Viscoacoustic reverse time migration of joint primaries and different-order multiples

Geophysics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 85 (2) ◽  
pp. S71-S87
Author(s):  
Yingming Qu ◽  
Jinli Li ◽  
Zhe Guan ◽  
Zhenchun Li

Compared to primary arrivals, multiples have longer propagation paths and smaller reflection angles, leading to a wider illumination area in the horizontal direction and higher resolution in the vertical direction. Hence, it is better to make full use of the multiples rather than suppressing them. However, seismic attenuation exists widely in the subsurface medium, especially directly below the deep sea bottom. Therefore, to compensate for the attenuation effect during multiple imaging, we have developed a viscoacoustic reverse time migration (RTM) method of different-order multiples. Following the multiple propagation paths, we compensate for the attenuation during source wavefield forward propagation and receiver backward propagation, and we introduce a regularization operator to automatically eliminate the exponential high-frequency noise during the attenuation compensation process. Taking advantage of the full wavefield information, we jointly use the different-order multiples and primaries when implementing viscoacoustic RTM. In numerical examples, we validate the viscoacoustic RTM of different-order multiples in a three-layer attenuation model and an attenuating Sigsbee2B model. Our results suggest that our method can image the models using different-order multiples separately, which suppresses crosstalk artifacts, balances energy, raises resolution, and improves subsalt images dramatically.

Geophysics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. S249-S259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tong Zhou ◽  
Wenyi Hu ◽  
Jieyuan Ning

Most existing [Formula: see text]-compensated reverse time migration ([Formula: see text]-RTM) algorithms are based on pseudospectral methods. Because of the global nature of pseudospectral operators, these methods are not ideal for efficient parallelization, implying that they may suffer from high computational cost and inefficient memory usage for large-scale industrial problems. In this work, we reported a novel [Formula: see text]-RTM algorithm — the multistage optimized [Formula: see text]-RTM method. This [Formula: see text]-RTM algorithm uses a finite-difference method to compensate the amplitude and the phase simultaneously by uniquely combining two techniques: (1) a negative [Formula: see text] method for amplitude compensation and (2) a multistage dispersion optimization technique for phase correction. To prevent high-frequency noise from growing exponentially and ruining the imaging results, we apply a finite impulse response low-pass filter using the Kaiser window. The theoretical analyses and numerical experiments demonstrate that this [Formula: see text]-RTM algorithm precisely recovers the decayed amplitude and corrects the distorted phase caused by seismic attenuation effects, and hence produces higher resolution subsurface images with the correct structural depth information. This new method performs best in the frequency range of 10–70 Hz. Compared with pseudospectral [Formula: see text]-RTM methods, this [Formula: see text]-RTM approach offers nearly identical imaging quality. Based on local numerical differential operators, this [Formula: see text]-RTM method is very suitable for parallel computing and graphic processing unit implementation, an important feature for large 3D seismic surveys.


Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. S271-S279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junzhe Sun ◽  
Sergey Fomel ◽  
Tieyuan Zhu ◽  
Jingwei Hu

Attenuation of seismic waves needs to be taken into account to improve the accuracy of seismic imaging. In viscoacoustic media, reverse time migration (RTM) can be performed with [Formula: see text]-compensation, which is also known as [Formula: see text]-RTM. Least-squares RTM (LSRTM) has also been shown to be able to compensate for attenuation through linearized inversion. However, seismic attenuation may significantly slow down the convergence rate of the least-squares iterative inversion process without proper preconditioning. We have found that incorporating attenuation compensation into LSRTM can improve the speed of convergence in attenuating media, obtaining high-quality images within the first few iterations. Based on the low-rank one-step seismic modeling operator in viscoacoustic media, we have derived its adjoint operator using nonstationary filtering theory. The proposed forward and adjoint operators can be efficiently applied to propagate viscoacoustic waves and to implement attenuation compensation. Recognizing that, in viscoacoustic media, the wave-equation Hessian may become ill-conditioned, we propose to precondition LSRTM with [Formula: see text]-compensated RTM. Numerical examples showed that the preconditioned [Formula: see text]-LSRTM method has a significantly faster convergence rate than LSRTM and thus is preferable for practical applications.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Guillermo Paniagua Castrillón ◽  
Olga Lucia Quintero Montoya ◽  
Daniel Sierra-Sosa

ABSTRACT. Reverse time migration (RTM) solves the acoustic or elastic wave equation by means of the extrapolation from source and receiver wavefield in time. A migrated image is obtained by applying a criteria known as imaging condition. The cross-correlation between source and receiver wavefields is the commonly used imaging condition. However, this imaging condition produces spatial low-frequency noise, called artifacts, due to the unwanted correlation of the diving, head and backscattered waves. Several techniques have been proposed to reduce the artifacts occurrence. Derivative operators as Laplacian are the most frequently used. In this work, we propose a technique based on a spiral phase filter ranging from 0 to 2π, and a toroidal amplitude bandpass filter, known as Laguerre-Gauss transform. Through numerical experiments we present the application of this particular filter on three synthetic data sets. In addition, we present a comparative spectral study of images obtained by the zero-lag cross-correlation imaging condition, the Laplacian filtering and the Laguerre-Gauss filtering, showing their frequency features. We also present evidences not only with simulated noisy velocity fields but also by comparison with the model velocity field gradients that this method improves the RTM images by reducing the artifacts and notably enhance the reflective events. Keywords: Laguerre-Gauss transform, zero-lag cross-correlation, seismic migration, imaging condition. RESUMO. A migração reversa no tempo (RTM) resolve a equação de onda acústica ou elástica por meio da extrapolação a partir do campo de onda da fonte e do receptor no tempo. Uma imagem migrada é obtida aplicando um critério conhecido como condição de imagem. A correlação cruzada entre campos de onda de fonte e receptor é a condição de imagem comumente usada. No entanto, esta condição de imagem produz ruído espacial de baixa frequência, chamados artefatos, devido à correlação indesejada das ondas de mergulho, cabeça e retrodifusão. Várias técnicas têm sido propostas para reduzir a ocorrência de artefatos. Operadores derivados como Laplaciano são os mais utilizados. Neste trabalho, propomos uma técnica baseada em um filtro de fase espiral que varia de 0 a 2π, e um filtro passabanda de amplitude toroidal, conhecido como transformada de Laguerre-Gauss. Através de experimentos numéricos, apresentamos a aplicação deste filtro particular em três conjuntos de dados sintéticos. Além disso, apresentamos um estudo comparativo espectral de imagens obtidas pela condição de imagem de correlação cruzada atraso zero, a filtragem de Laplaciano e a filtragem Laguerre-Gauss, mostrando suas características de frequência. Apresentamos evidências não somente com campos simulados de velocidade ruidosa, mas também por comparação com os gradientes de campo de velocidade do modelo que este método melhora as imagens RTM, reduzindo os artefatos e aumentando notavelmente os eventos reflexivos. Palavras-chave: Transformação de Laguerre-Gauss, correlação cruzada atraso zero, migração sísmica, condição de imagem.


Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. S307-S314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yibo Wang ◽  
Yikang Zheng ◽  
Qingfeng Xue ◽  
Xu Chang ◽  
Tong W. Fei ◽  
...  

In the implementation of migration of multiples, reverse time migration (RTM) is superior to other migration algorithms because it can handle steeply dipping structures and offer high-resolution images of the complex subsurface. However, the RTM results using two-way wave equation contain high-amplitude, low-frequency noise and false images generated by improper wave paths in migration velocity model with sharp velocity interfaces or strong velocity gradients. To improve the imaging quality in RTM of multiples, we separate the upgoing and downgoing waves in the propagation of source and receiver wavefields. A complex function involved with the Hilbert transform is used in wavefield decomposition. Our approach is cost effective and avoids the large storage of wavefield snapshots required by the conventional wavefield separation technique. We applied migration of multiples with wavefield decomposition on a simple two-layer model and the Sigsbee 2B synthetic data set. Our results demonstrate that the proposed approach can improve the image generated by migration of multiples significantly.


Geophysics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. S151-S172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Guo ◽  
George A. McMechan

Low values of P- and S-wave quality factors [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] result in strong intrinsic seismic attenuation in seismic modeling and imaging. We use a linearized waveform inversion approach, by generalizing least-squares reverse time migration (LSRTM) for viscoelastic media ([Formula: see text]-LSRTM), to compensate for the attenuation loss for P- and S-images. We use the first-order particle velocity, stress, and memory variable equations, with explicit [Formula: see text] in the formulations, based on the generalized standard linear solid, as the forward-modeling operator. The linearized two-way viscoelastic modeling operator is obtained with modulus perturbations introduced for the relaxed P- and S-moduli. The viscoelastic adjoint operator and the P- and S-imaging conditions for modulus perturbations are derived using the adjoint-state method and an augmented Lagrangian functional. [Formula: see text]-LSRTM solves the viscoelastic linearized modeling operator for generating synthetic data, and the adjoint operator is used for back propagating the data residual. With the correct background velocity model, and with the inclusion of [Formula: see text] in the modeling and imaging, [Formula: see text]-LSRTM is capable of iteratively updating the P- and S-modulus perturbations, and compensating the attenuation loss caused by [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], in the direction of minimizing the data residual between the observed and predicted data. Compared with elastic LSRTM results, the P- and S-modulus perturbation images from [Formula: see text]-LSRTM have stronger (closer to the true modulus perturbation), and more continuous, amplitudes for the structures in and beneath low-[Formula: see text] zones. The residuals in the image space obtained using the correctly parameterized [Formula: see text]-LSRTM are much smaller than those obtained using the incorrectly parameterized elastic LSRTM. However, the data residuals from [Formula: see text]-LSRTM and elastic LSRTM are similar because elastic Born modeling with a weak reflector in the image produces similar reflection amplitudes with viscoelastic Born modeling with a strong reflector.


Geophysics ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-95
Author(s):  
Jidong Yang ◽  
Jianping Huang ◽  
Hejun Zhu ◽  
Zhenchun Li ◽  
Nanxun Dai

Intrinsic attenuation gives rise to phase dispersion and amplitude loss during seismic wave propagation. Not correcting these effects in seismic imaging can result in inaccurate reflector locations, dimmed amplitudes and degraded spatial resolution. In reverse-time migration (RTM), attenuation compensation can be implemented by reversing the sign of the dissipation term and keeping the dispersion term unchanged for backward wavefield extrapolation. Although this Q-compensated RTM scheme can effectively correct attenuation effects, amplitude amplification during back-propagation might lead to numerical instabilities, especially for field data with strong high-frequency noise. To mitigate this problem, we develop a robust space-wavenumber compensation operator, and apply it to viscoacoustic RTM. By analyzing the dispersion-only and viscoacoustic Green’s functions, we obtain an analytical solution for the attenuation compensation operator in a homogeneous medium. Because it is a time-frequency operator, to apply it directly in viscoacoustic RTM requires access to the extrapolated wavefields within a certain time window. To avoid storing the wavefields and improve computational efficiency, we use an approximated dispersion relation and convert the time-frequency operator to an equivalent space-wavenumber operator, which allows us to implement attenuation compensation on the fly during wavefield extrapolation. The hybrid-domain property of the operator enables us to account for the wavenumber-dependent compensation. A similar strategy can also be applied to the migrated images as a poststack processing approach, which is more efficient than the prestack compensation. Two synthetic and one land field dataset examples demonstrate the feasibility and adaptability of the proposed method.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Qu ◽  
C. Zhou ◽  
C. Liu ◽  
Z. Li ◽  
Z. Chen ◽  
...  

Geophysics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. S19-S29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhina Li ◽  
Zhenchun Li ◽  
Peng Wang ◽  
Mingqiang Zhang

Multiples are traditionally treated as undesired noise, but they are also real reflections from the subsurface as primaries. Smaller reflection angles and longer travel paths usually make them provide more structural information and more balanced illumination than primaries. Instead of multiple elimination in conventional seismic data processing, the migration of multiples has drawn great attention in recent years. The most commonly used method is performed by replacing the source wavelet with the observed data and using separated multiples as the receiver wavefield to apply traditional migration algorithms. However, crosstalk artifacts caused by crosscorrelation of unrelated events severely degrade the image quality of multiples. We have analyzed the cause of artifacts followed by a novel proposal of migrating the multiples by separating surface-related multiples into different orders. First, we combine surface-related multiple elimination and the focal transform to do the separation of multiples in order. Then, crosstalk can be well-eliminated by migrating different-order multiples separately and stacking the separated images together. Taking advantage of reverse time migration, imaging of multiples can be greatly improved. Theoretical analysis shows that crosstalk artifacts can be well-eliminated by our method. Numerical and field data examples determined that our method can provide a greater amount of correct information for subsurface structures.


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