US 8,116,168 B1 · Hybrid one-way and full-way wave equation migration

Abstract

A migration method using hybrid one-way and full-way (HOF) wave equation propagation. The HOF method extrapolates seismic wavefields in less complex media with a one-way wave equation propagator and extrapolates seismic wavefields in extremely complex media with a full-way wave equation propagator. For prestack depth migration, the HOF extrapolates source-side and receiver-side wavefields independently. Frequency-space domain and time-space domain imaging conditions are applied to the one-way and the full-way extrapolated wavefields, respectively. A suitable amplitude matching factor is introduced to combine the one-way and full-way images. The HOF method is a cost-effective migration that produces superior image quality with less noises and less computational resources.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A hybrid one-way and full-way wave (HOF) equation migration-based method for seismic imaging, comprising the steps of:

separating a geologic model into a first part representing a less complex medium that lacks strong turning and duplex waves and a second part representing a more complex medium having strong turning and duplex waves;
applying a one-way wave equation propagator to obtain source-side and receiver-side wavefields associated with the first part;
applying a full-way wave equation propagator to obtain source-side and receiver-side wavefields associated with the second part;
applying a frequency-space domain imaging condition to derive a first image from the source-side and receiver-side wavefields associated with the first part;
applying a time-space domain imaging condition to derive a second image from the source-side and receiver-side wavefields associated with the second part;
and
employing an amplitude matching factor to combine the first and second images into a final subsurface image.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hybrid one-way and full-way wave equation migration

Life of this patent

Hybrid one-way and full-way wave equation migration

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9