Data-driven retrieval of primary plane-wave responses.

Area of Science:

• Geophysics
• Seismic Imaging
• Exploration Geophysics

Background:

• Seismic images from reverse time migration (RTM) are often degraded by artifacts from migrating multiples.
• These multiples cause false positives and negatives, corrupting seismic data and hindering accurate subsurface interpretation.
• Existing multiple prediction methods, typically using point source gathers, are computationally intensive for large-scale problems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a computationally efficient algorithm for synthesizing primary seismic reflections.
• To enable multiple-free imaging using plane-wave reverse time migration (PW-RTM).
• To adapt data-driven methods for handling plane-wave datasets, reducing computational load.

Main Methods:

• Adapted a data-driven point source gather method using convolutions and cross-correlations.
• Incorporated plane-wave concepts into the data-driven approach.
• Developed an algorithm for fully data-driven synthesis of primary plane-wave reflections.

Main Results:

• Successfully synthesized primary plane-wave responses from reflection data.
• Demonstrated the capability of the algorithm to produce multiple-free images using PW-RTM.
• Numerical tests confirmed the effectiveness with a limited number of plane-wave datasets.

Conclusions:

• The proposed algorithm offers a computationally attractive solution for multiple-free seismic imaging.
• It enables accurate primary reflection synthesis from plane-wave data, reducing artifacts.
• The method shows significant potential for improving seismic data processing and interpretation in complex geological settings.