Inverse Scattering Series Internal Multiple Attenuation in the Common-Midpoint Domain

Abstract

Internal multiple prediction remains a high-priority problem in seismic data processing, such as subsurface imaging and quantitative amplitude analysis and inversion, particularly in the common-midpoint (CMP) gathers, which contain multicoverage reflection information of the subsurface. Internal multiples, generated by unknown reflectors in complex environments, can be reconstructed with certain combinations of seismic reflection events using the inverse scattering series internal multiple prediction algorithm, which is usually applied to shot records in source–receiver coordinates. The computational overhead is one of the major challenges limiting the strength of the multidimensional implementation of the prediction algorithm, even in the coupled plane-wave domain. In this paper, we first comprehensively review the plane-wave domain inverse scattering series internal multiple prediction algorithm, and we propose a new scheme of achieving 2D multiple attenuation using a 1.5D prediction algorithm in the CMP domain, which significantly reduces the computational burden. Moreover, we quantify the difference in behavior of the 1.5D prediction algorithm for the shot/receiver and the CMP gathers on tilted strata. Numerical analysis of prediction errors shows that the 1.5D algorithm is more capable of handling dipping generators in the CMP domain than in the shot/receiver gathers, and it is able to predict the accredited traveltimes of internal multiples caused by dipping reflectors with small inclinations. For more complex cases with large inclination, using the 1.5D prediction algorithm, internal multiple predictions fail both in the CMP domain and in the shot/receiver gathers, which require the full 2D prediction algorithm. To attenuate internal multiples in the CMP gathers generated by large-dipping strata, a modified version is proposed based on the full 2D plane-wave domain internal multiple prediction algorithm. The results show that the traveltimes of internal multiples caused by dipping generators seen in the simple benchmark example are correctly predicted in the CMP domain using the modified 2D prediction algorithm.