One-way wave equation seismic prestack forward modeling with irregular surfaces

Abstract

Mathematical geophone (MG) and equal-time stacking (ETS) principles are used to implement seismic prestack forward modeling with irregular surfaces using the one-way acoustic wave-equation. This method receives seismic primary reflections from the subsurface using a set of virtual MGs. The receivers can be located anywhere on an irregular observing surface. Moreover, the ETS method utilizes the one-way acoustic wave equation to easily and quickly image and extrapolate seismic reflection data. The method is illustrated using high single-noise ratio common shot gathers computed by numerical forward modeling of two simple models, one with a flat surface and one with an irregular surface, and a complex normal fault model. A prestack depth migration method for irregular surface topography was used to reproduce the normal fault model with high accuracy.