• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2013

The one-way wave equation migration is much more computationally efficient comparing with reverse time migration and it can provide better image than the migration algorithm based on the ray theory. We have developed the prestack depth migration module adopting (GS) propagator designed for vertical transverse isotropic media. Since GS propagator considers the higher-order term by expanding the Taylor series of the vertical slowness in the thin slab of the phase-screen propagator, the GS migration can offer more correct image for the complex subsurface with large lateral velocity variation or steep dip. To verify the validity of the developed GS migration module, we analyzed the accuracy with the order of the GS propagator for VTI media (GSVTI propagator) and confirmed that the accuracy of the wavefield propagation with the wide angles increases as the order of the GS propagator increases. Using the synthetic seismic data, we compared the migration results obtained from the isotropic GS migration module with the anisotropic GS migration module. The results show that the anisotropic GS migration provides better images and the improvement is more evident on steeply dipping structures and in a strongly anisotropic medium.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2016

Migration image can be distorted due to reflected waves in the source and receiver wavefields when discontinuities of input velocity model exist in seismic imaging. To remove reflected waves coming from layer interfaces, it is a common practice to smooth the velocity model for migration. If the velocity model is smoothed, however, the subsurface image can be distorted because the velocity changes around interfaces. In this paper, we attempt to minimize the distortion by reducing reflection energy in the source and receiver wavefields through acoustic impedance homogenization. To make acoustic impedance constant, we define fake density model and use it for migration. When the acoustic impedance is constant over all layers, the reflection coefficient at normal incidence becomes zero and the minimized reflection energy results in the improvement of migration result. To verify our algorithm, we implement the reverse-time migration using cell-based finite-difference method. Through numerical examples, we can note that the migration image is improved at the layer interfaces with high velocity contrast, and it shows the marked improvement particularly in the shallow part.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.41-53
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• 2018

In the traditional seismic processing, multiple reflections are treated as noise and therefore they are eliminated during data processing. Recently, however, many studies have begun to consider multiples as signals rather than noise for seismic imaging. Multiple reflections can illuminate an area where primary reflections are not able to cover, thus it is allowed that a smaller number of shots and receivers are used for imaging large areas. In order to verify this, surface-related multiples were used for reverse-time migration (RTM), and then we compared the results with conventional RTM images which are generated from primary reflections. To utilize multiples, we separated multiples from whole seismic data using surface-related multiple elimination (SRME) method. Numerical examples confirmed that the migration using multiples can image wider area than the conventional migration, particularly in the shallow subsurface layers. In addition, the migration of multiples could eliminate the acquisition footprints.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.74-84
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• 2015

To yield physically meaningful images through elastic reverse-time migration, the wavefield separation which extracts P- and S-waves from reconstructed vector wavefields by using elastic wave equation is prerequisite. For expanding the application of the elastic reverse-time migration to anisotropic media, not only the anisotropic modelling algorithm but also the anisotropic wavefield separation is essential. The anisotropic wavefield separation which uses pseudo-derivative filters determined according to vertical velocities and anisotropic parameters of elastic media differs from the Helmholtz decomposition which is conventionally used for the isotropic wavefield separation. Since applying these pseudo-derivative filter consumes high computational costs, we have developed the efficient anisotropic wavefield separation algorithm which has capability of parallel computing by using GPUs (Graphic Processing Units). In addition, the highly efficient anisotropic elastic reverse-time migration algorithm using MPI (Message-Passing Interface) and incorporating the developed anisotropic wavefield separation algorithm with GPUs has been developed. To verify the efficiency and the validity of the developed anisotropic elastic reverse-time migration algorithm, a VTI elastic model based on Marmousi-II was built. A synthetic multicomponent seismic data set was created using this VTI elastic model. The computational speed of migration was dramatically enhanced by using GPUs and MPI and the accuracy of image was also improved because of the adoption of the anisotropic wavefield separation.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.112-124
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• 2018

Ocean-bottom seismic survey is a seismic acquisition technique which measures data by installing 4-component receiver on the sea floor. It can produce more improved data in quality than any other acquisition techniques. In the ocean-bottom seismic survey, however, the number of receivers is limited due to high cost. Since only a small number of receivers are used for acquisition, ocean-bottom seismic data may suffer from discontinuities of events over traces, which can result in spatial aliasing. In this paper, we implemented Kirchhoff migration using mirror-imaging algorithm to improve the quality of ocean-bottom seismic image. In order to implement the mirror imaging algorithm, the seismograms should be separated into up-going and down-going wavefields and the down-going wavefield should be used for migration. In this paper, we use the P-Z summation method to separate the wavefield. Numerical examples show that the migration results using mirror imaging algorithm have wider illumination than the conventional migration, especially in the shallow layers.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2020

The acquisition and processing of long-offset data are essential for imaging deep geological structures in marine seismic surveys. It is challenging to derive an accurate subsurface image by employing conventional data processing to long-offset data owing to the normal moveout (NMO) stretch and non-hyperbolic moveout phenomena induced by seismic anisotropy. In 2017, the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources conducted a simultaneous two-dimensional multichannel streamer and ocean-bottom seismic survey using a 5.7-km streamer and an ocean-bottom seismometer to identify the deep geological structure of the Ulleung Basin. Herein, the actual geological subsurface structure was obtained via the sequential iterative updating of the velocity and anisotropic parameters of the long-offset data obtained using a multichannel streamer, and anisotropic prestack Kirchhoff migration was performed using the updated velocity and anisotropic parameters as input parameters. As a result, the reflection energy in the long-offset traces, which showed non-hyperbolic moveout owing to seismic anisotropy, was well aligned horizontally and NMO stretches were also reduced. Thus, a more precise and accurate migrated image was obtained, minimizing the distortion of reflectors and mispositioned reflection energy.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2016

Coarray is a parallel processing technique introduced in the Fortran 2008 standard. Coarray can implement parallel processing using simple syntax. In this research, we examined applicability of Coarray to seismic parallel processing by comparing performance of seismic data processing programs using Coarray and MPI. We compared calculation time using seismic wave propagation modeling and one to one communication time using domain decomposition technique. We also compared performance of parallel reverse-time migration programs using Coarray and MPI. Test results show that the computing speed of Coarray method is similar to that of MPI. On the other hand, MPI has superior communication speed to that of Coarray.

• Geophysics and Geophysical Exploration
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.171-182
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• 2018

We performed the seismic field data processing using an open-source software (Madagascar) to verify if it is applicable to processing of field data, which has low signal-to-noise ratio and high uncertainties in velocities. The Madagascar, based on Python, is usually supposed to be better in the development of processing technologies due to its capabilities of multidimensional data analysis and reproducibility. However, this open-source software has not been widely used so far for field data processing because of complicated interfaces and data structure system. To verify the effectiveness of the Madagascar software on field data, we applied it to a typical seismic data processing flow including data loading, geometry build-up, F-K filter, predictive deconvolution, velocity analysis, normal moveout correction, stack, and migration. The field data for the test were acquired in Gunsan Basin, Yellow Sea using a streamer consisting of 480 channels and 4 arrays of air-guns. The results at all processing step are compared with those processed with Landmark's ProMAX (SeisSpace R5000) which is a commercial processing software. Madagascar shows relatively high efficiencies in data IO and management as well as reproducibility. Additionally, it shows quick and exact calculations in some automated procedures such as stacking velocity analysis. There were no remarkable differences in the results after applying the signal enhancement flows of both software. For the deeper part of the substructure image, however, the commercial software shows better results than the open-source software. This is simply because the commercial software has various flows for de-multiple and provides interactive processing environments for delicate processing works compared to Madagascar. Considering that many researchers around the world are developing various data processing algorithms for Madagascar, we can expect that the open-source software such as Madagascar can be widely used for commercial-level processing with the strength of expandability, cost effectiveness and reproducibility.