Wavefield extrapolation modeling for internal multiple prediction
AssigneeWesternGeco L.L.C.
InventorsAlan G. Teague, Zhiming Wu, Philip Kitchenside, Milton A. Walz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for attenuating multiple reflections in seismic data by predicting the multiples using wavefield extrapolation modeling, which uses one-way wavefield propagation in both the up and down directions to predict internal multiples up to a specified order.
Claims19
A computer implemented method for geophysical survey where multiple reflections in seismic surveys are attenuated by predicting such multiples using a multi-layer earth model, the method comprising:
- (a) using at least one processor to propagate a wavefield downward until reaching a bottom of the earth model, computing and preserving information about any upward reflecting energies at each layer boundary;
- (b) using at least one processor to propagate the wavefield upward from the bottom of the earth model until reaching the surface, computing and preserving information about any downward reflecting energies at each layer boundary;
- and
- (c) repeating step (a) and (b) at least once and accumulating upward energies towards a receiver as a prediction of multiples.
A computer-readable non-transitory medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the following steps:
- (a) propagating a wavefield downward until reaching a bottom of the earth model, computing and preserving information about any upward reflecting energies at each layer boundary;
- (b) propagating the wavefield upward from the bottom of the earth model until reaching the surface, computing and preserving information about any downward reflecting energies at each layer boundary;
- and
- (c) repeating step (a) and (b) at least once and accumulating upward energies towards a receiver as a prediction of multiples.
A seismic data processing system comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform the following steps:
- (a) propagating a wavefield downward until reaching a bottom of the earth model, computing and preserving information about any upward reflecting energies at each layer boundary;
- (b) propagating the wavefield upward from the bottom of the earth model until reaching the surface, computing and preserving information about any downward reflecting energies at each layer boundary;
- and
- (c) repeating step (a) and (b) at least once and accumulating upward energies towards a receiver as a prediction of multiples.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.