Abstract: Methods and systems described herein are directed to determining properties of a subterranean formation using an acoustic wave-equation with a novel formulation in terms of a velocity model and a reflectivity model of the subterranean formation. The acoustic wave equation may be used with full-waveform inversion to simultaneously build velocity and reflectivity models of a subterranean formation. The velocity and reflectivity models may be employed for quantitative interpretation. The velocity and reflectivity models may be employed to determine impedance and density of the subterranean formation for prospectivity assessment. The acoustic wave equation may be also used with least-squares reverse time migration in the image or data domains, to build a reflectivity model of the subterranean formation with enhanced resolution and amplitude fidelity.

Abstract: Methods and systems described herein are directed to determining properties of a subterranean formation using an acoustic wave-equation with a novel formulation in terms of a velocity model and a reflectivity model of the subterranean formation. The acoustic wave equation may be used with full-waveform inversion to build high-resolution velocity and reflectivity models of a subterranean formation. The acoustic wave equation may be also used with least-squares reverse time migration in the image and space domains, to build a reflectivity model of the subterranean formation with enhanced resolution and amplitude fidelity. The velocity and reflectivity models of materials that form the subterranean formation reveal the structure and lithology of features of the subterranean formation and may reveal the presence of oil and natural gas reservoirs.

Abstract: Methods and systems described herein are directed to determining properties of a subterranean formation using an acoustic wave-equation with a novel formulation in terms of a velocity model and a reflectivity model of the subterranean formation. The acoustic wave equation may be used with full-waveform inversion to build high-resolution velocity and reflectivity models of a subterranean formation. The acoustic wave equation may be also used with least-squares reverse time migration in the image and space domains, to build a reflectivity model of the subterranean formation with enhanced resolution and amplitude fidelity. The velocity and reflectivity models of materials that form the subterranean formation reveal the structure and lithology of features of the subterranean formation and may reveal the presence of oil and natural gas reservoirs.

Abstract: Crosstalk attenuation for seismic imaging can include creation of a seismic image based on seismic data including multiples. The seismic image can include causal crosstalk and anti-causal crosstalk. Causal crosstalk and anti-causal crosstalk can be predicted based on the seismic data. The predicted causal crosstalk and the predicted anti-causal crosstalk can be attenuated from the seismic image.

Abstract: Methods and systems of generating seismic images from primaries and multiples are described. Methods separate pressure data into up-going pressure data and down-going pressure data from pressure data and vertical velocity data. Irregularly spaced receiver coordinates of the down-going and up-going pressure data are regularized to grid points of a migration grid and interpolation is used to fill in down-going and up-going pressure data at grid points of the migration grid. A seismic image is calculated at grid points of the migration grid based on the interpolated and regularized down-going pressure data and the interpolated and regularized up-going pressure data. The seismic images are high-resolution, have lower signal-to-noise ratio than seismic images generated by other methods, and have reduced acquisition artifacts and crosstalk effects.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a technological process for identifying a potential subsurface structure below a body of water. Three-dimensional seismic sensor data that includes at least two measured components is obtained. Up-going and down-going wavefields comprising multiples wavefields are constructed from the three-dimensional seismic sensor data by applying wavefield separation. The up-going and down-going wavefields are extrapolated to a reflector surface below a water bottom. An imaging condition is applied at the reflector surface to generate images that include information from the multiples wavefields. Angle gathers are constructed, where each angle gather is constructed by gathering the images generated using the multiples wavefields for a range of illumination angles. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and systems of generating seismic images from primaries and multiples are described. Methods separate pressure data into up-going pressure data and down-going pressure data from pressure data and vertical velocity data. Irregularly spaced receiver coordinates of the down-going and up-going pressure data are regularized to grid points of a migration grid and interpolation is used to fill in down-going and up-going pressure data at grid points of the migration grid. A seismic image is calculated at grid points of the migration grid based on the interpolated and regularized down-going pressure data and the interpolated and regularized up-going pressure data. The seismic images are high-resolution, have lower signal-to-noise ratio than seismic images generated by other methods, and have reduced acquisition artifacts and crosstalk effects.

Abstract: This disclosure presents computational systems and methods for obtaining high-resolution, three-dimensional seismic images of a region of a subterranean formation using separated up-going and down-going wavefields that include primary and multiple reflections obtained by processing dual-sensor towed streamer seismic data. The inclusion of multiple reflections reduces acquisition footprints in migration of the seismic data. The computational systems and methods produce high-resolution images in a region of a subterranean formation that lies below a body of water. The methods and systems employ a digitally encoded wavefields constructed from a discrete sampling of a two-dimensional slice of a three-dimensional wavefield and stored in one or more tangible, physical data-storage devices.

Abstract: Crosstalk attenuation for seismic imaging can include creation of a seismic image based on seismic data including multiples. The seismic image can include causal crosstalk and anti-causal crosstalk. Causal crosstalk and anti-causal crosstalk can be predicted based on the seismic data. The predicted causal crosstalk and the predicted anti-causal crosstalk can be attenuated from the seismic image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging subterranean formations using primary and multiple reflections are described. An exploration-seismology vessel tows a seismic source, a receiver acquisition surface located beneath a free surface, and a source acquisition surface positioned at a depth below the source. The receiver acquisition surface is used to measure pressure and normal velocity wavefields and the source acquisition surface is used to measure direct, down-going, source pressure wavefields generated by the source. The down-going source pressure wavefields in combination with the down-going pressure wavefields and up-going pressure wavefields computed from the pressure and velocity wavefields are used to compute images of the subterranean formation associated with primary reflections and multiple reflections.

Abstract: One embodiment relates to a technological process for identifying a potential subsurface structure below a body of water. Three-dimensional seismic sensor data that includes at least two measured components is obtained. Up-going and down-going wavefields comprising multiples wavefields are constructed from the three-dimensional seismic sensor data by applying wavefield separation. The up-going and down-going wavefields are extrapolated to a reflector surface below a water bottom. An imaging condition is applied at the reflector surface to generate images that include information from the multiples wavefields. Angle gathers are constructed, where each angle gather is constructed by gathering the images generated using the multiples wavefields for a range of illumination angles. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure presents computational systems and methods for obtaining high-resolution, three-dimensional seismic images of a region of a subterranean formation using separated up-going and down-going wavefields that include primary and multiple reflections obtained by processing dual-sensor towed streamer seismic data. The inclusion of multiple reflections reduces acquisition footprints in migration of the seismic data. The computational systems and methods produce high-resolution images in a region of a subterranean formation that lies below a body of water. The methods and systems employ a digitally encoded wavefields constructed from a discrete sampling of a two-dimensional slice of a three-dimensional wavefield and stored in one or more tangible, physical data-storage devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging subterranean formations using primary and multiple reflections are described. An exploration-seismology vessel tows a seismic source, a receiver acquisition surface located beneath a free surface, and a source acquisition surface positioned at a depth below the source. The receiver acquisition surface is used to measure pressure and normal velocity wavefields and the source acquisition surface is used to measure direct, down-going, source pressure wavefields generated by the source. The down-going source pressure wavefields in combination with the down-going pressure wavefields and up-going pressure wavefields computed from the pressure and velocity wavefields are used to compute images of the subterranean formation associated with primary reflections and multiple reflections.