How compaction causes misalignment of multiples and false time shifts in time-lapse seismic data

In this paper, I argue that when there are significant overburden time shifts in time lapse-seismic surveys, the time shifts experienced by multiples can exceed those experienced by the surrounding primaries. Such misaligned multiples will lead to an overestimate of true time shifts for the primaries, especially in areas where multiple energy is strong compared to primary energy. This mechanism explains why large time shifts are observed in the underburden, and is supported by both model computations and real observations from the Tyra Field.