Velocity imaging by tau–p transformation of refracted seismic traveltimes

We present a new method for producing a ‘brute’ velocity image rapidly and automatically from traveltimes picked from densely sampled refraction data. The procedure involves imaging by data transformation from the time–offset domain into the tau–p (intercept–slope) domain, and does not include conventional modelling steps. Differences in apparent velocity and tau along reciprocal paths in the up- and downdip directions allow the estimation of the true velocity and geometrical position of the ray turning points. The tau–velocity–turningpoint (τ–ν–x) map distributes phases automatically on the basis of geometry and velocity to give a two-dimensional representation of subsurface structure. This map may be converted simply to depth and two-way-time images. Such images have potential for direct geological interpretation, for use as a starting model for seismic inversion, for superimposition on to conventional reflection images, or for input into prestack depth migration and other processing routines.     

Imaging beneath an opaque basaltic layer using densely sampled wide-angle OBS data1

A combined reflection/refraction (wide-angle) seismic survey was conducted on the continental shelf north-west of Britain, using a conventional streamer with an airgun source, and static ocean-bottom seismometers (OBS) to record wide-angle energy. The shallow structure down to a basaltic layer was reasonably well imaged on the stacked reflection section. The basalts, however, proved to be opaque to the conventional reflection method and prevented the imaging of deeper horizons, where an important velocity inversion was anticipated. This paper reports on the processing, modelling and interpretation of the densely sampled wide-angle OBS data that were coincident with the reflection profile. Eleven OBS instruments were deployed along a 75 km line and recorded signal from a powerful 149 litre (9100 in.³) airgun array fired every 50 m. Data processing was performed using a standard industrial reflection seismic software package prior to first-arrival picking. Processing steps included geometry definition, trace summation and display of the data using various scaling algorithms. An initial model was constructed from 1D velocity-time profiles digitized every 4 km along the stacked section. First arrival traveltime modelling rapidly converged to a detailed model of the structure of the top 5 km of the crust. Modelling revealed the existence of a buried low-velocity Mesozoic sedimentary basin, of a prominent basement horst and of a normal fault penetrating to the basement.     

Filter formulation and wavefield separation of cross-well seismic data

Multichannel filtering to obtain wavefield separation has been used in seismic processing for decades and has become an essential component in VSP and cross-well reflection imaging. The need for good multichannel wavefield separation filters is acute in borehole seismic imaging techniques such as VSP and cross-well reflection imaging, where strong interfering arrivals such as tube waves, shear conversions, multiples, direct arrivals and guided waves can overlap temporally with desired arrivals. We investigate the effects of preprocessing (alignment and equalization) on the quality of cross-well reflection imaging wavefield separation and we show that the choice of the multichannel filter and filter parameters is critical to the wavefield separation of cross-well data (median filters, f–k pie-slice filters, eigenvector filters). We show that spatial aliasing creates situations where the application of purely spatial filters (median filters) will create notches in the frequency spectrum of the desired reflection arrival. Eigenvector filters allow us to work past the limits of aliasing, but these kinds of filter are strongly dependent on the ratio of undesired to desired signal amplitude. On the basis of these observations, we developed a new type of multichannel filter that combined the best characteristics of spatial filters and eigenvector filters. We call this filter a ‘constrained eigenvector filter’. We use two real data sets of cross-well seismic experiments with small and large well spacing to evaluate the effects of these factors on the quality of cross-well wavefield separation. We apply median filters, f–k pie-slice filters and constrained eigenvector filters in multiple domains available for these data sets (common-source, common-receiver, common-offset and common-midpoint gathers). We show that the results of applying the constrained eigenvector filter to the entire cross-well data set are superior to both the spatial and standard eigenvector filter results.     

数据域特征波反射走时反演

地震波的运动学信息(走时、斜率等)通常用于宏观速度建模.针对走时反演方法,一个基本问题是走时拾取或反射时差的估计.对于成像域反演方法,可以通过成像道集的剩余深度差近似计算反射波时差.在数据域中,反射地震观测数据是有限频带信号,如果不能准确地确定子波的起跳时间,难以精确地确定反射波的到达时间.另一方面,如果缺乏关于模型的先验信息,则很难精确测量自地下同一个反射界面的观测数据同相轴和模拟数据同相轴之间的时差.针对走时定义及时差测量问题,首先从叠前地震数据的稀疏表达出发,利用特征波场分解方法,提取反射子波并估计局部平面波的入射和出射射线参数.进一步,为了实现自动和稳定的走时拾取,用震相的包络极值对应的时间定义反射波的到达时,实现了立体数据中间的自动生成.理论上讲,利用包络极值定义的走时大于真实的反射波走时,除非观测信号具有无限带宽(即delta脉冲).然而,走时反演的目的是估计中-大尺度的背景速度结构,因此走时误差导致的速度误差仍然在可以接受的误差范围内.利用局部化传播算子及特征波聚焦成像条件将特征波数据直接投影到地下虚拟反射点,提出了一种新的反射时差估计方法.既避免了周期跳跃现象以及串层等可能性,又消除了振幅因素对时差测量的影响.最后,在上述工作基础之上,提出了一种基于特征波场分解的新型全自动反射走时反演方法(CWRTI).通过对泛函梯度的线性化近似,并用全变差正则化方法提取梯度的低波数部分,实现了背景速度迭代反演.在理论上,无需长偏移距观测数据或低频信息、对初始模型依赖性低且计算效率高,可以为后续的全波形反演提供可靠的初始速度模型.理论和实际资料的测试结果证明了本文方法的有效性.     

METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF VELOCITY AND DEPTH FROM SEISMIC REFLECTION DATA1

The estimation of velocity and depth is an important stage in seismic data processing and interpretation. We present a method for velocity-depth model estimation from unstacked data. This method is formulated as an iterative algorithm producing a model which maximizes some measure of coherency computed along traveltimes generated by tracing rays through the model. In the model the interfaces are represented as cubic splines and it is assumed that the velocity in each layer is constant. The inversion includes the determination of the velocities in all the layers and the location of the spline knots. The process input consists of unstacked seismic data and an initial velocity-depth model. This model is often based on nearby well information and an interpretation of the stacked section. Inversion is performed iteratively layer after layer; during each iteration synthetic travel-time curves are calculated for the interface under consideration. A functional characterizing the main correlation properties of the wavefield is then formed along the synthetic arrival times. It is assumed that the functional reaches a maximum value when the synthetic arrival time curves match the arrival times of the events on the field gathers. The maximum value of the functional is obtained by an effective algorithm of non-linear programming. The present inversion algorithm has the advantages that event picking on the unstacked data is not required and is not based on curve fitting of hyperbolic approximations of the arrival times. The method has been successfully applied to both synthetic and field data.     

Determination of a shallow velocity–depth model from seismic refraction data by coherence inversion1

Seismic refractions have different applications in seismic prospecting. The travel- times of refracted waves can be observed as first breaks on shot records and used for field static calculation. A new method for constructing a near-surface model from refraction events is described. It does not require event picking on prestack records and is not based on any approximation of arrival times. It consists of the maximization of the semblance coherence measure computed using shot gathers in a time window along refraction traveltimes. Time curves are generated by ray tracing through the model. The initial model for the inversion was constructed by the intercept-time method. Apparent velocities and intercept times were taken from a refraction stacked section. Such a section can be obtained by appling linea moveout corrections to common-shot records. The technique is tested successfully on synthetic and real data. An important application of the proposed method for solving the statics problem is demonstrated.     

Directional‐oriented wavefield imaging: a new wave‐based subsurface illumination imaging condition for reverse time migration

The key objective of an imaging algorithm is to produce accurate and high‐resolution images of the subsurface geology. However, significant wavefield distortions occur due to wave propagation through complex structures and irregular acquisition geometries causing uneven wavefield illumination at the target. Therefore, conventional imaging conditions are unable to correctly compensate for variable illumination effects. We propose a generalised wave‐based imaging condition, which incorporates a weighting function based on energy illumination at each subsurface reflection and azimuth angles. Our proposed imaging kernel, named as the directional‐oriented wavefield imaging, compensates for illumination effects produced by possible surface obstructions during acquisition, sparse geometries employed in the field, and complex velocity models. An integral part of the directional‐oriented wavefield imaging condition is a methodology for applying down‐going/up‐going wavefield decomposition to both source and receiver extrapolated wavefields. This type of wavefield decomposition eliminates low‐frequency artefacts and scattering noise caused by the two‐way wave equation and can facilitate the robust estimation for energy fluxes of wavefields required for the seismic illumination analysis. Then, based on the estimation of the respective wavefield propagation vectors and associated directions, we evaluate the illumination energy for each subsurface location as a function of image depth point and subsurface azimuth and reflection angles. Thus, the final directional‐oriented wavefield imaging kernel is a cross‐correlation of the decomposed source and receiver wavefields weighted by the illuminated energy estimated at each depth location. The application of the directional‐oriented wavefield imaging condition can be employed during the generation of both depth‐stacked images and azimuth–reflection angle‐domain common image gathers. Numerical examples using synthetic and real data demonstrate that the new imaging condition can properly image complex wave paths and produce high‐fidelity depth sections.     

MODEL-BASED STACK: A METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING AN ACCURATE ZERO-OFFSET SECTION FOR COMPLEX OVERBURDENS1

The interpretation of stacked time sections can produce a correct geological image of the earth in cases when the stack represents a true zero-offset section. This assumption is not valid in the presence of conflicting dips or strong lateral velocity variations. We present a method for constructing a relatively accurate zero-offset section. We refer to this method as model-based stack (MBS), and it is based on the idea of stacking traces within CMP gathers along actual traveltime curves, and not along hyperbolic trajectories as it is done in a conventional stacking process. These theoretical curves are calculated for each CMP gather by tracing rays through a velocity-depth model. The last can be obtained using one of the methods for macromodel estimation. In this study we use the coherence inversion method for the estimation of the macromodel since it has the advantage of not requiring prestack traveltime picking. The MBS represents an accurate zero-offset section in cases where the estimated macromodel is correct. Using the velocity–depth macromodel, the structural inversion can be completed by post-stack depth migration of the MBS.     

逆时偏移中用Poynting矢量高效地提取角道集

逆时偏移在提高复杂介质的成像质量方面表现出了优越的性能,但逆时偏移对速度精度的要求比较高.共成像点道集是一种非常重要的叠前深度偏移输出,它除了能为深度偏移处理提供速度信息外,还能够提供振幅和相位等信息,为后续的属性解释提供依据.本文提出一种在逆时偏移成像过程中提取角度域共成像点道集的方法,该方法采用矢量波动方程进行波场传播,并用能流密度矢量(Poynting vector)计算反射角,最后应用互相关成像条件输出角度域共成像点道集.该方法简单易于实现,且几乎不需要额外的计算量和存储量,非常适合于进行逆时偏移速度分析,同时提出的角道集也能用于进行AVA等分析.最后通过模型算例和实际数据检验了方法的有效性和优越性.     

基于波动方程的广义屏叠前深度偏移

地震波传播算子的计算效率和精度是制约三维叠前深度偏移的关键因素. 广义屏传播算子(GSP, Generalized Screen Propagator)是一种在双域中实现的广角单程波传播算子. 这一方法略去了在非均匀体之间发生的交混回响,但它可以正确处理包括聚焦、衍射、折射和干涉在内的各种多次前向散射现象. 通过背景速度下的相移和扰动速度下的陡倾角校正,广义屏算子能够适应地层速度的强烈横向变化. 这种算子可以直接应用于炮集叠前偏移,通过将广义屏算子作用于双平方根方程,还可以获得一种高效率、高精度的炮检距域叠前深度偏移方法,用于二维共炮检距道集和三维共方位角道集的深度域成像. 本文首先简述了炮检距域广义屏传播算子的理论,进而讨论了共照射角成像(CAI, Common Angle Imaging)条件,由此给出各个不同照射角(炮检距射线参数)下的成像结果,进而得到共照射角像集. 由于照射角和炮检距的对应关系,共照射角像集又为偏移速度分析和AVO(振幅随炮检距变化)分析等提供了有力工具.     

角度域弹性波Kirchhoff叠前深度偏移速度分析方法

为提高地震成像结果的准确性并真实反映实际地震波场在介质中的传播特性,应该充分利用多分量地震数据的矢量特征进行弹性波成像,其中,最为棘手的问题是纵横波偏移速度场的确定,为此,本文提出了直接利用多分量地震数据进行弹性波角度域偏移速度分析的方法.基于空移成像条件的弹性波Kirchhoff偏移方程提取了弹性波局部偏移距域共成像...     

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.     

Slant-stack velocity analysis for one-dimensional upper mantle structure using short-period data from MAJO

In this paper, regionalP-wave upper mantle structure is investigated using slant-stack velocity analysis of short-period earthquake data recorded at station MAJO (Matsushiro, Japan). Shallow earthquakes from 1980–1986 within 35° of MAJO are used to construct a common receiver gather. Processing of the wavefield data includes focal depth and static time corrections, as well as deterministic deconvolution, in order to equalize pulse shapes and align wavelets on the first arrivals. The processed wavefield data are slant stacked and interatively downward continued to obtain a regional upper mantle velocity model. The model includes a low velocity zone between 107 and 220 km. Beneath the LVZ, the velocity increases smoothly down to the discontinuity at 401 km. In the transition zone, the velocity model again increases linearly, although there is some suggestion of further complexity in the downward continued wavefield data. At the base of the transition zone, a second velocity discontinuity occurs at 660 km, with a linear velocity gradient below. In addition to slant-stack analysis, travel times and synthetic seismograms are computed and compared with the processed and unprocessed wavefield data.     

三维VSP数据高效偏移成像的超道集方法

当前的三维VSP地震数据偏移成像实现都是在共炮点道集或共检波点道集中逐个道集循环进行的,计算效率相对较低.根据三维VSP观测系统中炮点和检波点布置的特殊性和地震波场满足线性叠加的特性,本文提出了一种三维VSP数据的高效偏移成像方法,即首先通过对三维VSP共接收点道集进行地震数据的广义合成得到一种超道集,然后在共接收点道集的波场深度外推过程中逐步应用多震源波场对超道集进行偏移成像,即利用一次波场深度外推循环完成对所有共检波点道集数据的偏移成像.通过三维VSP模型数据与实际地震数据的偏移成像试验验证了这种高效的超道集偏移成像方法可取得与常规共检波点道集相当的偏移成像效果,还具有极高的计算效率,其计算量与单个共检波点道集的偏移成像计算量相当.     

井间地震物理模拟研究

井间地震资料具有极高的分辨率,但是,其波场十分复杂,特别是有效一次反射波场能量较弱,且往往被管波等强相干干扰淹没,波场的识别与分离难度较大.地震物理模拟技术是认识复杂地震波场的有效手段.我们通过单一地质体模型、复杂地质体模型和真实井间模拟模型等多种逼真地质模型的物理模拟,揭示了井间地震观测下直达波、透射波、反射波、折射波,多次波和导波等各类波型的特征.物理模拟试验表明,在炮检域平面上分析直达波的信噪比与能量分布,可以使处理人员对旅行时的误差有更直观的认识.所以识别初至与拾取旅行时间时,不仅要在共震源点道集(CSG)上分析拾取,而且还要在共炮检距道集(COG)上分析拾取,这样就提高了直达波识别的可靠性与拾取时间的精度.     

DECOMPOSITION AND INVERSION OF SEISMIC DATA–AN INSTANTANEOUS SLOWNESS APPROACH*

Interpretation techniques are presented that aim at the estimation of seismic velocities. The application of localized slant stacks, weighted by coherency, produces a decomposition of multichannel seismic data into single trace instantaneous slowness p(x, t) components. Colour displays support the interpretation of seismic data relevant to the near surface velocity structure. Since p(x, t) is directly related to stacking velocities and the depth of reflection, or bottoming points, in the subsurface, this data transformation provides a powerful tool for the inversion of reflection and refraction data.     

基于格林函数理论的波场预测和鬼波压制方法

作为一种特殊的噪声,鬼波对一次波的波形及频带宽度产生极大的影响,鬼波压制是提高海上地震资料分辨率及保真度的重要因素.以格林公式为基础,详细论述了基于格林函数理论的鬼波压制方法,在不需要地下介质信息的条件下,进行地震数据驱动鬼波压制,并根据"Double Dirichlet"(双狄利克雷)边界条件,预测压力波场和垂直速度波场.建立了基于格林函数理论鬼波压制的处理流程,数值模拟和实际资料处理结果表明,基于格林函数理论鬼波压制方法在很好地去除鬼波的同时极大地拓宽了地震资料的频带,尤其提升了低频端能量,有利于后续资料的处理解释.     

Wavefield downward extrapolation for migration velocity analysis on Marmousi data-set

The authors present a method for estimation of interval velocities using the downward continuation of the wavefield to perform layer-stripping migration velocity analysis. The generalized, phase-shift migration MG(F-K) in wavenumber-frequency domain was used for fulltime downward extrapolation of the wavefield. Such downward depth extrapolation accounts for strong changes of velocity in lateral and vertical directions and helps in correct positioning of the wavefield image in complex structures. Determination of velocity is the recursive process which means that the wavefield on depth level z _n−1 (n = 0, 1, ...) is an input data-set for determination of velocity on level z _n . The velocity ν [x, z _n − z _n−1] can be thus treated as interval velocity in Δz _n = z _n − z _n−1 step. This method was tested on synthetic Marmousi data-set and showed satisfactory results for complex, inhomogeneous media.     

基于波动方程的上下缆地震数据鬼波压制方法研究

本文发展基于波动方程的上下缆鬼波压制方法,推导了上下缆地震波场频率波数域波动方程延拓合并公式.基于Fourier变换的波场解析延拓确保上下缆资料振幅相位的一致性,消除了长拖缆远偏移距信号的计算误差,同时具有较高的计算效率;上下缆地震波场的波动方程法合并有效解偶鬼波干涉,实现综合利用上下缆地震数据压制鬼波.理论模型数据和实际采集地震数据的测试表明了方法的有效性.