PreStack Depth

Migration (PSDM)
 Where PSDM Stand?
Typical Processing

1. Demultiplex
2. Edit
3. F-K filtering
4. Sort
5. Elevation Statics
6. Deconvolution
7. NMO correction
8. Mute
9. Static corrections
10. Velocity analysis and stack
11. Additional F-K filtering
12. Filtering
13. Migration PSDM
14. Zero-phasing
15. Final filter for display

PreStack Depth Migration

 Where PSDM Stand?
Typical Processing
PSDM
1. Demultiplex
2. Edit
3. F-K filtering
4. Sort
5. Elevation Statics
6. Deconvolution
7. NMO correction
8. Mute
9. Static corrections
10. Velocity analysis and stack
11. Additional F-K filtering
12. Filtering
13. Migration
14. Zero-phasing
15. Final filter for display

PreStack Depth Migration

 ‣ A processing technique that moves seismic
reflections to their correct locations in space.
‣ Critical in areas where there are significant and
rapid lateral or vertical changes in velocity that
distort images acquired in the time domain.

‣ Eg: The Gulf of Mexico and thrusted parts of the

Rocky Mountains.

PreStack Depth Migration

 Results of PSDM

PSDM PSTM

PreStack Depth Migration

 PreStack Depth
Migration

‣ PSDM is the current and cutting-edge

method that is eagerly practiced
‣ The conventional method is PSTM
‣ PSDM is preferred as it can produce better
quality image in complex structure (salt and
fault complexity)

PreStack Depth Migration

 PreStack Depth
Migration Algorithms
Wavefield Extrapolation Migration

Kirchhoff PreStack Depth Migration

Reverse Time Migration (RTM)

Common Azimuth Wavefield Extrapolation Migration

Beam Migration

Enhanced Migration Amplitude Normalisation

PreStack Depth Migration

PSDM vs PSTM
PreStack Depth Migration
 Comparison
Prestack DEPTH migration Prestack TIME migration

• Done after PSTM • Image is not clear enough

• Has better imaging • Better lateral resolution
• More accurate • Better coherency
• Can interpret complexity
structures
• More interpretative

PSDM is done after PSTM

Both needs high quality data

PreStack Depth Migration

 Midpoint (km) Midpoint (km)

PSTM PSDM

PreStack Depth Migration

 PSTM using commercial processing system

PreStack Depth Migration

 Image of faults using PSDM

PreStack Depth Migration

 Over thrust model of PSTM

PreStack Depth Migration

 Over thrust model of PSDM
PreStack Depth Migration
 PSTM PSDM
PreStack Depth Migration
PreStack Depth Migration
 Advantages of PSDM

✓ Can be used at complex subsurface.

✓ Precise and accurate seismic solution.

✓ Clear expressions/images.

✓ Reduce structures positioning errors.

PreStack Depth Migration

 Disadvantages of PSDM
๏ More expensive compared to others.
๏ Time consuming.
๏ Sometimes cannot handle any reliable
amplitude data.
๏ Requires a good geologically velocity model.
๏ Results are not really representative in highly
complex tectonic.

PreStack Depth Migration

Reverse Time
Migration

PreStack Depth Migration

 Pre-Stack Reverse Time
Depth Migration
✓ Aims to construct an image of subsurface from
reflection image recording
✓ Base on full wave seismic modelling on numerical grid.
✓ Made up 2 processes :
+ seismic forward modelling
+ reverse time modelling of shot record
(time sample ➔ model scheme at their respective position as boundary condition)

PreStack Depth Migration

 Reverse Time Depth Migration Model

QuickTime™ and a
H.264 decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

PreStack Depth Migration

 Forward-Reverse
Modelling

‣ High amplitude attribute in

the respective subsurface
location
QuickTime™ and a
H.264 decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
‣ Down-going wave field
from the source side and
Up-going wave field
towards the receivers at
the same time

PreStack Depth Migration

 The Picture at Vertical Incidence
Earth

Reflection Coefficient
Z 2- Z 1
R 1=
Z 2+ Z 1

Acoustic Impedance

Z = Velocity X Density

1 +R i
Z i + 1= Z i
1 - R i

PreStack Depth Migration

 Impedance Reflection Wavelet Wavelet Recorded Seismic
Earth
Coefficients Superposition Trace Section

Forward Process

PreStack Depth Migration

 Seismic Reflection Deconvolved Integrated
Impedance Wavelet
Section Coefficients Section Section

Inverse Process
PreStack Depth Migration
 Below shows reprocessing and RTM providing better imaging of the pre-salt data,
and better imaging and truncations of the sediments on the salt flanks

Conventional Migration

RTM Migration

PreStack Depth Migration

 PreStack Migration
Comparison
Conventional Reverse Time Migration
๏ Propagating data downward ๏ Propagate both events (downward and
through a velocity model into the upward) through earth model
earth ๏ Explicitly handling turning wave and
๏ Limit by structure complex propagation wave

๏ Velocity field generate more ๏ Allow imaging of poor direct

illumination of subsurface
complex arrival like prism wave
that cause noise in image data ๏ More accurate focusing, positioning
and amplitudes in complex areas
๏ Improved imaging of complex plays
- Steep dips
- Complex overburdens, regardless of
dip or rugosity

PreStack Depth Migration

Kirchhoff Algorithm
PreStack Depth Migration
 What Is
Kirchhoff Algorithm

‣ Apply integral method

‣ Widely used in the industries
‣ Accept high angles : 90˚
‣ Accept turning waves (more than 90˚)
‣ Preserves amplitude

PreStack Depth Migration

 The Equation of
Kirchhoff Algorithm

•
V (M ) = ∫∫ w (ξ,M )U (ξ,τ
Ω D (,M ))dξ1dξ 2

V (M ) = M igrated Im age at point M

w (ξ ,M )= M igration W eighting  Function

•
U (ξ ,τ D (,M ))= Tim e−differentiated  seism ic  data

PreStack Depth Migration

 The Use Of
Kirchhoff Algorithm

‣ to better repositioning of data

‣ to better imaging accuracy / repositioning
‣ improve seismic image at steeply dipping
subsurface structures

PreStack Depth Migration

 Simplifying Flat
Common
Source Mid-Point Receiver

Bedrock Reflection
Point

PreStack Depth Migration

 Sometimes, Not Flat!
Common
Mid-Point

ro ck
d
Be

PreStack Depth Migration

 The Migration

PreStack Depth Migration

 The Upside
✓ Enhance image quality
✓ Distinctive subsurface structures
✓ Fidelity of the algorithm
✓ Good on handling lateral velocity
changes

PreStack Depth Migration

 The Downside

๏ Migration artifacts
๏ Migrate non-primary
๏ Damage primary
reflections
๏ Sensitive to errors in
migration velocity
๏ Time consuming (3D)
๏ High cost
Migration Noise

PreStack Depth Migration

Wavefield Extrapolation
Migration

PreStack Depth Migration

 What Is W.E.M

★ A new generation of more advanced

algorithms
★ Base on Wave Equation Migration (WEM)
★ Improvement over Kirchhoff method in
image quality
★ Implement differential solutions base on
downward extrapolation

PreStack Depth Migration

 Superior Image of W.E.M

PreStack Depth Migration

 Concept of W.E.M

PreStack Depth Migration

 Finite-difference Explicit solutions

Split-step Fourier Implicit solutions

PreStack Depth Migration

 Concept of W.E.M

PreStack Depth Migration

 Single-arrival Kirchhoff
impulse response

Which one
is
‘which’?

Shot profile
migration of WEM

PreStack Depth Migration

 Propagation Effects

Diffraction,
multiple arrivals,
amplitude decay in
shadow zone

PreStack Depth Migration

 Advantages
• Can tolerate irregular acquisition geometry
• Accurate dips handling up to 90° showing
superior imaging
• High quality at low frequency
• Cost effective

PreStack Depth Migration

 Can tolerate irregular
acquisition geometry

Detailed interpretation
of an intensely faulted
base salt event

PreStack Depth Migration

 Advantages
• Can tolerate irregular acquisition geometry
• Accurate dips handling up to 90° showing
superior imaging
• High quality at low frequency
• Cost effective

PreStack Depth Migration

PreStack Depth Migration
 Advantages
• Can tolerate irregular acquisition geometry
• Accurate dips handling up to 90° showing
superior imaging
• High quality at low frequency
• Cost effective

PreStack Depth Migration

 Kirchhoff Migration W.E.M

PreStack Depth Migration

 Advantages
• Can tolerate irregular acquisition geometry
• Accurate dips handling up to 90° showing
superior imaging
• High quality at low frequency
• Cost effective

PreStack Depth Migration

 Limitation of WEM

๏ Relied most on Velocity model

๏ Expensive yet preferable

PreStack Depth Migration

Case Study (1)
PreStack Depth Migration
 Mona Lisa
• Marine and Onshore North Sea Acquisition for
Lithospheric Seismic Analysis (MONALISA)
• Pre-Permian sedimentary basins (SE North Sea)
have been previously interpreted from potential
field data but only poorly imaged on seismic
sections obtained.
• It is due to the presence of salt layers and a thick
Mesozoic and Cenozoic cover

PreStack Depth Migration

 North Sea

PreStack Depth Migration

 Solutions
๏ Reprocessing using pre-stack depth migration of
sections of MONA LISA deep seismic has
successfully imaged pre-Permian sequences
whose exploration in the North Sea has been
historically unknown.

๏ The difficulties in seismic imaging, are such as

the overburden geology, and the presence of
Zechstein salt.

PreStack Depth Migration

 Seismic Before and After PSDM

PreStack Depth Migration

 Interpretation from PSDM data

PreStack Depth Migration

 Interpretation from PSDM data

section, The Boundaries,NBR: near basement reflectionPU: Perm

ozoic section White: Pre-Permian basinLight grey: basement

PreStack Depth Migration

 Summary
✓ The standard processing at lithospheric scale
features can lead to degradation of the seismic
information in the upper crust.
✓ Reprocessing with PSDM of the upper crustal
sections seismic gives considerable amounts of
new information such as their lithology
boundaries and sections.

PreStack Depth Migration

Case Study (2)
PreStack Depth Migration
 PSDM
method
applied:
✓ Kirchhoff PreSDM
✓ W.E. Migration

PreStack Depth Migration

 N

Figure 1: Field layout of the 3D seismic survey

conducted over the salt structure.

PreStack Depth Migration

 Early procedures
Gravity survey detected onshore salt
body.

2D seismic survey conducted-obtain

more subsurface information

Wells are drilled, oil & gas producing

sands were discovered from depths
within 3000-10000 ft.
PreStack Depth Migration
 Figure 2: 3D prestack time
migration (preSTM) section of a
crossline, located near the center
of the survey area.

The subsalt reflections are poorly

focused and not correctly
positioned spatially by the
preSTM.

Figure 2: PSTM

PreStack Depth Migration

 PSTM Kirchhoff PSDM

Figure 2: PSTM Figure 3:

Kirchhoff preSDM image of the same crossline

6
PreStack Depth Migration 6
 Kirchhoff W.E.M

Figure 4:
Figure 3: Kirchhoff PSDM
The salt flanks exhibit a small improvement
compared to the Kirchhoff image.
6
PreStack Depth Migration 7
 Kirchhoff W.E.M

The Kirchhoff preSDM of an inline section, A more enhanced image of the subsalt
highlighting the subsalt depth interval of structure. It is apparent that there is structure
between 11,900 and 25,500 feet. beneath the salt body forming a rollover or
structural high.

PreStack Depth Migration

 Kirchhoff PSDM

The Kirchhoff preSDM image of a crossline shows a very good

image of the base salt
PreStack Depth Migration
 W.E.M PSDM

The W.E. preSDM image shows not only a good base-of-salt

image, but also better defined subsalt reflections.
PreStack Depth Migration
 Summary
• The Kirchhoff preSDM method will continue to be
the preferred choice for prestack depth imaging.

• Need to understand the capabilities and limitations

of each PSDM method.

• Wave equation method, is not as a replacement, but

as a complementary technology to Kirchhoff.

PreStack Depth Migration

 Conclusion
PreStack Depth Migration
 Conclusion

✓ Production depth imaging combines established

Kirchhoff technology with new-generation
wavefield extrapolation migrations.

✓ The two technologies are complementary.

PreStack Depth Migration

 Q&A
PreStack Depth Migration