Predicting interbed multiples in seismic data using beam decomposition

A computer system for attenuating interbed multiples in multiply-reflected seismic waves, the computer system comprising:

• memory;
• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more program modules stored in the memory, wherein the program modules, when executed by the processors, cause the processors to perform the following instructions:
• providing (i) seismic data comprising a plurality of beams and (ii) an earth model related to a geological volume, wherein the earth model includes an upper interface and a lower interface in the geological volume;
• selecting a beam in the plurality of beams as an input beam, wherein the input beam is associated with a source and a detector located near a top surface of the geological volume, and wherein the source and the detector are paired for collecting the seismic data;
• determining at least one of (i) a source-side stationary pegleg arrival between the upper interface and the lower interface and a corresponding detector-side primary beam and (ii) a detector-side stationary pegleg arrival between the upper interface and the lower interface and a corresponding source-side primary beam;
• predicting an interbed multiples beam between the upper interface and the lower interface using at least one of (i) the detector-side primary beam delayed by the source-side stationary pegleg arrival and (ii) the source-side primary beam delayed by the detector-side stationary pegleg arrival;
• and
• deconvolving the predicted interbed multiples beam with the input beam thereby attenuation interbed multiples present in the input beam.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more program modules for execution by one or more processors of a computer system for attenuating interbed multiples in multiply-reflected seismic waves, the one or more programs including instructions for performing the following operations:

• providing (i) seismic data comprising a plurality of beams and (ii) an earth model related to a geological volume, wherein the earth model includes an upper interface and a lower interface in the geological volume;
• selecting a beam in the plurality of beams as an input beam, wherein the input beam is associated with a source and a detector located near a top surface of the geological volume, and wherein the source and the detector are paired for collecting the seismic data;
• determining at least one of (i) a source-side stationary pegleg arrival between the upper interface and the lower interface and a corresponding detector-side primary beam and (ii) a detector-side stationary pegleg arrival between the upper interface and the lower interface and a corresponding source-side primary beam;
• predicting an interbed multiples beam between the upper interface and the lower interface using at least one of (i) the detector-side primary beam delayed by the source-side stationary pegleg arrival and (ii) the source-side primary beam delayed by the detector-side stationary pegleg arrival;
• and
• deconvolving the predicted interbed multiples beam with the input beam thereby attenuating interbed multiples present in the input beam.