Improving seismic image using the common-horizon panel

Geophysics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. S449-S458
Author(s):  
Lu Liu
Keyword(s):  
Time Lag ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Migration Velocity ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Time Shift ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Seismic Image ◽  
The Common ◽  
Seismic Images ◽  
Zero Time

Generating high-quality seismic images requires accurate velocity models. However, velocity errors are predictably brought into the models. To mitigate the influences of velocity errors, we have used the common-horizon panel (CHP) for migration velocity analysis. CHP provides quantitative information to adjust mispositioned interfaces or correct deformed wavefields, which leads to improved image quality. It is generated by extrapolating seismic gathers to a selected target horizon and applying the time-shift imaging condition. Compared with the commonly used common-image gathers, the events in CHPs are more trackable because geologic interfaces are typically continuous in space. For a correct velocity model, the panel indicates a flat event at zero time lag, whereas in the case of an erroneous velocity model, the event becomes kinematically oscillating. This distinguishing difference provides a practical criterion to verify whether the migration velocity model is correct and to estimate the velocity or wavefield errors based on how much the event deviates from zero time lag. Tests on synthetic and field data sets have shown that the seismic images are improved by using the proposed CHP technique.

Migration velocity analysis by double path-integral migration

Geophysics ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 74 (6) ◽  
pp. WCA225-WCA231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg Schleicher ◽  
Jessé C. Costa
Keyword(s):  
Path Integral ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Migration Velocity ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Velocity Analysis ◽  
Integral Imaging ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Migration Velocity Analysis ◽  
Velocity Information ◽  
Starting Model

The idea of path-integral imaging is to sum over the migrated images obtained for a set of migration velocity models. Velocities where common-image gathers align horizontally are stationary, thus favoring these images in the overall stack. The overall image forms with no knowledge of the true velocity model. However, the velocity information associated with the final image can be determined in the process. By executing the path-integral imaging twice and weighting one of the stacks with the velocity value, the stationary velocities that produce the final image can then be extracted by a division of the two images. The velocity extraction, interpola-tion, and smoothing can be done fully automatically, without the need for human interpretation or other intervention. A numerical example demonstrated that quantitative information about the migration velocity model can be determined by double path-integral migration. The so-obtained velocity model can then be used as a starting model for subsequent velocity analysis tools like migration velocity analysis or tomographic methods.

Unlocking the potential of conventional narrow azimuth data by full-waveform inversion: a deep carbonate imaging case study, offshore Indonesia

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Wang
Keyword(s):  
Complex Structure ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Waveform Inversion ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Time Shift ◽  
Full Waveform Inversion ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Full Waveform ◽  
Seismic Image ◽  
Refraction Tomography

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) has evolved to be the contemporary solution to resolve velocity models in areas of complex structure. Further, wide azimuth, long offset and rich low-frequency seismic data, resulting from broadband seismic acquisition, helps FWI update deeper with better convergence and stability. In this study from the South Mahakam area in offshore Indonesia, multiple layers of carbonate exist from shallow to deep with sharp velocity contrast. The target reservoir is down to 3.5 kilometers. However, for the acquired data with narrow azimuths (NAZ), short offsets (3 kilometers) and low signal to noise in the low frequencies, FWI encounters challenges of cycle skipping and unstable updates in the deeper targets that are beyond the diving-wave penetration depth. Time-lag FWI (TLFWI) (Zhang et al., 2018) uses time-shift differences between observed and modeled data as the cost function, and also makes better use of the low-frequency refraction and reflection energy. TLFWI gave good velocity updates in both the shallow and deep regions and, hence, gave an improved deep carbonate image. The anisotropic model is an important factor for the success of any FWI due to the coupling between velocity and anisotropy. In this paper, joint reflection and refraction tomography (Allemand et al., 2017) were applied in order to obtain stable anisotropy models for TLFWI. Following that, TLFWI with both refraction and reflection energy gives sensible velocity updates down to 3.5 kilometers. These updates to the model improve the seismic image and, importantly, reduce the depth uncertainties in this complex geological setting. The cumulative improvements increase interpretation confidence and can reduce future drilling risks. For the seismic processing community, the reprocessing of narrow azimuth, short-offset data with TLFWI, and associated technologies, offers great potential for generating improved and more reliable images from legacy, conventional, acquisition scenarios.

Migration velocity analysis from locally coherent events in 2‐D laterally heterogeneous media, Part I: Theoretical aspects

Geophysics ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 1202-1212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hervé Chauris ◽  
Mark S. Noble ◽  
Gilles Lambaré ◽  
Pascal Podvin
Keyword(s):  
Cost Function ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Migration Velocity ◽  
Velocity Estimation ◽  
Velocity Analysis ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Migration Velocity Analysis ◽  
Paraxial Ray ◽  
The Cost

We present a new method based on migration velocity analysis (MVA) to estimate 2‐D velocity models from seismic reflection data with no assumption on reflector geometry or the background velocity field. Classical approaches using picking on common image gathers (CIGs) must consider continuous events over the whole panel. This interpretive step may be difficult—particularly for applications on real data sets. We propose to overcome the limiting factor by considering locally coherent events. A locally coherent event can be defined whenever the imaged reflectivity locally shows lateral coherency at some location in the image cube. In the prestack depth‐migrated volume obtained for an a priori velocity model, locally coherent events are picked automatically, without interpretation, and are characterized by their positions and slopes (tangent to the event). Even a single locally coherent event has information on the unknown velocity model, carried by the value of the slope measured in the CIG. The velocity is estimated by minimizing these slopes. We first introduce the cost function and explain its physical meaning. The theoretical developments lead to two equivalent expressions of the cost function: one formulated in the depth‐migrated domain on locally coherent events in CIGs and the other in the time domain. We thus establish direct links between different methods devoted to velocity estimation: migration velocity analysis using locally coherent events and slope tomography. We finally explain how to compute the gradient of the cost function using paraxial ray tracing to update the velocity model. Our method provides smooth, inverted velocity models consistent with Kirchhoff‐type migration schemes and requires neither the introduction of interfaces nor the interpretation of continuous events. As for most automatic velocity analysis methods, careful preprocessing must be applied to remove coherent noise such as multiples.

Migration velocity analysis based on focusing diffractions generated using the CRS wavefront attributes: Application to real land data

Geophysics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-50
Author(s):  
German Garabito ◽  
José Silas dos Santos Silva ◽  
Williams Lima
Keyword(s):  
Time Domain ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Normal Incidence ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Migration Velocity ◽  
Velocity Analysis ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Migration Velocity Analysis ◽  
The Time Domain

In land seismic data processing, the prestack time migration (PSTM) image remains the standard imaging output, but a reliable migrated image of the subsurface depends on the accuracy of the migration velocity model. We have adopted two new algorithms for time-domain migration velocity analysis based on wavefield attributes of the common-reflection-surface (CRS) stack method. These attributes, extracted from multicoverage data, were successfully applied to build the velocity model in the depth domain through tomographic inversion of the normal-incidence-point (NIP) wave. However, there is no practical and reliable method for determining an accurate and geologically consistent time-migration velocity model from these CRS attributes. We introduce an interactive method to determine the migration velocity model in the time domain based on the application of NIP wave attributes and the CRS stacking operator for diffractions, to generate synthetic diffractions on the reflection events of the zero-offset (ZO) CRS stacked section. In the ZO data with diffractions, the poststack time migration (post-STM) is applied with a set of constant velocities, and the migration velocities are then selected through a focusing analysis of the simulated diffractions. We also introduce an algorithm to automatically calculate the migration velocity model from the CRS attributes picked for the main reflection events in the ZO data. We determine the precision of our diffraction focusing velocity analysis and the automatic velocity calculation algorithms using two synthetic models. We also applied them to real 2D land data with low quality and low fold to estimate the time-domain migration velocity model. The velocity models obtained through our methods were validated by applying them in the Kirchhoff PSTM of real data, in which the velocity model from the diffraction focusing analysis provided significant improvements in the quality of the migrated image compared to the legacy image and to the migrated image obtained using the automatically calculated velocity model.

Time-migration velocity analysis by image-wave propagation of common-image gathers

Geophysics ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. VE161-VE171 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Schleicher ◽  
J. C. Costa ◽  
A. Novais
Keyword(s):  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Seismic Event ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Migration Velocity ◽  
Velocity Analysis ◽  
Reference Velocity ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Migration Velocity Analysis ◽  
Velocity Image ◽  
The Common

Image-wave propagation or velocity continuation describes the variation of the migrated position of a seismic event as a function of migration velocity. Image-wave propagation in the common-image gather (CIG) domain can be combined with residual-moveout analysis for iterative migration velocity analysis (MVA). Velocity continuation of CIGs leads to a detection of those velocities in which events flatten. Although image-wave continuation is based on the assumption of a constant migration velocity, the procedure can be applied in inhomogeneous media. For this purpose, CIGs obtained by migration with an inhomogeneous macrovelocity model are continued starting from a constant reference velocity. The interpretation of continued CIGs, as if they were obtained from residual migrations, leads to a correction formula that translates residual flattening velocities into absolute time-migration velocities. In this way, the migration velocity model can be improved iteratively until a satisfactory result is reached. With a numerical example, we found that MVA with iterative image continuation applied exclusively to selected CIGs can construct a reasonable migration velocity model from scratch, without the need to build an initial model from a previous conventional normal-moveout/dip-moveout velocity analysis.

Noise removal by migration of time-shift images

Geophysics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. S105-S111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheng Xu ◽  
Feng Chen ◽  
Bing Tang ◽  
Gilles Lambare
Keyword(s):  
Time Lag ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Noise Removal ◽  
Time Shift ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Coherent Noise ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Depth Migration ◽  
Time Migration

When using seismic data to image complex structures, the reverse time migration (RTM) algorithm generally provides the best results when the velocity model is accurate. With an inexact model, moveouts appear in common image gathers (CIGs), which are either in the surface offset domain or in subsurface angle domain; thus, the stacked image is not well focused. In extended image gathers, the strongest energy of a seismic event may occur at non-zero-lag in time-shift or offset-shift gathers. Based on the operation of RTM images produced by the time-shift imaging condition, the non-zero-lag time-shift images exhibit a spatial shift; we propose an approach to correct them by a second pass of migration similar to zero-offset depth migration; the proposed approach is based on the local poststack depth migration assumption. After the proposed second-pass migration, the time-shift CIGs appear to be flat and can be stacked. The stack enhances the energy of seismic events that are defocused at zero time lag due to the inaccuracy of the model, even though the new focused events stay at the previous positions, which might deviate from the true positions of seismic reflection. With the stack, our proposed approach is also able to attenuate the long-wavelength RTM artifacts. In the case of tilted transverse isotropic migration, we propose a scheme to defocus the coherent noise, such as migration artifacts from residual multiples, by applying the original migration velocity model along the symmetry axis but with different anisotropic parameters in the second pass of migration. We demonstrate that our approach is effective to attenuate the coherent noise at subsalt area with two synthetic data sets and one real data set from the Gulf of Mexico.

scholarly journals Optimal coding of blended seismic sources for 2D full waveform inversion in time

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Flórez ◽  
Sergio Alberto Abreo Carrillo ◽  
Ana Beatriz Ramírez Silva
Keyword(s):  
Waveform Inversion ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Computational Time ◽  
Inversion Method ◽  
Single Shot ◽  
Full Waveform Inversion ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Full Waveform ◽  
Seismic Image ◽  
Blended Data

Full Waveform Inversion (FWI) schemes are gradually becoming more common in the oil and gas industry, as a new tool for studying complex geological zones, based on their reliability for estimating velocity models. FWI is a non-linear inversion method that iteratively estimates subsurface characteristics such as seismic velocity, starting from an initial velocity model and the preconditioned data acquired. Blended sources have been used in marine seismic acquisitions to reduce acquisition costs, reducing the number of times that the vessel needs to cross the exploration delineation trajectory. When blended or simultaneous without previous de-blending or separation, stage data are used in the reconstruction of the velocity model with the FWI method, and the computational time is reduced. However, blended data implies overlapping single shot-gathers, producing interference that affects the result of seismic approaches, such as FWI or seismic image migration. In this document, an encoding strategy is developed, which reduces the overlap areas within the blended data to improve the final velocity model with the FWI method.

Illumination compensation for image-domain wavefield tomography

Geophysics ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 78 (5) ◽  
pp. U65-U76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tongning Yang ◽  
Jeffrey Shragge ◽  
Paul Sava
Keyword(s):  
Model Building ◽  
Velocity Model ◽  
Model Errors ◽  
Image Domain ◽  
Illumination Compensation ◽  
Illumination Problem ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Velocity Model Building ◽  
Penalty Operator ◽  
Seismic Images

Image-domain wavefield tomography is a velocity model building technique using seismic images as the input and seismic wavefields as the information carrier. However, the method suffers from the uneven illumination problem when it applies a penalty operator to highlighting image inaccuracies due to the velocity model error. The uneven illumination caused by complex geology such as salt or by incomplete data creates defocusing in common-image gathers even when the migration velocity model is correct. This additional defocusing violates the wavefield tomography assumption stating that the migrated images are perfectly focused in the case of the correct model. Therefore, defocusing rising from illumination mixes with defocusing rising from the model errors and degrades the model reconstruction. We addressed this problem by incorporating the illumination effects into the penalty operator such that only the defocusing by model errors was used for model construction. This was done by first characterizing the illumination defocusing in gathers by illumination analysis. Then an illumination-based penalty was constructed that does not penalize the illumination defocusing. This method improved the robustness and effectiveness of image-domain wavefield tomography applied in areas characterized by poor illumination. Our tests on synthetic examples demonstrated that velocity models were more accurately reconstructed by our method using the illumination compensation, leading to a more accurate model and better subsurface images than those in the conventional approach without illumination compensation.

Seismic modeling and expression of common fold-thrust structures

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. T55-T65
Author(s):  
Jianjun Li ◽  
Shankar Mitra
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Model ◽  
Fault Geometry ◽  
Seismic Modeling ◽  
Fault Propagation ◽  
Lateral Velocity ◽  
Slip Ratio ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
The Common

We have conducted seismic modeling of common fold-thrust structures to understand the common geologic parameters influencing seismic data and to understand the common pitfalls associated with interpreting prestack time migration (PSTM) and prestack depth migration (PSDM) data. Mode 1 fault-bend folds are generally well-imaged in PSTM data, provided the correct migration velocities are used for the dipping back and front limbs. Seismic pull-ups of the footwall related to lateral velocity variations can result in problems in interpreting the fault geometry and the subthrust area underlying the crest. Fault-tip fault-propagation folds also show significant footwall pull-ups and show poor to no imaging of the steep front limbs. The geometry of trishear fault-propagation folds is dependent on the maximum slip on the fault (S) and the fault propagation to slip ratio (P/S ratio). We found that the slip has a strong influence on the dip of the front limb and therefore the quality of imaging whereas the P/S ratio, which controls the degree of folding versus thrust faulting, has only a secondary effect. For the front limb, only the area near the synclinal axial plan is well-imaged, so that the fault geometry and extent of propagation are typically difficult to interpret. The front limb dips are also sensitive to the accuracy of the rms velocity model used for migration. Lower velocities result in steeper dipping reflectors, whereas higher velocities result in shallower dips. In general, PSDM provides better imaging of the structures; however, the accuracy and quality of the image are dependent on the velocity models and interpretation derived from the PSTM data.

scholarly journals IMPROVING PRE-SALT RESERVOIRS SEISMIC IMAGES WHEN CONSIDERING THE STRATIFIED EVAPORITES INSERTION IN THE INITIAL MODEL FOR THE VELOCITY UPDATING PROCESSES PRIOR TO THE SEISMIC MIGRATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 235
Author(s):  
Alexandre Rodrigo Maul ◽  
Marco Antonio Cetale Santos ◽  
Cleverson Guizan Silva ◽  
Leonardo Márcio Teixeira da Silva ◽  
María de Los Ángeles González Farias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Model ◽  
Seismic Inversion ◽  
Salt Formation ◽  
Initial Model ◽  
Seismic Migration ◽  
Velocity Models ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Geological Features ◽  
Se Brazil ◽  
Seismic Images

ABSTRACT. Structurally complex areas, such as the pre-salt section in the offshore Santos Basin, SE Brazil, is a challenge to represent the geology using seismic images. One of the main causes of the observed imaging problems is the evaporitic section and its considerations about velocities used for seismic migration purposes. Some authors consider set to this section an almost constant value (close to 4,500 m/s) which approximately represents the halite velocity, the most abundant mineral in this salt formation. Others, over these models, apply the tomographic inversion or FWI schemes giving to the velocity model the mathematical support to build confident seismic images. We believe in the importance to build starting velocity models reflecting the existing geological features prior to applying the tomographic/FWI updating. In this sense, we propose the insertion of the so-called stratifications within the evaporitic section using an adaptation of the model-based seismic inversion technique. Following this new velocity model including the stratification, we suggest tomographic iterations update, or FWI, to add to the geological constrains of the model the needed mathematical convergence. Finally, in this work, we performed the seismic migration with and without inserting these geological features in the initial velocity model and compared the results.Keywords: evaporitic section, stratifications, velocity model, seismic migration, seismic image.RESUMO. Em áreas estruturalmente complexas, como na seção pré-sal da Bacia offshore de Santos, região SE do Brasil, é um desafio representar a geologia utilizando imagens sísmicas. Uma das principais causas dos problemas observados está nas considerações sobre a seção evaporítica e suas velocidades com propósito de migração sísmica. Alguns autores consideram esta seção como tendo velocidades aproximadamente constantes (próximas de 4.500 m/s), o que representa aproximadamente o comportamento da halita, o mineral mais abundante nesta seção. Outros, sobre este modelo aplicam a atualização por inversão tomográfica ou FWI para dar ao modelo de velocidades o suporte matemático necessário para construir imagens sísmicas confiáveis. Nós acreditamos na importância de construir modelos iniciais de velocidades que reflitam as características geológicas existentes antes de aplicar esta atualização tomográfica/FWI mencionada. Neste sentido, propomos a inserção das denominadas estratificações dentro da seção evaporítica, utilizando uma adaptação da técnica de inversão sísmica model-based. Seguindo este novo modelo incluindo as estratificações, sugerimos a atualização por iterações tomográficas, ou FWI, para adicionar ao controle geológico do modelo a convergência matemática necessária. Finalmente, neste trabalho, nós realizamos a migração com e sem a inserção destas características geológicas no modelo inicial de velocidades e comparamos os resultados.Palavras-chave: seção evaporítica, estratificações, modelo de velocidade, migração sísmica, imagem sísmica.

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