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.

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.

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.

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.