Velocity analysis using zero-offset attributes in common source domain

Abstract

SUMMARY Velocity analysis is one of the most critical stages in seismic data processing and the velocity errors influence the accuracy of the imaging. The conventional workflows, to obtain the migration velocity model, are generally labour intensive and time consuming. An experienced processor is needed to pick the velocities in the velocity spectrum. In this paper, we introduce another approach to obtain the velocity model using the first derivative of time with respect to offset (local slopes) in one domain, common source domain. In this time- effective approach, one order of differentiation has been reduced from the previous velocity analysis in common source domain, using zero-offset attributes. This velocity analysis and imaging are being done at the same time. There is no need to have any velocity model prior to imaging in this approach. The accuracy of the velocity analysis method is more robust than the previous technique because of the reduction in order of the derivatives needed. Computational experiments with synthetic seismic data examples confirm the theoretical expectations and demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed technique.