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.

Prestack Depth Migration by a Parallel 3D PSPI

Prestack depth migration for seismic reflection data is commonly used tool for imaging complex geological structures such as salt domes, faults, thrust belts, and stratigraphic structures. Phase shift plus interpolation (PSPI) algorithm is a useful tool to directly solve a wave equation and the results have natural properties of the wave equation. Amplitude and phase characteristics, in particular, are better preserved. The PSPI algorithm is widely used in hydrocarbon exploration because of its simplicity, efficiency, and reduced efforts for computation. However, meaningful depth image of 3D subsurface requires parallel computing to handle heavy computing time and great amount of input data. We implemented a parallelized version of 3D PSPI for prestack depth migration using Open-Multi-Processing (Open MP) library. We verified its performance through applications to 3D SEG/EAGE salt model with a small scale Linux cluster. Phase-shift was performed in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively, and then interpolated at each node. This gave a single image gather according to shot gather. After summation of each single image gather, we got a 3D stacked image in the depth domain. The numerical model example shows good agree- ment with the original geological model.

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.

3D HYBRID DEPTH MIGRATION AND FOUR-WAY SPLITTING SCHEMES

The alternately directional implicit （ADI） scheme is usually used in 3D depth migration. It splits the 3D square-root operator along crossline and inline directions alternately. In this paper, based on the ideal of data line, the four-way splitting schemes and their splitting errors for the finite-difference （FD） method and the hybrid method are investigated. The wavefield extrapolation of four-way splitting scheme is accomplished on a data line and is stable unconditionally. Numerical analysis of splitting errors show that the two-way FD migration have visible numerical anisotropic errors, and that four-way FD migration has much less splitting errors than two-way FD migration has. For the hybrid method, the differences of numerical anisotropic errors between two-way scheme and four-way scheme are small in the case of lower lateral velocity variations. The schemes presented in this paper can be used in 3D post-stack or prestack depth migration. Two numerical calculations of 3D depth migration are completed. One is the four-way FD and hybrid 3D post-stack depth migration for an impulse response, which shows that the anisotropic errors can be eliminated effectively in the cases of constant and variable velocity variations. The other is the 3D shot-profile prestack depth migration for SEG/EAEG benchmark model with two-way hybrid splitting scheme, which presents good imaging results. The Message Passing Interface （MPI） programme based on shot number is adopted.

An amplitude-preserved adaptive focused beam seismic migration method

Gaussian beam migration （GBM） is an effec- tive and robust depth seismic imaging method, which overcomes the disadvantage of Kirchhoff migration in imaging multiple arrivals and has no steep-dip limitation of one-way wave equation migration. However, its imaging quality depends on the initial beam parameters, which can make the beam width increase and wave-front spread with the propagation of the central ray, resulting in poor migration accuracy at depth, especially for exploration areas with complex geological structures. To address this problem, we present an adaptive focused beam method for shot-domain prestack depth migration. Using the infor- mation of the input smooth velocity field, we first derive an adaptive focused parameter, which makes a seismic beam focused along the whole central ray to enhance the wave- field construction accuracy in both the shallow and deep regions. Then we introduce this parameter into the GBM, which not only improves imaging quality of deep reflectors but also makes the shallow small-scale geological struc- tures well-defined. As well, using the amplitude-preserved extrapolation operator and deconvolution imaging condi- tion, the concept of amplitude-preserved imaging has been included in our method. Typical numerical examples and the field data processing results demonstrate the validity and adaptability of our method.

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.

Rational Characterization Complex Geology Model——Macro Velocity Model

The accuracy of migration velocity construction is always a key problem of the image quality of pre-stack depth migration. The velocity model construction process is a process from an unknown to unknown iteration procedure and involves three important steps — model building, migration and model modification. It is necessary to rationally describe the velocity model, according to the complexity of the problem. Taking the Marmousi model as a study object, We established some standards for a rational description of the velocity model on the basis of different velocity space scales, analysis varieties of travel time, and image quality. It is considered that for any given seismic data gathered in the migration velocity model the space wavelength of velocity, which should be expressed in variation of space wavelength of various frequency contents, appears in the seismic data. Some space wavelengths, which are necessary for a description of the model velocity field, are also varying with the layer complexity. For a simple layer velocity structure it is sufficient to apply a simple velocity model (the space wavelength is large enough), whereas, for a complicated layer velocity structure it is necessary to take a velocity model of a more precise scale. In fact, when we establish a velocity model, it is difficult to describe the velocity model at a full space scale, so it is important to limit the space scale of the velocity model according to the complexity of a layer structure and establish a rational macro velocity model.

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.

Seismic Imaging of Complex Structures in the Tarim Basin

Conventional time imaging techniques are not capable of producing accurate seismic imaging of the subsurface in the mountain front of the Tarim Basin, China. Their imaged structures have led to some major drilling failures before, bearing a disrepute that ＂their structural closures have wheels and their structural highs have springs＂. This article first lists the imaging challenges, and explains in a schematic why the time imaging techniques fail in this area. Then through a series of real data examples, it demonstrates that when there exist lateral velocity variations, depth imaging is the only solution to tackle the imaging challenges in this area. Depth imaging accounts for the complexity of the wavefield, therefore produces superior and geological plausible images. The core task in properly performing depth imaging is building the velocity model. This article stresses some the main aspects in this regard.

Distribution of 137Cs and 60Co in plough layer of farmland: Evidenced from a lysimeter experiment using undisturbed soil columns

Radionuclide fallout during nuclear accidents on the land may impair the atmosphere, contaminate farmland soils and crops, and can even reach the groundwater. Previous research focused on the field distribution of deposited radionuclides in farmland soils, but details of the amounts of radionuclides in the plough layer and the changes in their proportional distribution in the soil profile with time are still inadequate. In this study, a lysimeter experiment was conducted to determine the vertical migration of 137Cs and 60Co in brown and aeolian sandy soils, collected from the farmlands adjoining Shidaowan Nuclear Power Plant(NPP) in eastern China, and to identify the factors influencing their migration depths in soil. At the end of the experiment(800 d), >96% of added 137Cs and 60Co were retained in the top 0–20 cm soil layer of both soils;very little 137Cs or 60Co initially migrated to 20–30 cm, but their amounts at this depth increased with time. The migration depth of 137Cs was greater in the aeolian sandy soil than in the brown soil during 0–577 d, but at the end of the experiment, 137Cs migrated to the same depth(25 cm) in both soils. Three phases on the vertical migration rate(v) of 60Co in the aeolian sandy soil can be identified: an initial rapid movement(0–355 d, v = 219 ± 17 mm year-1), followed by a steady movement(355–577 d, v = 150 ± 24 mm year-1) and a very slow movement(577–800 d, v = 107 ± 7 mm year-1). In contrast, its migration rate in the brown soil(v = 133 ± 17 mm year-1) was steady throughout the 800-d experimental period. The migration of both 137Cs and 60Co in the two soils appears to be regulated by soil clay and silt fractions that provide most of the soil surface area, soil organic carbon(SOC), and soil pH, which were manifested by the solid-liquid distribution coefficient of 137Cs and 60Co. The results of this study suggest that most 137Cs and 60Co remained within the top layer(0–20 cm depth) of farmland soils following a simulated NPP accident, and little reached the subsurface(20–30 cm depth). Fixation of radionuclides onto clay minerals may limit their migration in soil, but some could be laterally distributed by soil erosion and taken up by crops, and migrate into groundwater in a high water table level area after several decades.Remediation measures, therefore, should focus on reducing their impact on the farmland soils, crops, and water.