Method and system for seismic processing using virtual trace bins based on offset attributes and azimuthal attributes

A system, comprising:

• a seismic surveying system comprising a seismic source and a plurality of seismic receivers;
• and
• a seismic interpreter comprising a computer processor, wherein the seismic interpreter is coupled to the seismic surveying system, the seismic interpreter being configured to perform a method comprising:
• obtaining a plurality of seismic traces for a geological region of interest;
• determining a first offset attribute, a second offset attribute, a first azimuthal attribute, and a second azimuthal attribute;
• determining, using the first offset attribute and the first azimuthal attribute, a first virtual trace bin for the geological region of interest;
• determining, using the second offset attribute and the second azimuthal attribute, a second virtual trace bin for the geological region of interest,
• wherein the first azimuthal attribute and the second azimuthal attribute are different,
• wherein the first virtual trace bin and the second virtual trace bin comprise an overlapping bin region that comprises a plurality of overlapping traces among the plurality of seismic traces that are disposed in the first virtual trace bin and the second virtual trace bin, and
• wherein the first virtual trace bin comprises a first subset of the plurality of seismic traces that are not disposed in the second virtual trace bin;
• determining a plurality of ray parameters for the first virtual trace bin, wherein a respective ray parameter among the plurality of ray parameters corresponds to a respective seismic trace in the first virtual trace bin;
• determining a plurality of adjusted seismic traces using a linear Radon transform, the plurality of ray parameters, the first subset of the plurality of seismic traces, and the plurality of overlapping traces;
• generating a first virtual trace using the plurality of adjusted seismic traces;
• generating a second virtual trace using the plurality of overlapping traces and a second subset of the plurality of seismic traces corresponding to the second virtual trace bin;
• generating a velocity model for the geological region of interest using a virtual shot gather comprising the first virtual trace, the second virtual trace, and a plurality of virtual traces, wherein a respective virtual trace among the plurality of virtual traces corresponds to a respective virtual trace bin among a plurality of virtual trace bins;
• generating a seismic image of the geological region of interest using the velocity model;
• and
• determining, using the seismic image, a presence of hydrocarbons within the geological region of interest.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions comprising functionality for:

• obtaining a plurality of seismic traces for a geological region of interest;
• determining a first offset attribute, a second offset attribute, a first azimuthal attribute, and a second azimuthal attribute;
• determining, using the first offset attribute and the first azimuthal attribute, a first virtual trace bin for the geological region of interest;
• determining, using the second offset attribute and the second azimuthal attribute, a second virtual trace bin for the geological region of interest,
• wherein the first azimuthal attribute and the second azimuthal attribute are different,
• wherein the first virtual trace bin and the second virtual trace bin comprise an overlapping bin region that comprises a plurality of overlapping traces among the plurality of seismic traces that are disposed in the first virtual trace bin and the second virtual trace bin, and
• wherein the first virtual trace bin comprises a first subset of the plurality of seismic traces that are not disposed in the second virtual trace bin;
• determining a plurality of ray parameters for the first virtual trace bin, wherein a respective ray parameter among the plurality of ray parameters corresponds to a respective seismic trace in the first virtual trace bin;
• determining a plurality of adjusted seismic traces using a linear Radon transform, the plurality of ray parameters, the first subset of the plurality of seismic traces, and the plurality of overlapping traces;
• generating a first virtual trace using the plurality of adjusted seismic traces;
• generating a second virtual trace using the plurality of overlapping traces and a second subset of the plurality of seismic traces corresponding to the second virtual trace bin;
• generating a velocity model for the geological region of interest using a virtual shot gather comprising the first virtual trace, the second virtual trace, and a plurality of virtual traces, wherein a respective virtual trace among the plurality of virtual traces corresponds to a respective virtual trace bin among a plurality of virtual trace bins;
• generating a seismic image of the geological region of interest using the velocity model;
• and
• determining, using the seismic image, a presence of hydrocarbons within the geological region of interest.