Internal multiple modelling and subtraction to reduce the risk in quantitative interpretation: An overview of the challenge, initial assessment, and way forward.

What is the business value that internal multiple technology can bring at the seismic quantitative interpretation stage? This is the question that we ought to start answering, as we move the internal multiple prediction and attenuation technology from a mostly academic pursuit to a standard part of seismic processing. For years, internal multiples have been neglected in seismic processing. This means that a large majority of the data used for interpretation and analysis are contaminated with these events. This contamination is not always easy to identify. For example, it can appear too weak compared to nearby primaries, interfere with them, or have enough strength and coherency –increasing the risk of interpreting them as real horizons. Furthermore, interference can create false dimming or brightening of events, obstructing quantitative analysis. We believe that there is untapped business value in utilizing and further developing internal multiple technology.