Target-oriented Imaging Using Active and Passive Interferometry

Target oriented imaging uses seismic interferometry to suppress overburden effects, improving resolution and image quality. Interferometry can be used to construct data that can be processed by standard imaging algorithms or it can be included as part of the depth imaging operator. When these approaches are applied to active source and passively recorded data, the resulting images show the target in high resolution. Although the image extent is limited in 2D or 3D to a small target zone, the added resolution allows detailed interpretations that are difficult to achieve with non-interferometric methods. This approach is illustrated with two real data examples. In a microseismic monitoring project from West Texas, images derived from microseismic events have energy in excess of 400 Hz giving resolution of a few feet. In a VSP salt flank imaging example from the Texas Gulf Coast, virtual shot gathers derived from single shots are used to delineate the salt flank with improved resolution over other methods.