Stereotomography assisted by migration of attributes

Depth velocity model building remains a difficult step within the seismic depth imaging sequence. Stereotomography provides an efficient solution to this problem but was limited until now to a picking of seismic data in the prestack time un-migrated domain. We propose here a method for stereotomographic data picking in the depth migrated domain. Picking in the depth migrated domain exhibits the advantage of a better signal-to-noise ratio and of a more regular distribution of picked events in the model, leading to a better constrained tomographic inverse problem. Moreover, any improvement on the velocity model will improve the migrated results, again leading to improved picking. Our strategy for obtaining a stereotomographic dataset from a prestack depth migration is based on migration of attributes (and not on a kinematic demigration approach!). For any locally coherent event in the migrated image, migration of attributes allows one to compute ray parameter attributes corresponding to the specular reflection angle and dip. For application to stereotomography, the necessary attributes are the source/receiver locations, the traveltime and the data slopes. For the data slope, when the migration velocity model is erroneous, some additional corrections have to be applied to the result of migration of the attributes. Applying these corrections, our picking method is theoretically valid whatever the quality of the migration velocity model. We first present the theoretical aspects of the method and then validate it on 2D synthetic and real seismic reflection data sets.     

Diffraction imaging by prestack reverse‐time migration in the dip‐angle domain

Prestack image volumes may be decomposed into specular and non‐specular parts by filters defined in the dip‐angle domain. For space‐shift extended image volumes, the dip‐angle decomposition is derived via local Radon transform in depth and midpoint coordinates, followed by an averaging over space‐shifts. We propose to employ prestack space‐shift extended reverse‐time migration and dip‐angle decomposition for imaging small‐scale structural elements, considered as seismic diffractors, in models with arbitrary complexity. A suitable design of a specularity filter in the dip‐angle domain rejects the dominant reflectors and enhances diffractors and other non‐specular image content. The filter exploits a clear discrimination in dip between specular reflections and diffractions. The former are stationary at the specular dip, whereas the latter are non‐stationary without a preferred dip direction. While the filtered image volume features other than the diffractor images (for example, noise and truncation artefacts are also present), synthetic and field data examples suggest that diffractors tend to dominate and are readily recognisable. Averaging over space‐shifts in the filter construction makes the reflectors? rejection robust against migration velocity errors. Another consequence of the space‐shift extension and its angle‐domain transforms is the possibility of exploring the image in a multiple set of common‐image gathers. The filtered diffractions may be analysed simultaneously in space‐shift, scattering‐angle, and dip‐angle image gathers by means of a single migration job. The deliverables of our method obviously enrich the processed material on the interpreter's desk. We expect them to further supplement our understanding of the Earth's interior.     

Generalized diffraction‐stack migration and filtering of coherent noise

We reformulate the equation of reverse‐time migration so that it can be interpreted as summing data along a series of hyperbola‐like curves, each one representing a different type of event such as a reflection or multiple. This is a generalization of the familiar diffraction‐stack migration algorithm where the migration image at a point is computed by the sum of trace amplitudes along an appropriate hyperbola‐like curve. Instead of summing along the curve associated with the primary reflection, the sum is over all scattering events and so this method is named generalized diffraction‐stack migration. This formulation leads to filters that can be applied to the generalized diffraction‐stack migration operator to mitigate coherent migration artefacts due to, e.g., crosstalk and aliasing. Results with both synthetic and field data show that generalized diffraction‐stack migration images have fewer artefacts than those computed by the standard reverse‐time migration algorithm. The main drawback is that generalized diffraction‐stack migration is much more memory intensive and I/O limited than the standard reverse‐time migration method.     

Image enhancement by multi‐parameter characterization of common image gathers

We present an innovative approach for seismic image enhancement using multi‐parameter angle‐domain characterization of common image gathers. A special subsurface angle‐domain imaging system is used to generate the multi‐parameter common image gathers in a summation‐free image space. The imaged data associated with each common image gathers depth point contain direction‐dependent opening‐angle image contributions from all the available incident and scattered wave‐pairs at this point. Each direction‐dependent opening‐angle data can be differently weighted according to its coherency measure. Once the optimal migration velocity is used, it is assumed that in the actual specular direction, the coherency measure (semblance) along reflection events, from all available opening angles and opening azimuths, is larger than that along non‐specular directions. The computed direction‐dependent semblance attribute is designed to operate as an imaging filter which enhances specular migration contributions and suppresses all others in the final migration image. The ability to analyse the structural properties of the image points by the multi‐parameter common image gather allows us to better handle cases of complicated wave propagation and to improve the image quality at poorly illuminated regions or near complex structures. The proposed method and some of its practical benefits are demonstrated through detailed analysis of synthetic and real data examples.     

A method of directly extracting multiwave angle-domain common-image gathers

Angle-domain common-image gathers (ADCIGs) can provide an effective way for migration velocity analysis and amplitude versus angle analysis in oil–gas seismic exploration. On the basis of multi-component Gaussian beam prestack depth migration (GB-PSDM), an alternative method of directly extracting multiwave ADCIGs is presented in this paper. We first introduce multi-component GB-PSDM, where a wavefield separation is proceeded to obtain the separated PP- and PS-wave seismic records before migration imaging for multiwave seismic data. Then, the principle of extracting PP- and PS-ADCIGs using GB-PSDM is presented. The propagation angle can be obtained using the real-value travel time of Gaussian beam in the course of GB-PSDM, which can be used to calculate the incidence and reflection angles. Two kinds of ADCIGs can be extracted for the PS-wave, one of which is P-wave incidence ADCIGs and the other one is S-wave reflection ADCIGs. In this paper, we use the incident angle to plot the ADCIGs for both PP- and PS-waves. Finally, tests of synthetic examples show that the method introduced here is accurate and effective.     

Fast velocity analysis by wave path migration

Iterative migration velocity analysis is computationally expensive, where most of the computation time is used for generating prestack depth images. By using a reduced form of Kirchhoff migration, denoted as wave path migration, we can significantly speed up the depth imaging process and reduce the entire velocity analysis expense accordingly. Our results with 2D synthetic and field data show that wave path migration velocity analysis can efficiently improve the velocity model and the wave path migration velocity analysis updated velocity correlates well with that from the Kirchhoff migration velocity analysis. The central processing unit comparison shows that, for a 2D synthetic and field data set, wave path migration velocity analysis is six times faster than Kirchhoff migration velocity analysis. This efficiency should be even greater for 3D data.     

Migration velocity analysis and waveform inversion

Least‐squares inversion of seismic reflection waveform data can reconstruct remarkably detailed models of subsurface structure and take into account essentially any physics of seismic wave propagation that can be modelled. However, the waveform inversion objective has many spurious local minima, hence convergence of descent methods (mandatory because of problem size) to useful Earth models requires accurate initial estimates of long‐scale velocity structure. Migration velocity analysis, on the other hand, is capable of correcting substantially erroneous initial estimates of velocity at long scales. Migration velocity analysis is based on prestack depth migration, which is in turn based on linearized acoustic modelling (Born or single‐scattering approximation). Two major variants of prestack depth migration, using binning of surface data and Claerbout's survey‐sinking concept respectively, are in widespread use. Each type of prestack migration produces an image volume depending on redundant parameters and supplies a condition on the image volume, which expresses consistency between data and velocity model and is hence a basis for velocity analysis. The survey‐sinking (depth‐oriented) approach to prestack migration is less subject to kinematic artefacts than is the binning‐based (surface‐oriented) approach. Because kinematic artefacts strongly violate the consistency or semblance conditions, this observation suggests that velocity analysis based on depth‐oriented prestack migration may be more appropriate in kinematically complex areas. Appropriate choice of objective (differential semblance) turns either form of migration velocity analysis into an optimization problem, for which Newton‐like methods exhibit little tendency to stagnate at nonglobal minima. The extended modelling concept links migration velocity analysis to the apparently unrelated waveform inversion approach to estimation of Earth structure: from this point of view, migration velocity analysis is a solution method for the linearized waveform inversion problem. Extended modelling also provides a basis for a nonlinear generalization of migration velocity analysis. Preliminary numerical evidence suggests a new approach to nonlinear waveform inversion, which may combine the global convergence of velocity analysis with the physical fidelity of model‐based data fitting.     

3D PRESTACK DEPTH MIGRATION IN THE GULF OF SUEZ: A CASE HISTORY1

Seismic reflection data in the southern Gulf of Suez, offshore Egypt, are commonly severely affected by shallow velocity inhomogeneities in the form of diapiric salt bodies, and depth migration techniques must be used in order to image the presalt structure correctly. Frequently the diapir and the underlying prospective structure are three dimensional rather than two dimensional and thus require 3D techniques to resolve them. In addition, the severity of the problem is sometimes such that the common midpoint (CMP) stack assumptions are invalid and prestack depth migration is therefore required. In 1990, Unocal developed a practical 3D prestack depth-migration scheme, which was applied to a data set in the Gulf of Suez. The prospect was subsequently drilled and results proved the effectiveness of the technique. This paper describes the use of the technique in the form of a case history. It is expected that the technique will be routinely used to solve similar problems.     

Prestack depth imaging via model-independent stacking

Most seismic reflection imaging methods are confronted with the difficulty of accurately knowing input velocity information. To eliminate this, we develop a special prestack depth migration technique which avoids the necessity of constructing a macro-velocity model. It is based upon the weighted Kirchhoff-type migration formula expressed in terms of model-independent stacking velocity and arrival angle. This formula is applied to synthetic sub-basaltic data. Numerical results show that the method can be used to successfully image beneath basalts.     

Stacking angle‐domain common‐image gathers for normalization of illumination

Unequal illumination of the subsurface highly impacts the quality of seismic imaging. Different image points receive different folds of reflection‐angle illumination, which can be caused by irregular acquisition or by wave propagation in complex media. Illumination problems can deteriorate amplitudes in migrated images. To address this problem, we present a method of stacking angle‐domain common‐image gathers, in which we use local similarity with soft thresholding to determine the folds of local illumination. Normalization by local similarity regularizes local illumination of reflection angles for each image point of the subsurface model. This approach compensates for irregular illumination by selective stacking in the image space, regardless of the cause of acquisition or propagation irregularities. Additional migration is not required because the methodology is implemented in the reflection angle domain after migration. We use two synthetic examples to demonstrate that our method can normalize migration amplitudes and effectively suppress migration artefacts.     

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.     

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.     

Multipathing in three‐parameter common‐image gathers from reverse‐time migration

Reverse‐time migration gives high‐quality, complete images by using full‐wave extrapolations. It is thus not subject to important limitations of other migrations that are based on high‐frequency or one‐way approximations. The cross‐correlation imaging condition in two‐dimensional pre‐stack reverse‐time migration of common‐source data explicitly sums the product of the (forward‐propagating) source and (backward‐propagating) receiver wavefields over all image times. The primary contribution at any image point travels a minimum‐time path that has only one (specular) reflection, and it usually corresponds to a local maximum amplitude. All other contributions at the same image point are various types of multipaths, including prismatic multi‐arrivals, free‐surface and internal multiples, converted waves, and all crosstalk noise, which are imaged at later times, and potentially create migration artefacts. A solution that facilitates inclusion of correctly imaged, non‐primary arrivals and removal of the related artefacts, is to save the depth versus incident angle slice at each image time (rather than automatically summing them). This results in a three‐parameter (incident angle, depth, and image time) common‐image volume that integrates, into a single unified representation, attributes that were previously computed by separate processes. The volume can be post‐processed by selecting any desired combination of primary and/or multipath data before stacking over image time. Separate images (with or without artifacts) and various projections can then be produced without having to remigrate the data, providing an efficient tool for optimization of migration images. A numerical example for a simple model shows how primary and prismatic multipath contributions merge into a single incident angle versus image time trajectory. A second example, using synthetic data from the Sigsbee2 model, shows that the contributions to subsalt images of primary and multipath (in this case, turning wave) reflections are different. The primary reflections contain most of the information in regions away from the salt, but both primary and multipath data contribute in the subsalt region.     

Principle and application of high density spatial sampling in seismic migration

To avoid spatial aliasing problems in broad band high resolution seismic sections, I present a high density migration processing solution. I first analyze the spatial aliasing definition for stack and migration seismic sections and point out the differences between the two. We recognize that migration sections more often show spatial aliasing than stacked sections. Second, from wave propagation theory, I know that migration output is a new spatial sampling process and seismic prestack time migration can provide the high density sampling to prevent spatial aliasing on high resolution migration sections. Using a 2D seismic forward modeling analysis, I have found that seismic spatial aliasing noise can be eliminated by high density spatial sampling in prestack migration. In a 3D seismic data study for Daqing Oilfield in the Songliao Basin, I have also found that seismic sections obtained by high-density spatial sampling (10 × 10 m) in prestack migration have less spatial aliasing noise than those obtained by conventional low density spatial sampling (20 × 40 m) in prestack migration.     

Extraction of amplitude-preserving angle gathers based on vector wavefield reverse-time migration

Angle-domain common-image gathers (ADCIGs) transformed from the shotdomain common-offset gathers are input to migration velocity analysis (MVA) and prestack inversion. ADCIGs are non-illusion prestack inversion gathers, and thus, accurate. We studied the extraction of elastic-wave ADCIGs based on amplitude-preserving elastic-wave reversetime migration for calculating the incidence angle of P-and S-waves at each image point and for different source locations. The P-and S-waves share the same incident angle, namely the incident angle of the source P-waves. The angle of incidence of the source P-wavefield was the difference between the source P-wave propagation angle and the reflector dips. The propagation angle of the source P-waves was obtained from the polarization vector of the decomposed P-waves. The reflectors’ normal direction angle was obtained using the complex wavenumber of the stacked reverse-time migration (RTM) images. The ADCIGs of P-and S-waves were obtained by rearranging the common-shot migration gathers based on the incident angle. We used a horizontally layered model, the graben medium model, and part of the Marmousi-II elastic model and field data to test the proposed algorithm. The results suggested that the proposed method can efficiently extract the P-and S-wave ADCIGs of the elastic-wave reverse-time migration, the P-and S-wave incident angle, and the angle-gather amplitude fidelity, and improve the MVA and prestack inversion.     

角度域叠前时间偏移:非均匀介质中的单程波方法

从单程波方程出发,推导出角度域叠前时间偏移的走时、入射波与反射波夹角、成像幅值计算方法;构建了可直接生成角度域成像道集的叠前时间偏移方法与偏移流程.文中定量分析了速度梯度对走时、角度、幅值的影响,给出了可更好考虑介质非均匀性的角度、幅值计算方法.理论模型以及实际数据验证了本文方法的有效性.     

基于倾角-偏移距域道集的绕射波成像

地震绕射波是地下非连续性地质体的地震响应,绕射波成像对地下断层、尖灭和小尺度绕射体的识别具有重要的意义.在倾角域共成像点道集中,反射波同相轴表现为一条下凸曲线,能量主要集中在菲涅耳带内,绕射波能量则比较发散.由于倾角域菲涅耳带随偏移距变化而存在差异,因此本文提出一种在倾角-偏移距域道集中精确估计菲涅耳带的方法,在各偏移距的倾角域共成像点道集中实现菲涅耳带的精确切除,从而压制反射波.在倾角-偏移距域道集中还可以分别实现绕射波增强,绕射波同相轴相位校正,因此能量弱的绕射波可以清晰地成像.在倾角域共成像点道集中,反射波同相轴的最低点对应于菲涅耳带估计所用的倾角,因此本文提出一种在倾角域共成像点道集中直接自动拾取倾角场的方法.理论与实际资料试算验证了本文绕射波成像方法的有效性.     

Sign-change correction for prestack migration of P-S converted wave reflections1

The polarization direction or 'sign’ of reflected converted P–S waves depends upon the angle of incidence of the incident P-wave. Sign reversal due to reversal of the angle of incidence is often encountered and is an impediment to P–S wave processing and imaging, because when P–S events or P-S migrated images with mixed signs are stacked, destructive interference occurs. We have created and demonstrated a means of correcting for this reversal. To do this, a P-wave angle of incidence is calculated for every point in the image space. This is done by calculating a P–S reflected waveform for every point, by extrapolating the reflected S-wavefield backwards from the receiver line, and then cross-correlating this waveform with the S-wave reflections observed at the receiver line. A multiplier, (sgn α) is assigned to each point in the image space, where α is the angle of incidence of the P-wave. The multiplier was applied to a set of prestack reverse time migration images derived from a cross-borehole physical elastic model data set. The improvement in the stacked image when the sign correction is applied is spectacular. The P-S image quality is comparable to, or better than, stacked migrated P-P images. The method appears to be applicable to all reflection modes and to all recording geometries.     

表驱三维角度域Kirchhoff叠前时间偏移成像方法

针对传统Kirchhoff叠前时间偏移方法的一些不足,以及振幅随入射角、方位角变化(AVA/AVAZ)分析的需要,本文提出一种基于射线理论的三维叠前时间偏移角度域成像方法.它通过横向均匀介质中稳健的射线追踪建立单程波走时和传播角度的数值表,然后在此基础上估算反射波双程走时以及在界面处传播的方位角和入射角,最后基于脉冲响应叠加原理获得三维构造图像和方位\|角度域共成像点道集.与传统方法不同之处在于,上述过程均考虑了地震波在垂向变速介质中的射线弯曲效应和三维传播特征,有利于准确提取随入射角和方位角变化的振幅和时差信息.理论模型合成数据和实际地震资料测试结果展示了方法的优越性与实用性.     

苏北大陆科学钻探靶区深反射地震的叠前深度偏移

由于深反射地震数据具有信噪比低和记录长度长等特点,叠前深度偏移方法的应用有许多困难．为此,我们研究了一种适合于深反射地震的叠前深度偏移方法;包括：用逆风有限差分方法计算程函方程;在常规速度扫描的基础上,用协方差控制提高速度分析精度;用联合反演算法计算层速度,再插值后得到初始速度模型;用Ｋｉｒｃｈｈｏｆｆ法作为偏移速度分析工具,求得最终的速度模型;最终的速度模型作为有限差分深度偏移的输入,求得最终的偏移结果．用该方法对“中国大陆科学深钻工程”东海二维深反射地震数据ＤＨ－４线进行了叠前深度偏移,取得了良好的效果。