Joint interferometric imaging of walkaway VSP data

Abstract

In this paper, we image the subsurface reflectors by interferometric imaging using primary and downgoing first-order free-surface related multiple reflections in walkaway VSP data. By analyzing the stack fold distribution, we find that primary-direct interferometric imaging has a smaller image range, but its stack fold is higher near the well while ghost-direct interferometric imaging is the opposite. We try to solve this problem by the joint interferometric imaging of walkaway VSP data, combining primary-direct interferometric imaging with ghost-direct interferometric imaging. In this way, we can effectively widen the imaging range, simultaneously increase the fold (especially near the well), suppress spurious interference, and improve the image SNR, so that we can get a more credible image. Test results on synthetic walkaway VSP data and field data show that joint interferometric imaging is very effective.