Application of 3-D visualization to integrated geophysical and geologic model building: A prestack, subsalt depth migration project, deepwater Gulf of Mexico

2000 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 466-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Liro ◽  
Mark Lahr ◽  
Kim Cline ◽  
Jerry Young ◽  
Mary Kadri ◽  
...  
1996 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 751-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. C. Kim ◽  
C. M. Samuelsen ◽  
T. A. Hauge

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadxieli De La Rosa Perez ◽  
Juan Perdomo ◽  
David Manzano ◽  
Hao Deng ◽  
Anastasia Pavlovskaya ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Zdraveva ◽  
Michael Cogan ◽  
Robert Hubbard ◽  
Michael O'Briain ◽  
David Watts

Geophysics ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. S63-S71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rongrong Lu ◽  
Mark Willis ◽  
Xander Campman ◽  
Jonathan Ajo-Franklin ◽  
M. Nafi Toksöz

We describe a new shortcut strategy for imaging the sediments and salt edge around a salt flank through an overburden salt canopy. We tested its performance and capabilities on 2D synthetic acoustic seismic data from a Gulf of Mexico style model. We first redatumed surface shots, using seismic interferometry, from a walkaway vertical seismic profile survey as if the source and receiver pairs had been located in the borehole at the positions of the receivers. This process creates effective downhole shot gathers by completely moving surface shots through the salt canopy, without any knowledge of overburden velocity structure. After redatuming, we can apply multiple passes of prestack migration from the reference datum of the bore-hole. In our example, first-pass migration, using only a simple vertical velocity gradient model, reveals the outline of the salt edge. A second pass of reverse-time, prestack depth migration using full two-way wave equation was performed with an updated velocity model that consisted of the velocity gradient and salt dome. The second-pass migration brings out dipping sediments abutting the salt flank because these reflectors were illuminated by energy that bounced off the salt flank, forming prismatic reflections. In this target-oriented strategy, the computationally fast redatuming process eliminates the need for the traditional complex process of velocity estimation, model building, and iterative depth migration to remove effects of the salt canopy and surrounding overburden. This might allow this strategy to be used in the field in near real time.


Geophysics ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 76 (5) ◽  
pp. WB21-WB26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatmir Hoxha ◽  
Jacqueline O’Connor ◽  
Jeff Codd ◽  
David Kessler ◽  
Alex Bridge ◽  
...  

Performing accurate depth-imaging is an essential part of deep-water Gulf of Mexico exploration and development. Over the years, depth-imaging technology has provided reliable seismic images below complicated salt bodies, and has been implemented in workflows for both prospect generation as well as reservoir development. These workflows include time domain preprocessing using various multiple elimination techniques, anisotropic model building, and depth-imaging using anisotropic reverse time migration (RTM). However, the accuracy of the depth-migrated volumes is basically unknown because they are tested only in the locations where a well is drilled. In order to learn about the accuracy of anisotropic deep water Gulf of Mexico model building, and depth-imaging tools which are used for processing and imaging of field acquired data, we created a 3D vertical transverse isotropic (VTI) anisotropic earth model and a 3D seismic data set representing subsalt Gulf of Mexico geology. The model and data set are referred to as the Tempest data set, the original being created several years ago. The recent model and data set were created incorporating upgraded technology to reflect recent developments in data acquisition, model building and depth-imaging. Our paper presents the new Tempest anisotropic model, data set, and RTM prestack depth-migration (PSDM) results. The Tempest RTM PSDM is being used to learn about the differences between the exact geological model and the RTM PSDM image, helping in the interpretation of real RTM prestack depth-migrated data.


Geophysics ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. S81-S93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail M. Popov ◽  
Nikolay M. Semtchenok ◽  
Peter M. Popov ◽  
Arie R. Verdel

Seismic depth migration aims to produce an image of seismic reflection interfaces. Ray methods are suitable for subsurface target-oriented imaging and are less costly compared to two-way wave-equation-based migration, but break down in cases when a complex velocity structure gives rise to the appearance of caustics. Ray methods also have difficulties in correctly handling the different branches of the wavefront that result from wave propagation through a caustic. On the other hand, migration methods based on the two-way wave equation, referred to as reverse-time migration, are known to be capable of dealing with these problems. However, they are very expensive, especially in the 3D case. It can be prohibitive if many iterations are needed, such as for velocity-model building. Our method relies on the calculation of the Green functions for the classical wave equation by per-forming a summation of Gaussian beams for the direct and back-propagated wavefields. The subsurface image is obtained by cal-culating the coherence between the direct and backpropagated wavefields. To a large extent, our method combines the advantages of the high computational speed of ray-based migration with the high accuracy of reverse-time wave-equation migration because it can overcome problems with caustics, handle all arrivals, yield good images of steep flanks, and is readily extendible to target-oriented implementation. We have demonstrated the quality of our method with several state-of-the-art benchmark subsurface models, which have velocity variations up to a high degree of complexity. Our algorithm is especially suited for efficient imaging of selected subsurface subdomains, which is a large advantage particularly for 3D imaging and velocity-model refinement applications such as subsalt velocity-model improvement. Because our method is also capable of providing highly accurate migration results in structurally complex subsurface settings, we have also included the concept of true-amplitude imaging in our migration technique.


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