Finite-difference depth migration of exploration-scale 3-D seismic data

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1996 · Geophysics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1444003· OSTI ID:277523

Mufti, I R; Pita, J A ^[1]; Huntley, R W ^[2]

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1. Mobil Research and Development Corp., Dallas, TX (United States)
2. Mobil Oil Canada, Calgary, Alberta (Canada)

Most migration methods are based on a variety of one-way approximations of the wave equation, one noticeable exception being the finite-difference, reverse-time, depth migration algorithm. Since this method requires enormous computer resources as compared to all other migration algorithms, its applications have been restricted primarily to 2-D synthetic data. Consequently, its potential for migrating poststack real data and imaging complex 3-D structures by constructive interference of wavefronts has not been exploited. Finite-difference depth migration is subject to the same conditions for avoiding grid dispersion and numerical instability as are forward modeling techniques. For field data, this can necessitate interpolation both in space and time. One can, however, exploit the fact that in forward modeling one tries to generate accurate reflection signals; whereas in migration, the primary objective is to accomplish imaging from the prerecorded signals, which may be attainable under less stringent conditions. Further efficiency can be achieved by using a nonuniform grid in the vertical direction that adapts to the expansion and contraction of the downward propagating wavelet in response to variations in velocity and frequency content of the input data. These steps reduce the time required to do high-resolution migration of large 3-D data volumes to several hours or less, depending on the machine and the size of the input data. Two applications on large, exploration-scale, 3-D field data carried out on a massively-parallel machine are presented. The author compares his results with the results obtained by the Hale-McClellan algorithm.

• OSTI ID: 277523
• Journal Information: Geophysics, Journal Name: Geophysics Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 61; ISSN GPYSA7; ISSN 0016-8033
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
ALGORITHMS
IMAGE PROCESSING
NUMERICAL ANALYSIS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS