Refined karst feature and fault identification through integrated wave field separation and imaging of Diffraction energy

In this abstract, a case study from offshore Indonesia is showcased with examples emphasizing integrated wave field separation methods with the objective of diffraction imaging towards refined karst feature and fault identification. For imaging optimally all diffraction energy, pre-migration and post-migration methods have been integrated. The dataset and examples in this abstract are in a complex geological setting in a very shallow water environment, with a subsurface that is characterized by large carbonate pinnacles containing large amount of karst features with thinning and thickening carbonate layers. For the purpose of refined imaging of diffraction energy only, the total wave field has been separated into specular reflections and diffractions prior to migration and these have been integrated with existing post-migration wave field separation methods. Both the pre-migration and post-migration wave field separation methods have their advantages and disadvantages and is discussed later in this abstract. Diffraction energy, in general is much lower in amplitude than the specular reflections and separately imaging these, unveils higher resolution small scale geological features such as karst features and faults complementing the total wave field PSDM data. With existing industry available methods applying wave field separation in either pre-migration or post-migration stage, limitations have been observed, and therefore we propose in this abstract to integrate both methods and take advantage of the improvements showcased with examples throughout the abstract.