Non-conventional techniques to build and enhance RTM images - a land case study

When acquiring seismic information, several constraints can emerge that have an impact on image construction such as low coverage, offset, environmental noise, etc. When processing this information, time conditioning for subsurface imaging is as important as image construction itself.

This work summarizes the application of non-conventional techniques to construct an RTM image on Full-Azimuth Land seismic data which target area is close to water bodies limiting the seismic coverage.

The procedure involves conditioning the input data to migration, in this case a new approach has been designed to overcome the low coverage limitation by regularizing and interpolating pre-plot locations on the target area. This is achieved by using Matching Pursuit Fourier Interpolation (MPFI) algorithm which reduces migration noise in the target area with irregular or very poor coverage and most important, faithfully constructing subsurface images honoring structures and geologic features.

Post-imaging enhancement processes are normally applied to improve the interpretability of complex structures and in this work a new approach has been designed. After building the subsurface image, a modified approach of Optimum Weighted Stack (OWS) has been applied using the RTM azimuth-offset sections or Vector Image Partitions (VIPs).