The Effects of Marine Data Acquisition Practices on Imaging in Complex Geological Setting - Modeling Study

Interpreting seismic images in complex geological settings still remains a challenging task. Poor illumination, poor signal-to-noise ratio and high level of uncertainty are some of the imaging issues in complex marine environments such as subsalt Gulf of Mexico and West Africa, sub-basalt and pre-salt offshore Brazil and others (Howard et al., 2007; Ver West et al., 2007). Billet et al. (2010) point out that seismic technology evolution going beyond WAZ geometries needs further progress on both the acquisition and processing fronts. In this abstract we present results of a modeling exercise and show the effects that survey design choices have on the final image beneath the salt. We change individual acquisition parameters and observing the impact on the image as well as consequences of processing and velocity model building. Besides qualitative notions on what survey design choices have most influence we are also assessing steps needed towards quantifying the uncertainty.