Reverse-time migration in acoustic VTI media using a high-order stereo operator

Geophysics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. WA3-WA11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Xie ◽  
Dinghui Yang ◽  
Faqi Liu ◽  
Jingshuang Li
Keyword(s):  
Computational Cost ◽  
High Order ◽  
New Method ◽  
Numerical Dispersion ◽  
Staggered Grid ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Time Migration

With the capability of handling complicated velocity models, reverse-time migration (RTM) has become a powerful imaging method. Improving imaging accuracy and computational efficiency are two significant but challenging tasks in the applications of RTM. Despite being the most popular numerical technique applied in RTM, finite-difference (FD) methods often suffer from undesirable numerical dispersion, leading to a noticeable loss of imaging resolution. A new and effective FD operator, called the high-order stereo operator, has been developed to approximate the partial differential operators in the wave equation, from which a numerical scheme called the three-step stereo method (TSM) has been developed and has shown effectiveness in suppressing numerical dispersion. Numerical results show that compared with the conventional numerical methods such as the Lax-Wendroff correction (LWC) scheme and the staggered-grid (SG) FD method, this new method significantly reduces numerical dispersion and computational cost. Tests on the impulse response and the 2D prestack Hess acoustic VTI model demonstrated that the TSM achieves higher image quality than the LWC and SG methods do, especially when coarse computation grids were used, which indicated that the new method can be a promising algorithm for large-scale anisotropic RTM.

High-order finite-difference approximations to solve pseudoacoustic equations in 3D VTI media

Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (5) ◽  
pp. T225-T235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leandro Di Bartolo ◽  
Leandro Lopes ◽  
Luis Juracy Rangel Lemos
Keyword(s):  
Finite Difference ◽  
Wave Equations ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Transversely Isotropic ◽  
High Order ◽  
Staggered Grid ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Grid Scheme

Pseudoacoustic algorithms are very fast in comparison with full elastic ones for vertical transversely isotropic (VTI) modeling, so they are suitable for many applications, especially reverse time migration. Finite differences using simple grids are commonly used to solve pseudoacoustic equations. We have developed and implemented general high-order 3D pseudoacoustic transversely isotropic formulations. The focus is the development of staggered-grid finite-difference algorithms, known for their superior numerical properties. The staggered-grid schemes based on first-order velocity-stress wave equations are developed in detail as well as schemes based on direct application to second-order stress equations. This last case uses the recently presented equivalent staggered-grid theory, resulting in a staggered-grid scheme that overcomes the problem of large memory requirement. Two examples are presented: a 3D simulation and a prestack reverse time migration application, and we perform a numerical analysis regarding computational cost and precision. The errors of the new schemes are smaller than the existing nonstaggered-grid schemes. In comparison with existing staggered-grid schemes, they require 25% less memory and only have slightly greater computational cost.

An efficient reverse time migration method using local nearly analytic discrete operator

Geophysics ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. S15-S23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingshuang Li ◽  
Dinghui Yang ◽  
Faqi Liu
Keyword(s):  
Finite Difference ◽  
Numerical Dispersion ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Discrete Operator ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Nearly Analytic Discrete Operator

In recent years, reverse time migration (RTM), the most powerful depth imaging method, has become the preferred imaging tool in many geologic settings because of its ability to handle complex velocity models including steeply dipping interfaces. Finite difference is one of the most popular numerical methods applied in RTM in the industry. However, it often encounters a serious issue of numerical dispersion, which is typically suppressed by reducing the propagation grid sizes, resulting in large computation and memory increment. Recently, a nearly analytic discrete operator has been developed to approximate the partial differential operators, from which many antidispersion schemes have been proposed, and are confirmed to be superior to conventional algorithms in suppressing numerical dispersion. We apply an optimal nearly analytic discrete (ONAD) method to RTM to improve its accuracy and performance. Numerical results show that ONAD can be used effectively in seismic modeling and migration based on the full wave equations. This method produces little numerical dispersion and requires much less computation and memory compared to the traditional finite-difference methods such as Lax-Wendroff correction method. The reverse time migration results of the 2D Marmousi model and the Sigsbee2B data set show that ONAD can improve the computational efficiency and maintain image quality by using large extrapolation grids.

First-order particle velocity equations of decoupled P- and S-wavefields and their application in elastic reverse time migration

Geophysics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-78
Author(s):  
Zhiyuan Li ◽  
Youshan Liu ◽  
Guanghe Liang ◽  
Guoqiang Xue ◽  
Runjie Wang
Keyword(s):  
Particle Velocity ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Staggered Grid ◽  
Additional Stress ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Computational Accuracy ◽  
First Order ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Stress Variable

The separation of P- and S-wavefields is considered to be an effective approach for eliminating wave-mode cross-talk in elastic reverse-time migration. At present, the Helmholtz decomposition method is widely used for isotropic media. However, it tends to change the amplitudes and phases of the separated wavefields compared with the original wavefields. Other methods used to obtain pure P- and S-wavefields include the application of the elastic wave equations of the decoupled wavefields. To achieve a high computational accuracy, staggered-grid finite-difference (FD) schemes are usually used to numerically solve the equations by introducing an additional stress variable. However, the computational cost of this method is high because a conventional hybrid wavefield (P- and S-wavefields are mixed together) simulation must be created before the P- and S-wavefields can be calculated. We developed the first-order particle velocity equations to reduce the computational cost. The equations can describe four types of particle velocity wavefields: the vector P-wavefield, the scalar P-wavefield, the vector S-wavefield, and the vector S-wavefield rotated in the direction of the curl factor. Without introducing the stress variable, only the four types of particle velocity variables are used to construct the staggered-grid FD schemes, so the computational cost is reduced. We also present an algorithm to calculate the P and S propagation vectors using the four particle velocities, which is simpler than the Poynting vector. Finally, we applied the velocity equations and propagation vectors to elastic reverse-time migration and angle-domain common-image gather computations. These numerical examples illustrate the efficiency of the proposed methods.

An optimized wave equation for seismic modeling and reverse time migration

Geophysics ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. WCA153-WCA158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faqi Liu ◽  
Guanquan Zhang ◽  
Scott A. Morton ◽  
Jacques P. Leveille
Keyword(s):  
Wave Equation ◽  
Finite Difference ◽  
Acoustic Wave ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Numerical Dispersion ◽  
New Wave ◽  
Acoustic Wave Equation ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Time Migration

The acoustic wave equation has been widely used for the modeling and reverse time migration of seismic data. Numerical implementation of this equation via finite-difference techniques has established itself as a valuable approach and has long been a favored choice in the industry. To ensure quality results, accurate approximations are required for spatial and time derivatives. Traditionally, they are achieved numerically by using either relatively very fine computation grids or very long finite-difference operators. Otherwise, the numerical error, known as numerical dispersion, is present in the data and contaminates the signals. However, either approach will result in a considerable increase in the computational cost. A simple and computationally low-cost modification to the standard acoustic wave equation is presented to suppress numerical dispersion. This dispersion attenuator is one analogy of the antialiasing operator widely applied in Kirchhoff migration. When the new wave equation is solved numerically using finite-difference schemes, numerical dispersion in the original wave equation is attenuated significantly, leading to a much more accurate finite-difference scheme with little additional computational cost. Numerical tests on both synthetic and field data sets in both two and three dimensions demonstrate that the optimized wave equation dramatically improves the image quality by successfully attenuating dispersive noise. The adaptive application of this new wave equation only increases the computational cost slightly.

Angle gathers from reverse time migration using analytic wavefield propagation and decomposition in the time domain

Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. S1-S9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiangtao Hu ◽  
Huazhong Wang ◽  
Xiongwen Wang
Keyword(s):  
Plane Wave ◽  
Time Domain ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Imaging Condition ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Local Plane ◽  
The Time Domain

Angle-domain common imaging gathers (ADCIGs) are important input data for migration velocity analysis and amplitude variation with angle analysis. Compared with Kirchhoff migration and one-way wave equation migration, reverse time migration (RTM) is the most accurate imaging method in complex areas, such as the subsalt area. We have developed a method to generate ADCIGs from RTM using analytic wavefield propagation and decomposition. To estimate the wave-propagation direction and angle by spatial Fourier transform during the time domain wave extrapolation, we have developed an analytic wavefield extrapolation method. Then, we decomposed the extrapolated source and receiver wavefields into their local angle components (i.e., local plane-wave components) and applied the angle-domain imaging condition to form ADCIGs. Because the angle-domain imaging condition is a convolution imaging condition about the source and receiver propagation angles, it is costly. To increase the efficiency of the angle-domain imaging condition, we have developed a local plane-wave decomposition method using matching pursuit. Numerical examples of synthetic and real data found that this method could generate high-quality ADCIGs. And these examples also found that the computational cost of this approach was related to the complexity of the source and receiver wavefields.

scholarly journals 3D weak-dispersion reverse time migration using a stereo-modeling operator

Geophysics ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. S19-S30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingshuang Li ◽  
Michael Fehler ◽  
Dinghui Yang ◽  
Xueyuan Huang
Keyword(s):  
Fourth Order ◽  
Propagation Model ◽  
Numerical Dispersion ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Complex Velocity ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Project Model

Reliable 3D imaging is a required tool for developing models of complex geologic structures. Reverse time migration (RTM), as the most powerful depth imaging method, has become the preferred imaging tool because of its ability to handle complex velocity models including steeply dipping interfaces and large velocity contrasts. Finite-difference methods are among the most popular numerical approaches used for RTM. However, these methods often encounter a serious issue of numerical dispersion, which is typically suppressed by reducing the grid interval of the propagation model, resulting in large computation and memory requirements. In addition, even with small grid spacing, numerical anisotropy may degrade images or, worse, provide images that appear to be focused but position events incorrectly. Recently, stereo-operators have been developed to approximate the partial differential operator in space. These operators have been used to develop several weak-dispersion and efficient stereo-modeling methods that have been found to be superior to conventional algorithms in suppressing numerical dispersion and numerical anisotropy. We generalized one stereo-modeling method, fourth-order nearly analytic central difference (NACD), from 2D to 3D and applied it to 3D RTM. The RTM results for the 3D SEG/EAGE phase A classic data set 1 and the SEG Advanced Modeling project model demonstrated that, even when using a large grid size, the NACD method can handle very complex velocity models and produced better images than can be obtained using the fourth-order and eighth-order Lax-Wendroff correction (LWC) schemes. We also applied 3D NACD and fourth-order LWC to a field data set and illustrated significant improvements in terms of structure imaging, horizon/layer continuity and positioning. We also investigated numerical dispersion and found that not only does the NACD method have superior dispersion characteristics but also that the angular variation of dispersion is significantly less than for LWC.

One-step extrapolation method for reverse time migration

Geophysics ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. A29-A33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Guanquan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Wave Equation ◽  
Extrapolation Method ◽  
New Method ◽  
Numerical Dispersion ◽  
Finite Difference Schemes ◽  
Order Partial Differential Equation ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
One Step

We have proposed a new method, a one-step extrapolation algorithm, to solve the acoustic wave equation. By introducing a square-root operator, the two-way wave equation can be formulated as a first-order partial differential equation in time, which is similar to the one-way wave equation. To solve the new wave equation, we used a stable explicit extrapolation method in the time direction and handled lateral velocity variations in the space and wavenumber domains. Unlike the conventional explicit finite-difference schemes, the new method does not suffer from numerical instability or numerical dispersion problems. It can be used to design cost-effective and high-quality reverse time migration or modeling code.

scholarly journals Reverse time migration of transmitted wavefields for salt boundary imaging

Geophysics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (2) ◽  
pp. S71-S82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Willacy ◽  
Maksym Kryvohuz
Keyword(s):  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Seismic Profile ◽  
Imaging Method ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Transmission Imaging ◽  
Time Migration

The imaging of steep salt boundaries has received much attention with the advent of improved wider azimuth acquisition designs and advanced imaging techniques such as reverse time migration (RTM), for example. However, despite these advancements in capability, there are cases in which the salt boundary is either poorly illuminated or completely absent in the migrated image. To provide a solution to this problem, we have developed two RTM methods for imaging salt boundaries, which use transmitted wavefields. In the first technique, downgoing waves, typically recorded in walkaway vertical seismic profile surveys, are used to image the salt flank via the generation of aplanatic isochrones. This image can be generated in the absence of an explicit interpretation of the salt flank using dual migration velocity models, as demonstrated on a 3D walkaway field data set from the Gulf of Mexico. In the second technique, we extend the basic theory to include imaging of upgoing source wavefields, which are transmitted at the base salt from below, as acquired by a surface acquisition geometry. This technique has similarities to the prism-imaging method, yet it uses transmitted instead of reflected waves at the salt boundary. Downgoing and upgoing methods are shown to satisfactorily generate an image of the salt flank; however, transmission imaging can create artifacts if reflection arrivals are included in the migration or the acquisition geometry is limited in extent. Increased wavelet stretch is also observed due to the higher transmission coefficient. An important benefit of these methods is that transmission imaging produces an opposite depth shift to errors in the velocity model compared with imaging of reflections. When combined with conventional seismic reflection surveys, this behavior can be used to provide a constraint on the accuracy of the salt and/or subsalt velocities.

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