Refined field static corrections in near‐surface reflection profiling across rugged terrain

Abstract

Deriving effective static (elevation and weathering) corrections is more difficult for near‐surface high resolution seismic reflection surveys than for deeper profiling investigations; reflections tend to be less continuous and frequencies much higher in the former. In his three‐part tutorial series on static corrections (TLE, January‐March 1993), Dave Marsden provides a comprehensive account of problems associated with computing land‐based static corrections and proposes various methods for resolving them. In particular, he stresses the importance of using intermediate floating datums in regions of floating topography in order to keep field static corrections as small as possible before the calculation and application of NMO corrections. Furthermore, he suggests a running average of receiver elevations over the active spread length as an appropriate intermediate floating datum. After application of NMO, further time shifts to bring the data from the floating datums to final flat datums may be applied; th...