OF
PRE- AND POSTSTACK MIGRATIONS
VOLUME 2
(Prestack)
by
John C. Bancroft, Ph.D.
University of Calgary
A PRACTICAL UNDERSTANDING
OF
PRE- AND POSTSTACK MIGRATIONS
Volume 2
(Prestack)
by
John C, Bancroft, Ph.D.
Sixth Edition
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Contents
Preface to Volume II
Acknowledgements
Prestack Abbreviations and Symbols
Volume II (Prestack)
Chapter 7 Prestack Modelling
7.0 Introduction to Prestack Data.................................................................. 7.2
7.1 Modelling of Source Gathers (Shot Records) ....................................... 7.18
7.2 Constant Offset Sections ...................................................................... 7.36
7.3 Prestack Eikonal Equation Modelling.................................................... 7.54
7.4 The Marmousi Model ............................................................................ 7.56
7.5 NMO Processing of Prestack Data ....................................................... 7.58
7.6 Cheops Pyramid for 2-D Data............................................................... 7.60
7.7 NMO Processing Cheops Pyramid ....................................................... 7.62
7.8 Comparison of Prestack Summation Surfaces ..................................... 7.64
7.9 Modelling Linear Reflectors with Scatterpoints ..................................... 7.70
7.10 Prestack Modelling of 3-D Data ............................................................ 7.74
7.11 Summary of Points to Note in Chapter 7............................................... 7.75
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Preface to volume II
I have been told on many occasions that I should not include the old technology of DMO,
especially when there are many efficient prestack migrations. In a similar thread of
thought, I have also been told that we should not poststack migrate or use any time
migrations.
Conventional DMO is based on constant velocity models, and in some places it may do
more harm than good. There are however, areas where DMO does work. In addition, the
fundamentals of DMO are the foundation of some prestack migrations, especially the
DMO-PSI process.
The objective of the seismic process is to use surface measurements (and what ever
other information is available) to estimate the geology of the subsurface in depth i.e. (x,
y, z). Standard processing is the first stage in which noise is reduced, bandwidth
recovered, near surface model resolved, static corrections estimated, and amplitudes
balanced. The output should be a prestack time migrated section that has required
minimal input from an interpreter.
Advanced processing requires extensive interaction with an interpreter (geologist) to aid
in building a depth model for depth migration. Algorithms for accurate depth migration
have been available for many years; however, estimation of the depth model remains a
difficult task in areas with complex geology. The inclusion of anisotropy, mode
converted waves, and/or the varied use of wavefront times (maximum energy, first
arrival, etc.) continue to improve these algorithms and to help build better models.
The ultimate objective of “seismic processing” is to create an accurate depth model of
the subsurface (that may also include rock parameters). However, in many areas, a
prestack time migration may be adequate to identify a drilling location. In other areas,
the geology may be so complex that it is not possible to define a depth model accurately
enough for a depth migration and the best result remains the prestack time migration.
Consequently, economics will continue to determine the level of processing that is
required for a particular project. These economics must be continually evaluated in
response to the costs of acquisition and processing.
It is the intent of these course notes to provide exposure to the basic prestack migration
algorithms and thereby enable accurate and informed decisions.
Prestack migration should always produce a superior image in comparison to one
produce by a poststack migration. The exceptions are usually caused by inferior
implementations of the prestack algorithms, especially in areas with an uneven
acquisition geometry. The balancing of energy for a poststack migration is
accomplished in the stacking process; one that is very powerful. The balancing of
energy in a prestack migration is more difficult, but must match the quality of that used
in preparing the poststack data.
JCB, Jan. 2003
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Acknowledgments
Preparation of this second volume in its present form has received support from the
CREWES project and a number of processing companies.
I especially thank:
Darren Foltinek CREWES
Henry Bland CREWES
Shaowu Wang CREWES
Hugh Geiger CREWES
Gary Margrave CREWES
Xinxiang Li CREWES
Yong Xu CREWES
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T0
Scatterpoint
T
x0
CMP
S h h TV/2 x
R
CMPh
β
N
b
Rh, T0 Ri
Td
Tn R0
NMO
Tg
T dn
Dip-NMO
The velocities used in the above figures allow two-way travel times to equal one-
way distances, i.e. V = 0.5.
• The distance CMP – R0 is equal to the zero-offset travel time Tdn.
• Half the distance S – Ri or S – Rh - R is equal to the input time T.
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