Optimizing SRME Multiple Prediction

3D surface-multiple elimination (SRME) is a powerful method for complex 3D multiple attenuation. However, since standard 3D marine acquisition geometries are very coarsely sampled across line, interpolation of the pre-stack input data is often required. To reduce the high costs associated to this operation, we propose an analysis tool useful to determine the optimal SRME processing parameters. By using multiple ray-paths modeling, we extracted two attributes which both help to select areas where 2D SRME would likely fail and an application of 3D SRME is preferable for good prediction of multiples. Moreover, when 3D SRME is selected, the locations of downward reflection points (DRP) of the multiples and the aperture of the Fresnel zones around the DRP for the multiple contributions summation allow to reduce the survey area to be interpolated, achieving also a better control of aliasing. The reliability and accuracy of the proposed analysis tool is tested through application to a real marine data set.