Attenuation compensation in multicomponent Gaussian beam prestack depth migration

Gaussian beam prestack depth migration is an accurate imaging method of subsurface media. Prestack depth migration of multicomponent seismic data improves the accuracy of imaging subsurface complex geological structures. Viscoelastic prestack depth migration is of practical significance because it considers the viscosity of the subsurface media. We use Gaussian beam migration to compensate for the attenuation in multicomponent seismic data. First, we use the Gaussian beam method to simulate the wave propagation in a viscoelastic medium and introduce the complex velocity Q-related and exact viscoelastic Zoeppritz equation. Second, we discuss PP- and PS-wave Gaussian beam prestack depth migration algorithms for common-shot gathers to derive expressions for the attenuation and compensation. The algorithms correct the amplitude attenuation and phase distortion caused by Q, and realize multicomponent Gaussian beam prestack depth migration based on the attenuation compensation and account for the effect of inaccurate Q on migration. Numerical modeling suggests that the imaging resolution of viscoelastic Gaussian beam prestack depth migration is high when the viscosity of the subsurface is considered.

High angle prestack depth migration with absorption compensation

The absorption effect of actual subsurface media can weaken wavefield energy, decrease the dominating frequency, and further lead to reduced resolution. In migration, some actions can be taken to compensate for the absorption effect and enhance the resolution. In this paper, we derive a one-way wave equation with an attenuation term based on the time- space domain high angle one-way wave equation. A complicated geological model is then designed and synthetic shot gathers are simulated with acoustic wave equations without and with an absorbing term. The derived one-way wave equation is applied to the migration of the synthetic gathers without and with attenuation compensation for the simulated shot gathers. Three migration profiles are obtained. The first and second profiles are from the shot gathers without and with attenuation using the migration method without compensation, the third one is from the shot gathers with attenuation using the migration method with compensation. The first and third profiles are almost the same, and the second profile is different from the others below the absorptive layers. The amplitudes of the interfaces below the absorptive layers are weak because of their absorption. This method is also applied to field data. It is concluded from the migration examples that the migration method discussed in this paper is feasible.

Anisotropic converted wave amplitude-preserving prestack time migration by the pseudo-offset method

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.

Seismic 3D Prestack Time Migration on Parallel Computers

Parallel versions of prestack KirchhofT 3D integral migration algorithm, which is suitable forseismic data processing, are described in this paper. Firstly, the inherent parallel characteristics of seismicdata processing are analyzed. Then some principles in algorithm partition are discussed. Based on these analyses and the system architecture, communication mechanism, this algorithm is divided into four subtasksallocated to four nodes of 990 STAR-l. Then we describe in detail a module-partitioning method-theI / O processing and communication are separated from the computation process, the processes includingI / O processing and communication are allocated to transputer T805 and the other is allocated to processori860. These two processes are synchronized by shared memory and memory-lock mechanism, but the communication betWeen different nodes is implemented through links of transputer. Load balance among fourprocessor modules is performed dynamically. Finally, we discussed the speed--up of the parallel versions ofprestack KirchhofT 3D integral migration algorithm running on four nodes. Some further researches are also melltioned in this paper.

Amplitude.preserving plane-wave prestack time migration for AVO analysis

To support amplitude variation with offset （AVO） analysis in complex structure areas, we introduce an amplitude-preserving plane-wave prestack time migration approach based on the double-square-root wave equation in media with little lateral velocity variation. In its implementation, a data mapping algorithm is used to obtain offset-plane-wave data sets from the common-midpoint gathers followed by a non-recursive phase-shift solution with amplitude correction to generate common-image gathers in offset-ray-parameter domain and a structural image. Theoretical model tests and a real data example show that our prestack time migration approach is helpful for AVO analysis in complex geological environments.

Beamlet prestack depth migration and illumination： A test based on the Marmousi model

Beamlet sources have strong local and directional character and can easily accomplish local illumination and migration. Besides, they provide better migration results than conventional migration methods. We introduce the basic principles of beamlet prestack depth migration that includes a windowed Fourier transform and frame theory. We explain the Gabor-Daubechies （G-D） frame based on a Gaussian function. Beamlet decomposition provides information on the local space and direction of wavefield. We synthesize the beamlet source and beamlet records in the wavelet domain using both rectangle and Gaussian windows and then extrapolate the synthesized data with a Fourier finite-difference operator. We test the method using the standard Marmousi model. By comparing and analyzing the migration results of single directional beamlet and beamlets with different windows and directions, we demonstrate the validity of the prestack depth migration with Gaussian beamlets method.

Application of Amplitude Ratio Profiles Extracted with Prestack Kirchhoff Integral Migration

The Z component and X component profiles of seismic waves extracted with the prestack Kirchhoff integral migration could approximate to the primary wave （P wave） and converted shear wave （PS wave） profiles under certain conditions. The relative change of their reflection amplitude reflects the formation stress anomaly and subsurface media anisotropy. The principle and method for extracting amplitude ratios were studied and the application of amplitude ratio profiles was also examined when processing and interpreting actual seismic data. The amplitude ratio profile is an effective supplementary means of identifying the stratigraphic boundary and lithology.

Fast least-squares prestack time migration via accelerating the explicit calculation of Hessian matrix with dip-angle Fresnel zone

Amplitude versus offset analysis is a fundamental tool for determining the physical properties of reservoirs but generally hampered by the blurred common image gathers(CIGs).The blurring can be optimally corrected using the blockwise least-squares prestack time migration(BLS-PSTM),where common-offset migrated sections are divided into a series of blocks related to the explicit offsetdependent Hessian matrix and the following inverse filtering is iteratively applied to invert the corresponding reflectivity.However,calculating the Hessian matrix is slow.We present a fast BLS-PSTM via accelerating Hessian calculation with dip-angle Fresnel zone(DFZ).DFZ is closely related to optimal migration aperture,which significantly attenuates migration swings and reduces the computational cost of PSTM.Specifically,our fast BLS-PSTM is implemented as a two-stage process.First,we limit the aperture for any imaging point with an approximated the projected Fresnel zone before calculating the Hessian matrix.Then,we determine whether a seismic trace contributes to the imaging point via DFZ during calculating the Hessian matrix.Numerical tests on synthetic and field data validate the distinct speedup with higher-quality CIGs compared to BLS-PSTM.

Traveltime tomography and prestack depth migration for vertical seismic profiling of an angle-domain walkaway on a complex surface

Walkaway VSP cannot obtain accurate velocity field,as it asymmetrically reflects ray path and provides uneven coverage to underground target,thereby presenting issues related to imaging quality.In this study,we propose combining traveltime tomography and prestack depth migration for VSP of an angle-domain walkaway,in a bid to establish accurate two-dimensional and three-dimensional(3 D)velocity models.First,residual curvature was defined to update velocity,and an accurate velocity field was established.To establish a high-precision velocity model,we deduced the relationship between the residual depth and traveltime of common imaging gathers(CIGs)in walkaway VSP.Solving renewal velocity using the least squares method,a four-parameter tomographic inversion equation was derived comprising formation dip angle,incidence angle,residual depth,and sensitivity matrix.In the angle domain,the reflected wave was divided into up-and down-transmitted waves and their traveltimes were calculated.The systematic cumulative method was employed in prestack depth migration of a complex surface.Through prestack depth migration,the offset-domain CIGs were obtained,and dip angle was established by defining the stack section horizon.Runge–Kutta ray tracing was employed to calculate the ray path from the reflection point to the detection point,to determine the incident angle,and to subsequently calculate the ray path from the reflection point to the irregular surface.The offset-domain residual depths were mapped to the angle domain,and a new tomographic equation was established and solved.Application in the double complex area of the Tarim Basin showed the four-parameter tomographic inversion equation derived in this paper to be both correct and practical and that the migration algorithm was able to adapt to the complex surface.

The Offset-Domain Prestack Depth Migration with Optimal Separable Approximation

The offset-domain prestack depth migration with optimal separable approximation, based on the double square root equation, is used to image complex media with large and rapid velocity variations. The method downward continues the source and the receiver wavefields simultaneously. The mixed domain algorithm with forward Fourier and inverse Fourier transform is used to construct the double square root equation wavefield extrapolation operator. This operator separates variables in the wave number domain and variables in the space domain. The phase operation is implemented in the wave number domain, whereas the time delay for lateral velocity variation is corrected in the space domain. The migration algorithm is efficient since the seismic data are not computed shot by shot. The data set test of the Marmousi model indicates that the offset-domain migration provides a satisfied seismic migration section on which complex geologic structures are imaged in media with large and rapid lateral velocity variations.

Preserved amplitude migration based on the one way wave equation in the angle domain

Traditional pre-stack depth migration can only provide subsurface structural information. However, simple structure information is insufficient for petroleum exploration which also needs amplitude information proportional to reflection coefficients. In recent years, pre-stack depth migration algorithms which preserve amplitudes and based on the one- way wave equation have been developed. Using the method in the shot domain requires a deconvolution imaging condition which produces some instability in areas with complicated structure and dramatic lateral variation in velocity. Depth migration with preserved amplitude based on the angle domain can overcome the instability of the one-way wave migration imaging condition with preserved amplitude. It can also offer provide velocity analysis in the angle domain of common imaging point gathers. In this paper, based on the foundation of the one-way wave continuation operator with preserved amplitude, we realized the preserved amplitude prestack depth migration in the angle domain. Models and real data validate the accuracy of the method.

Kirchhoff PSDM angle-gather generation based on the traveltime gradient

Angle-domain common-image gathers（ADCIGs） are the basic data in migration velocity analysis（MVA） and amplitude variation with angle（AVA） analysis. We propose a common-angle gather-generating scheme using Kirchhoff PSDM based on the traveltime gradient field. The scheme includes three major operations：（1） to calculate the traveltime field of the source and the receiver based on the dynamic programming approach;（2） to obtain the refl ection angle according to the traveltime gradient field in the image space; and（3） to generate the ADCIGs during the migration process. Because of the computation approach, the method for generating ADCIGs is superior to conventional ray-based methods. We use the proposed ADCIGs generation method in 3D large-scale seismic data. The key points of the method are the following.（1） We use common-shot datasets for migration,（2） we load traveltimes based on the shot aperture, and（3） we use the MPI and Open Mp memory sharing to decrease the amount of input and output（I/O）. Numerical examples using synthetic data suggest that the ADCIGs improve the quality of the velocity and the effectiveness of the 3D angle-gather generation scheme.

Reverse-Time Prestack Depth Migration of GPR Data from Topography for Amplitude Reconstruction in Complex Environments

With increased computational power, reverse-time prestack depth migration（RT-PSDM） has become a preferred imaging tool in seismic exploration, yet its use has remained relatively limited in ground-penetrating radar（GPR） applications. Complex topography alters the wavefield kinematics making for a challenging imaging problem. Model simulations show that topographic variation can substantially distort reflection amplitudes due to irregular wavefield spreading, attenuation anomalies due to irregular path lengths, and focusing and defocusing effects at the surface. The effects are magnified when the topographic variations are on the same order as the depth of investigation––a situation that is often encountered in GPR investigations. Here, I use a full wave-equation RT-PSDM algorithm to image GPR data in the presence of large topographic variability relative to the depth of investigation. The source and receiver wavefields are propagated directly from the topographic surface and this approach inherently corrects for irregular kinematics, spreading and attenuation. The results show that when GPR data are acquired in areas of extreme topography, RT-PSDM can accurately reconstruct reflector geometry as well as reflection amplitude.

Plane wave shot PSDM and controlled illumination techniques

The Pre-Stack Depth Migration （PSDM） method based on wavefield continuation is the most reliable method for imaging complex structure in the subsurface, although there are large computational costs and poorly adaptive geometry. Plane wave shot migration is another method to perform exact wave equation prestack imaging with high computational efficiency and without the migration aperture problem. Moreover, wavefield energy can be compensated at the target zone by controlled illumination. In this paper, plane wave shot PSDM was implemented by the control of the plane down-going wavefield and selection of number and range of the raypaths in order to optimize the imaging effect. In addition, controlled illumination techniques are applied to enhance the imaging precision of interesting areas at different depths. Numerical calculation indicates that plane wave shot imaging is a rapid and efficient method with less computational cost and easy parallel computation compared to the single-square-root operator imaging for common shot gathers and double- square-root operator imaging for common midpoint gathers.

Finite-difference calculation of traveltimes based on rectangular grid

To the most of velocity fields, the traveltimes of the first break that seismic waves propagate along rays can be computed on a 2-D or 3-D numerical grid by finite-difference extrapolation. Under ensuring accuracy, to improve calculating efficiency and adaptability, the calculation method of first-arrival traveltime of finite-difference is de- rived based on any rectangular grid and a local plane wavefront approximation. In addition, head waves and scat- tering waves are properly treated and shadow and caustic zones cannot be encountered, which appear in traditional ray-tracing. The testes of two simple models and the complex Marmousi model show that the method has higher accuracy and adaptability to complex structure with strong vertical and lateral velocity variation, and Kirchhoff prestack depth migration based on this method can basically achieve the position imaging effects of wave equation prestack depth migration in major structures and targets. Because of not taking account of the later arrivals energy, the effect of its amplitude preservation is worse than that by wave equation method, but its computing efficiency is higher than that by total Green′s function method and wave equation method.

Four-parameter velocity analysis and its applications to the Ken-71 area converted-wave data

3-D converted-wave data were acquired using digital MEMS （micro-electromechanical system） three component （3C） sensors in the alternating sand and shale sequence in the overburden of the Shengli Ken-71 area. This gives rise to serious non-hyperbolic moveout effects in the converted-wave data due to both the asymmetrical ray path and anisotropic effects. Conventional velocity analysis and moveout correction based on isotropic methods do not flatten reflections events. Here, we use a four-parameter theory to evaluate these effects and process the data. These four parameters include the PS converted wave stacking velocity （Vc2）, the vertical velocity ratio （Y0）, the effective velocity ratio （Yeff）, and the anisotropy parameter （xoff）, The method utilizes the moveout information at different offsets to estimate the different parameters and ensures that the events are properly aligned for stacking, As a result, this four-parameter theory leads to an improvement in imaging quality and correlation between the P-waves and converted-waves.

A self-adaptive algorithm for choosing reference velocities in the presence of lateral velocity variations

Based on perturbation theory, the wave equation extrapolation operator with mixed domains has the ability to deal with lateral velocity variations. It is the image method that has undergone much research in seismology. All extrapolation operators face the problem of choosing the reference velocity due to continuation in depth. The wavefield extrapolation operator with a single reference velocity is suitable for media with weak lateral variation. The multi-reference velocity extrapolation operator can cope with severe lateral velocity variations and improve image accuracy. However, the calculation cost is large. We present a self-adaptive approach to automatically determine the number of selected reference velocities according to the complexity of structure and the given velocity threshold value. The approach can be used to construct the SSF, FFD, WXFD, and GSP multi-reference velocity wavefield extrapolation image algorithms. The result of a salt-dome model data test demonstrates that the self-adoptive multi-reference wavefield extrapolation algorithm has the ability to deal with severe lateral velocity variations and can also be used for structure edge detection. The method is flexible and computationally cost-effective.

3D wavefield extrapolation with optimal separable approximation

An accurate and wide-angle one-way propagator for wavefield extrapolation is an important topic for research on wave-equation prestack depth migration in the presence of large and rapid velocity variations. Based on the optimal separable approximation presented in this paper, the mixed domain algorithm with forward and inverse Fourier transforms is used to construct the 3D one-way wavefield extrapolation operator. This operator separates variables in the wavenumber and spatial domains. The phase shift operation is implemented in the wavenumber domain while the time delay for lateral velocity variation is corrected in the spatial domain. The impulse responses of the one-way wave operator show that the numeric computation is consistent with the theoretical value for each velocity, revealing that the operator constructed with the optimal separable approximation can be applied to lateral velocity variations for the case of small steps. Imaging results of the SEG/EAGE model and field data indicate that the new method can be used to image complex structure.

Geological Guided Tomography Inversion Based on Fault Constraint and Its Application

Fault block reservoirs are one of the main types of hydrocarbon reservoirs found in offshore basins,and they are widely distributed within the Mesozoic and Cenozoic basins of the northern South China Sea.Conventional seismic profiles of complex fault areas often contain obvious fragmentation and distortion of seismic events that is corresponding to geological structure under the fault.This phenomenon is known as a fault shadow;it occurs in relation to rapid changes in velocity near the fault that deviate the ray path of waves,and it seriously affects the ability to determine the geological structure and subsequently evaluate the reserves of fault reservoirs.In the current conventional tomography inversion method,the velocity model is over-smoothed,which results in distortion of the reflection layer under the fault.Based on the velocity tomography inversion of imaging gathers method and the concept of regularization,this paper first introduces the anisotropy Gauss regularization operator.A high-resolution tomography inversion method is then developed,and the fault-controlled geological guidance is constrained.This technology is then applied to a complex fault block reservoir basin in the South China Sea,and the results show that it can significantly solve the problem of fault shadow imaging and determine the geological structures in the target area.The newly developed method thus has very good application prospects.