明最优化校正Alkhalifah动校正方程的反演精度是常规长偏移距动校正方程反演精度的2～4倍,高精度动校正方程的反演精度是常规动校正方程反演精度的2～8倍.     

Constant normal-moveout (CNMO) correction: a technique and test results

We introduce a processing technique which minimizes the 'stretching effects' of conventional NMO correction. Unlike conventional NMO, the technique implies constant normal moveout (CNMO) for a finite time interval of a seismic trace. The benefits of the proposed method include preservation of higher frequencies and reduction of spectral distortions at far offsets. The need for severe muting after the correction is reduced, allowing longer spreads for stack, velocity and AVO analysis. The proposed technique has been tested on model and real data. The method may improve the resolution of CMP stack and AVO attribute analysis. The only assumptions for this stretch-free NMO correction are (i) all time samples of a digital reflected wavelet at a particular offset have the same normal moveout, and (ii) reflection records have an interference nature.     

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。     

PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THE DETERMINATION OF 3-D STACKING VELOCITIES*

Proper stacking of three-dimensional seismic CDP-data generally requires the knowledge of normal moveout velocities in all source-receiver directions contributing to a CDP-gather. The azimuthal variation of the stacking velocities mainly depends on the dip of the seismic interfaces. For a single dipping plane a simple relation exists between the dip and the azimuthal variation of NMO-velocity. Varying strike and dip of subsequent reflectors, however, result in a complex dependency of the seismic parameters. Reliable information on the spatial distribution of the normal moveout (NMO)-velocity can be derived from a wavefront curvature estimation using a 3-D ray-tracing technique. These procedures require additional information, e.g. reflection time gradients or depth maps to show interval velocities between leading interfaces. Moreover, their application to an extended 3-D data volume is restricted by high costs. The need for a routine 3-D procedure resulted in a special data selection to create pseudo 2-D profiles and to apply existing velocity estimation routines to these profiles. At least three estimates in different directions are necessary to derive the full azimuthal velocity variation, characterized by the large and the small main axis and the orientation of the velocity ellipse. Errors are estimated by means of computer models. Stacking velocities obtained by mathematical routines (least-squares fit) and by seismic standard routines (NMO-correction and correlation) are compared. Finally, a general 3-D velocity procedure using cross-correlation of preliminarily NMO-corrected traces is proposed.     

Residual dip moveout in VTI media

Dip‐moveout (DMO) correction is often applied to common‐offset sections of seismic data using a homogeneous isotropic medium assumption, which results in a fast execution. Velocity‐residual DMO is developed to correct for the medium‐treatment limitation of the fast DMO. For reasonable‐sized velocity perturbations, the residual DMO operator is small, and thus is an efficient means of applying a conventional Kirchhoff approach. However, the shape of the residual DMO operator is complicated and may form caustics. We use the Fourier domain for the operator development part of the residual DMO, while performing the convolution with common‐offset data in the space–time domain. Since the application is based on an integral (Kirchhoff) method, this residual DMO preserves all the flexibility features of an integral DMO. An application to synthetic and real data demonstrates effectiveness of the velocity‐residual DMO in data processing and velocity analysis.     

DIRECTIONAL DECONVOLUTION OF MARINE SEISMIC REFLECTION DATA: NORTH SEA EXAMPLE1

Directional deconvolution of the signature from a marine seismic source array may be achieved in combination with prestack migration or dip moveout (DMO) processing. The benefit is demonstrated using an example profile from the southern North Sea. In particular, shallow, dipping reflectors have improved continuity and frequency content. The method could be extended to 3D data to remove both in-line and cross-line directivity effects.     

Generalized Dix equation and analytic treatment of normal-moveout velocity for anisotropic media*

Despite the complexity of wave propagation in anisotropic media, reflection moveout on conventional common-midpoint (CMP) spreads is usually well described by the normal-moveout (NMO) velocity defined in the zero-offset limit. In their recent work, Grechka and Tsvankin showed that the azimuthal variation of NMO velocity around a fixed CMP location generally has an elliptical form (i.e. plotting the NMO velocity in each azimuthal direction produces an ellipse) and is determined by the spatial derivatives of the slowness vector evaluated at the CMP location. This formalism is used here to develop exact solutions for the NMO velocity in anisotropic media of arbitrary symmetry. For the model of a single homogeneous layer above a dipping reflector, we obtain an explicit NMO expression valid for all pure modes and any orientation of the CMP line with respect to the reflector strike. The contribution of anisotropy to NMO velocity is contained in the slowness components of the zero-offset ray (along with the derivatives of the vertical slowness with respect to the horizontal slownesses) — quantities that can be found in a straightforward way from the Christoffel equation. If the medium above a dipping reflector is horizontally stratified, the effective NMO velocity is determined through a Dix-type average of the matrices responsible for the ‘interval’ NMO ellipses in the individual layers. This generalized Dix equation provides an analytic basis for moveout inversion in vertically inhomogeneous, arbitrarily anisotropic media. For models with a throughgoing vertical symmetry plane (i.e. if the dip plane of the reflector coincides with a symmetry plane of the overburden), the semi-axes of the NMO ellipse are found by the more conventional rms averaging of the interval NMO velocities in the dip and strike directions. Modelling of normal moveout in general heterogeneous anisotropic media requires dynamic ray tracing of only one (zero-offset) ray. Remarkably, the expressions for geometrical spreading along the zero-offset ray contain all the components necessary to build the NMO ellipse. This method is orders of magnitude faster than multi-azimuth, multi-offset ray tracing and, therefore, can be used efficiently in traveltime inversion and in devising fast dip-moveout (DMO) processing algorithms for anisotropic media. This technique becomes especially efficient if the model consists of homogeneous layers or blocks separated by smooth interfaces. The high accuracy of our NMO expressions is illustrated by comparison with ray-traced reflection traveltimes in piecewise-homogeneous, azimuthally anisotropic models. We also apply the generalized Dix equation to field data collected over a fractured reservoir and show that P-wave moveout can be used to find the depth-dependent fracture orientation and to evaluate the magnitude of azimuthal anisotropy.     

Migration to multiple offset and velocity analysis1

The stacking velocity best characterizes the normal moveout curves in a common-mid-point gather, while the migration velocity characterizes the diffraction curves in a zero-offset section as well as in a common-midpoint gather. For horizontally layered media, the two velocity types coincide due to the conformance of the normal and the image ray. In the case of dipping subsurface structures, stacking velocities depend on the dip of the reflector and relate to normal rays, but with a dip-dependent lateral smear of the reflection point. After dip-moveout correction, the stacking velocities are reduced while the reflection-point smear vanishes, focusing the rays on the common reflection points. For homogeneous media the dip-moveout correction is independent of the actual velocity and can be applied as a dip-moveout correction to multiple offset before velocity analysis. Migration to multiple offset is a prestack, time-migration technique, which presents data sets which mimic high-fold, bin-centre adjusted, common-midpoint gathers. This method is independent of velocity and can migrate any 2D or 3D data set with arbitrary acquisition geometry. The gathers generated can be analysed for normal-moveout velocities using traditional methods such as the interpretation of multivelocity-function stacks. These stacks, however, are equivalent to multi-velocity-function time migrations and the derived velocities are migration velocities.     

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.     

OFFSET CONTINUATION IN THEORY AND PRACTICE*

Offset continuation is a technique that was recently proposed for the dip moveout correction. This correction can be carried out in the time-wavenumber domain using a proper partial differential equation that links sections with different offset. It has been shown that a single spike in a common-offset section—corresponds to a semi-elliptically shaped reflector with foci located at the source and receiver in the section migrated after dip moveout correction. The sections that result after offset continuation, stack, and migration are thus a superposition not only of semicircles, but also of semi-ellipses with different lengths of axes. This effect smears the migration alias-noise which, without offset continuation, would appear as migration circles not close enough together to interfere destructively. Offset continuation can improve the quality of seismic sections in several ways: —the velocity analyses are more readable, less dispersed and dip independent; diffraction tails arrive with the same normal moveout velocity as the apex and thus diffraction-noise can be “stacked out”; —noise produced by aliasing in the migrated section is reduced. In this paper we give a practical and conceptual interpretation of the offset continuation method, with a generalization to three-dimensional volumes of data. A critical examination of several synthetic and field data examples shows the actual possibilities and advantages of offset continuation.     

广角反射地震资料特殊处理方法研究

广角反射折射地震资料是较特殊的一类资料,其明显特点是:记录长,排列长,多种波场混合、反射能量强。用其进行深层勘探,可以大幅度提高深层地震资料的品质。本文从理论推导和模型试算上给出了反射资料不同于常规采集资料的处理方法，即反射波和折射波分离技术,大偏移距动校正叠加及正反演技术。尤其值得一提的是将这种海上的方法首次应用到了辽河地区陆上资料,并较好的提高了深层资料的品质。在浅层资料中大面积火山岩屏蔽区也取得较好效果。     

共转换点道集S变换谱相似性的多波地震数据横波波场提取技术

横波速度动校正后的共转换点(CCP)道集内,同时刻的各道横波信号S变换(ST)谱与其叠加道ST 谱具有相似关系.因此,可基于这种相似关系设计自适应滤波器来提取多波地震数据中的横波波场.首先对共中心点(CMP)道集应用纵波速度动校正并在各道减去叠加道来去除数据中的纵波波场;然后在CCP 道集应用横波速度动校正,将地震道振...     

Reverse time migration of CMP-gathers an effective tool for the determination of interval velocities

One of the most important steps in the conventional processing of reflection seismic data is common midpoint (CMP) stacking. However, this step has considerable deficiencies. For instance the reflection or diffraction time curves used for normal moveout corrections must be hyperbolae. Furthermore, undesirable frequency changes by stretching are produced on account of the dependence of the normal moveout corrections on reflection times. Still other drawbacks of conventional CMP stacking could be listed.One possibility to avoid these disadvantages is to replace conventional CMP stacking by a process of migration to be discussed in this paper. For this purpose the Sherwood-Loewenthal model of the exploding reflector has to be extended to an exploding point model with symmetry to the lineP _EX M whereP _EX is the exploding point, alias common reflection point, andM the common midpoint of receiver and source pairs.Kirchhoff summation is that kind of migration which is practically identical with conventional CMP stacking with the exception that Kirchhoff summation provides more than one resulting trace.In this paper reverse time migration (RTM) was adopted as a tool to replace conventional CMP stacking. This method has the merit that it uses the full wave equation and that a direct depth migration is obtained, the velocityv can be any function of the local coordinatesx, y, z. Since the quality of the reverse time migration is highly dependent on the correct choice of interval velocities such interval velocities can be determined stepwise from layer to layer, and there is no need to compute interval velocities from normal moveout velocities by sophisticated mathematics or time consuming modelling. It will be shown that curve velocity interfaces do not impair the correct determination of interval velocities and that more precise velocity values are obtained by avoiding or restricting muting due to non-hyperbolic normal moveout curves.Finally it is discussed how in the case of complicated structures the reverse time migration of CMP gathers can be modified in such a manner that the combination of all reverse time migrated CMP gathers yields a correct depth migrated section. This presupposes, however, a preliminary data processing and interpretation.     

双参数展开CRP叠加和速度分析方法研究

椭圆展开共反射点(CRP)方法可以获得比常规倾角时差校正(DMO)方法更近似的零偏移距时间剖面和相应CRP速度场.大量研究和实践证实,在非均质性较弱的地区,该方法取得的成果显著.但由于该方法没有考虑速度的横向变化和转换波等情况,当地下介质存在较强非均质性时,该方法不再准确,需要引进反映速度横向变化的双参数(上行波与下行波的平均速度和速度比)进行改进.本文详细推导了引入双参数后的叠加和速度分析算法,并通过数值模型和地震资料处理证实,修正后的算法可以更好地解决地质复杂地区速度建模和叠加成像问题.     

EFFICIENT MULTICHANNEL FILTERING OF SEISMIC DATA1

Multichannel filters are used to eliminate coherent noise from surface seismic data, for wavefield separation from VSP stacks, and for signal enhancement. Their success generally depends on the choice of the filter parameters and the domain of application. Multichannel filters can be applied to shots (monitors), common-receiver traces, CDP traces and stacked sections. Cascaded applications in these domains are currently performed in the seismic industry for better noise suppression and for signal enhancement. One-step shot-domain filtering is adequate for some applications. However, in practice, cascaded applications in shot-and common-receiver domains usually give better results when the S/N ratio is low. Multichannel filtering after stacking (especially after repeated applications in shot and/or receiver domains) may create undesirable results such as artificial continuations, or smearing and smoothing of small features such as small throw faults and fine stratigraphic details. Consequently, multichannel filtering after stacking must be undertaken with the utmost care and occasionally only as a last resort. Multichannel filters with fan-shaped responses (linear moveout filters) should be applied after NMO correction. These are the filters commonly used in the seismic industry where they have such names as velocity filters, moveout filters, f-k filters and coherency filters. Filtering before NMO correction may result in break-up and flattening especially of those shallow reflection events with relatively higher curvatures and diffractions. NMO correction is needed prior to wavefield separation from VSP stacks for the same practical reasons outlined above whenever source-receiver offsets are involved. Creation of artificial lineup and smearing at the outputs of multichannel filters is presently the common practical concern. Optimum multichannel filters with well-defined pass, reject and transition bands overcome the latter problems when applied before stacking and after NMO correction. The trace dimension of these filters must be kept small to avoid such lineups and the smoothing of small structures. Good results can be obtained with only five traces, but seven traces seems to be a better compromise both in surface and well seismic applications. The so-called f-k filtering and τ-p domain filtering are no exceptions to the above practical considerations. Residual static computations after multichannel filtering also need special consideration. Since multichannel filtering improves spatial continuity, residual static algorithms using local correlation, i.e. nonsurface-consistent algorithms, may be impractical especially after multichannel filtering.     

各向同性介质长偏移距地震同相轴动校正

传统二阶动校正方法基于较小最大偏移距与目标层深度比和地震波沿直线传播假设,进行长偏移距地震资料处理时,这些假设不再成立.高阶项动校正公式能提高长偏移动校正精度,文中对几种典型的高阶项动校正方法进行了比较,并提出了优化四阶、优化六阶动校正方法.模型计算表明,高阶项动校正方法能取得较常规动校正方法好的动校正结果,但并非阶数越高动校正精度就越高;在纵向速度变化剧烈时,高阶动校正或优化高阶动校正方法一般不能适用于最大偏移距与目标层深度大于3.5的地震反射同相轴,优化四阶和优化六阶动校正公式由于考虑了无穷大偏移距的影响,具有更稳定、更加精确动校正效果,适合于实际的各向同性长偏移距地震资料处理.     

Prestack Kirchhoff time migration of 3D coal seismic data from mining zones

Conventional seismic data processing methods based on post‐stack time migration have been playing an important role in coal exploration for decades. However, post‐stack time migration processing often results in low‐quality images in complex geological environments. In order to obtain high‐quality images, we present a strategy that applies the Kirchhoff prestack time migration (PSTM) method to coal seismic data. In this paper, we describe the implementation of Kirchhoff PSTM to a 3D coal seam. Meanwhile we derive the workflow of 3D Kirchhoff PSTM processing based on coal seismic data. The processing sequence of 3D Kirchhoff PSTM includes two major steps: 1) the estimation of the 3D root‐mean‐square (RMS) velocity field; 2) Kirchhoff prestack time migration processing. During the construction of a 3D velocity model, dip moveout velocity is served as an initial migration velocity field. We combine 3D Kirchhoff PSTM with the continuous adjustment of a 3D RMS velocity field by the criteria of flattened common reflection point gathers. In comparison with post‐stack time migration, the application of 3D Kirchhoff PSTM to coal seismic data produces better images of the coal seam reflections.     

Velocity model updating in prestack Kirchhoff time migration for PS converted waves: Part I – Theory

A velocity model updating approach is developed based on moveout analysis of the diffraction curve of PS converted waves in prestack Kirchhoff time migration. The diffraction curve can be expressed as a product of two factors: one factor depending on the PS converted‐wave velocity only, and the other factor depending on all parameters. The velocity‐dependent factor represents the hyperbolic behaviour of the moveout and the other is a scale factor that represents the non‐hyperbolic behaviour of the moveout. This non‐hyperbolic behaviour of the moveout can be corrected in prestack Kirchhoff time migration to form an inverse normal‐moveout common‐image‐point gather in which only the hyperbolic moveout is retained. This hyperbolic moveout is the moveout that would be obtained in an isotropic equivalent medium. A hyperbolic velocity is then estimated from this gather by applying hyperbolic moveout analysis. Theoretical analysis shows that for any given initial velocity, the estimated hyperbolic velocity converges by an iterative procedure to the optimal velocity if the velocity ratio is optimal or to a value closer to the optimal velocity if the velocity ratio is not optimal. The velocity ratio (V_P/V_S) has little effect on the estimation of the velocity. Applying this technique to a synthetic seismic data set confirms the theoretical findings. This work provides a practical method to obtain the velocity model for prestack Kirchhoff time migration.     

Moveout analysis for tranversely isotropic media with a tilted symmetry axis

The transversely isotropic (TI) model with a tilted axis of symmetry may be typical, for instance, for sediments near the flanks of salt domes. This work is devoted to an analysis of reflection moveout from horizontal and dipping reflectors in the symmetry plane of TI media that contains the symmetry axis. While for vertical and horizontal transverse isotropy zero-offset reflections exist for the full range of dips up to 90°, this is no longer the case for intermediate axis orientations. For typical homogeneous models with a symmetry axis tilted towards the reflector, wavefront distortions make it impossible to generate specular zero-offset reflected rays from steep interfaces. The ‘missing’ dipping planes can be imaged only in vertically inhomogeneous media by using turning waves. These unusual phenomena may have serious implications in salt imaging. In non-elliptical TI media, the tilt of the symmetry axis may have a drastic influence on normal-moveout (NMO) velocity from horizontal reflectors, as well as on the dependence of NMO velocity on the ray parameter p (the ‘dip-moveout (DMO) signature’). The DMO signature retains the same character as for vertical transverse isotropy only for near-vertical and near-horizontal orientation of the symmetry axis. The behaviour of NMO velocity rapidly changes if the symmetry axis is tilted away from the vertical, with a tilt of ±20° being almost sufficient to eliminate the influence of the anisotropy on the DMO signature. For larger tilt angles and typical positive values of the difference between the anisotropic parameters ε and δ, the NMO velocity increases with p more slowly than in homogeneous isotropic media; a dependence usually caused by a vertical velocity gradient. Dip-moveout processing for a wide range of tilt angles requires application of anisotropic DMO algorithms. The strong influence of the tilt angle on P-wave moveout can be used to constrain the tilt using P-wave NMO velocity in the plane that includes the symmetry axis. However, if the azimuth of the axis is unknown, the inversion for the axis orientation cannot be performed without a 3D analysis of reflection traveltimes on lines with different azimuthal directions.