High-resolution frequency-domain Radon transform and variable-depth streamer data deghosting

Abstract

Receiver ghost reflections adversely affect variable-depth streamer (VDS) data acquisition. In addition, the frequency notches caused by the interference between receiver ghosts and primary waves strongly affect seismic data processing and imaging. We developed a high-resolution Radon transform algorithm and used it to predict receiver ghosts from VDS data. The receiver ghost reflections are subtracted and removed from the raw data. We propose a forward Radon transform operator of VDS data in the frequency domain and, based on the ray paths of the receiver ghosts, we propose an inverse Radon transform operator. We apply the proposed methodology to model and field data with good results. We use matching and subtracting modules of commercially available seismic data processing software to remove the receiver ghosts. The frequency notches are compensated and the effective frequency bandwidth of the seismic data broadens.