3D high order seismic imaging in Gulf of Mexico in the context of RTM algorithm using adjoint-based methods.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier Abreu ◽  
Roland Martin ◽  
Jose Darrozes
Keyword(s):  
Free Surface ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Wave Equations ◽  
High Order ◽  
Ocean Bottom ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
The North ◽  
Absorbing Boundaries ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Seismic Images

<p>The present work consists in imaging salt bodies from earth subsoil in the context of Reverse Time Migration (RTM) algorithm. The study of salt domes is economically important because they form a natural trap for hydrocarbons. For instance, more than a half of the hydrocarbon reserves that still exist today are related to salt bodies.</p><p>However, seismic images coming from strong salt tectonics area, are contaminated with spurious signal, like multiple events. Therefore, it is important to know how to treat and filter multiples in order to have seismic images that are geologically interpretable.</p><p>For this purpose, we solved the forward 3D elastic seismic wave equations using high order finite differences. The earth parameters come from 3D velocity and density models in a salt tectonic region in the North Gulf of Mexico. To obtain the imaging condition we compute the sensitivity kernels by using the adjoint solution of wave equation and by applying checkpointing. We tested this algorithm with simultaneous and separated sources. Fluid - solid interfaces at the ocean bottom is introduced, interfaces are well retrieved at large offsets.</p><p>Furthermore, we applied CPML absorbing boundaries, and replace also free surface conditions for absorbing boundaries to attenuate free surface multiples. The images we obtained from sensitivity kernels are easily interpretable. The calculations were performed on CALMIP supercomputing platforms in Toulouse France. </p>

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.

Least-squares reverse time migration of multiples

Geophysics ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. S11-S21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongliang Zhang ◽  
Gerard T. Schuster
Keyword(s):  
Free Surface ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Synthetic Data ◽  
Time History ◽  
Ocean Bottom ◽  
Virtual Source ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Sea Bed

The theory of least-squares reverse time migration of multiples (RTMM) is presented. In this method, least squares migration (LSM) is used to image free-surface multiples where the recorded traces are used as the time histories of the virtual sources at the hydrophones and the surface-related multiples are the observed data. For a single source, the entire free-surface becomes an extended virtual source where the downgoing free-surface multiples more fully illuminate the subsurface compared to the primaries. Since each recorded trace is treated as the time history of a virtual source, knowledge of the source wavelet is not required and the ringy time series for each source is automatically deconvolved. If the multiples can be perfectly separated from the primaries, numerical tests on synthetic data for the Sigsbee2B and Marmousi2 models show that least-squares reverse time migration of multiples (LSRTMM) can significantly improve the image quality compared to RTMM or standard reverse time migration (RTM) of primaries. However, if there is imperfect separation and the multiples are strongly interfering with the primaries then LSRTMM images show no significant advantage over the primary migration images. In some cases, they can be of worse quality. Applying LSRTMM to Gulf of Mexico data shows higher signal-to-noise imaging of the salt bottom and top compared to standard RTM images. This is likely attributed to the fact that the target body is just below the sea bed so that the deep water multiples do not have strong interference with the primaries. Migrating a sparsely sampled version of the Marmousi2 ocean bottom seismic data shows that LSM of primaries and LSRTMM provides significantly better imaging than standard RTM. A potential liability of LSRTMM is that multiples require several round trips between the reflector and the free surface, so that high frequencies in the multiples suffer greater attenuation compared to the primary reflections. This can lead to lower resolution in the migration image compared to that computed from primaries. Another liability is that the multiple migration image is more down-dip limited than the standard primaries migration image. Finally, if the surface-related multiple elimination method is imperfect and there are strong multiples interfering with the primaries, then the resulting LSRTMM image can be significantly degraded. We conclude that LSRTMM can be a useful complement, not a replacement, for RTM of primary reflections.

Acoustic-elastic coupled equation for ocean bottom seismic data elastic reverse time migration

Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. S333-S345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pengfei Yu ◽  
Jianhua Geng ◽  
Xiaobo Li ◽  
Chenlong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Conditions ◽  
Particle Velocity ◽  
Ocean Bottom ◽  
Receiver Side ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
New Equation ◽  
Obs Data ◽  
Coupled Equation

Conventionally, multicomponent geophones used to record the elastic wavefields in the solid seabed are necessary for ocean bottom seismic (OBS) data elastic reverse time migration (RTM). Particle velocity components are usually injected directly as boundary conditions in the elastic-wave equation in the receiver-side wavefield extrapolation step, which causes artifacts in the resulting elastic images. We have deduced a first-order acoustic-elastic coupled equation (AECE) by substituting pressure fields into the elastic velocity-stress equation (EVSE). AECE has three advantages for OBS data over EVSE when performing elastic RTM. First, the new equation unifies wave propagation in acoustic and elastic media. Second, the new equation separates P-waves directly during wavefield propagation. Third, three approaches are identified when using the receiver-side multicomponent particle velocity records and pressure records in elastic RTM processing: (1) particle velocity components are set as boundary conditions in receiver-side vectorial extrapolation with the AECE, which is equal to the elastic RTM using the conventional EVSE; (2) the pressure component may also be used for receiver-side scalar extrapolation with the AECE, and with which we can accomplish PP and PS images using only the pressure records and suppress most of the artifacts in the PP image with vectorial extrapolation; and (3) ocean-bottom 4C data can be simultaneously used for elastic images with receiver-side tensorial extrapolation using the AECE. Thus, the AECE may be used for conventional elastic RTM, but it also offers the flexibility to obtain PP and PS images using only pressure records.

scholarly journals Reverse-time migration-based reflection tomography using teleseismic free surface multiples

2013 ◽  
Vol 196 (2) ◽  
pp. 996-1017 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Burdick ◽  
M. V. de Hoop ◽  
S. Wang ◽  
R. D. van der Hilst
Keyword(s):  
Free Surface ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Reflection Tomography

Acoustic wave propagation in tilted transversely isotropic media: Incorporating topography

Geophysics ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. C265-C278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Shragge
Keyword(s):  
Wave Propagation ◽  
Free Surface ◽  
Surface Topography ◽  
Domain Boundary ◽  
Waveform Inversion ◽  
Transversely Isotropic ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Tti Media

Simulating two-way acoustic wavefield propagation directly from a free-surface boundary in the presence of topography remains a computational challenge for applications of reverse time migration (RTM) or full-waveform inversion (FWI). For land-seismic settings involving heavily reworked geology (e.g., fold and thrust belts), two-way wavefield propagation operators should also handle commonly observed complex anisotropy including tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) media. To address these issues, I have extended a system of coupled partial differential equations used to model 3D acoustic TTI wave propagation in Cartesian coordinates to more generalized 3D geometries, including a deformed computational mesh with a domain boundary conformal to free-surface topography. A generalized curvilinear transformation is used to specify a system of equations governing 3D acoustic TTI wave propagation in the “topographic” coordinate system. The developed finite-difference time-domain numerical solution adapts existing Cartesian TTI operators to this more generalized geometry with little additional computational overhead. Numerical evaluations illustrate that 2D and 3D impulse responses are well-matched to those simulated on Cartesian meshes and analytic traveltimes for homogeneous elliptical TTI media. Accordingly, these generalized acoustic TTI propagators and their numerical adjoints are useful for undertaking most RTM or FWI applications using computational domains conforming to free-surface topography.

Data-driven synthesis of primary plane-wave responses

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Angelo Meles ◽  
Lele Zhang ◽  
Jan Thorbecke ◽  
Kees Wapenaar ◽  
Evert Slob
Keyword(s):  
Plane Wave ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Wave Source ◽  
Time Migration ◽  
Source Data ◽  
Marine Data ◽  
Seismic Images

<p>Seismic images provided by standard Reverse Time Migration are usually contaminated by artefacts associated with the migration of multiples.</p><p>Multiples can corrupt seismic images by producing both false negatives, i.e. by destructively interfering with primaries, and false positives, i.e. by focusing energy at unphysical interfaces. Free-surface multiples particularly affect seismic images resulting from marine data, while internal multiples strongly contaminate both land and marine data. Multiple prediction / primary synthesis methods are usually designed to operate on point source gathers, and can therefore be computationally  demanding when large problems, involving hundreds of gathers, are considered.</p><p>In this contribution, a new scheme for fully data-driven retrieval of primary responses of plane-wave sources is presented. The proposed scheme, based on convolutions and cross-correlations of the reflection response with itself,  extends a recently devised Marchenko point-sources primary retrieval method for to plane-wave source data. As a result, the presented algorithm allows fully data-driven synthesis of primary reflections associated with plane-wave source data. Once primary plane-wave responses are estimated, they are used for multiple-free imaging via standard reverse time migration. Numerical tests of increasing complexity demonstrate the potential of the proposed algorithm to produce multiple-free images only involving the migration of few datasets.</p><p>The plane-wave source primary synthesis algorithm discussed in this contribution could then be used as an initial and unexpensive processing step, potentially guiding more expensive target imaging techniques. Moreover, the method could be applied to large 3D problems for which standard methods are prohibitively expensive from a computational point of view.</p>

Tensorial elastodynamics for isotropic media

Geophysics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. T359-T373
Author(s):  
Jeffrey Shragge ◽  
Tugrul Konuk
Keyword(s):  
Free Surface ◽  
Surface Topography ◽  
Numerical Solutions ◽  
Waveform Inversion ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Staggered Grid ◽  
Surface Boundary ◽  
Reverse Time ◽  
Reverse Time Migration ◽  
Time Migration

Numerical solutions of 3D isotropic elastodynamics form the key computational kernel for many isotropic elastic reverse time migration and full-waveform inversion applications. However, real-life scenarios often require computing solutions for computational domains characterized by non-Cartesian geometry (e.g., free-surface topography). One solution strategy is to compute the elastodynamic response on vertically deformed meshes designed to incorporate irregular topology. Using a tensorial formulation, we have developed and validated a novel system of semianalytic equations governing 3D elastodynamics in a stress-velocity formulation for a family of vertically deformed meshes defined by Bézier interpolation functions between two (or more) nonintersecting surfaces. The analytic coordinate definition also leads to a corresponding analytic free-surface boundary condition (FSBC) as well as expressions for wavefield injection and extraction. Theoretical examples illustrate the utility of the tensorial approach in generating analytic equations of 3D elastodynamics and the corresponding FSBCs for scenarios involving free-surface topography. Numerical examples developed using a fully staggered grid with a mimetic finite-difference formulation demonstrate the ability to model the expected full-wavefield behavior, including complex free-surface interactions.

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