The influence of seismic data processing workflows on diffraction images created by migration operators: standard workfl ow and with preservation of scattered waves

Abstract

Background and aim. Scattered waves are used to create diffraction seismic images. Within this work, two different seismic data processing scenarios were studied in order to determine their impact on diffraction images obtained using migration transformations.

Materials and methods. The real data went through a standard processing graph oriented on refl ected waves, and they were also processed within another processing graph with maximum preservation of the scattered component. In the work on that specific example we evaluate the possibility of using various processing scenarios to construct reliable diff raction images got by target-oriented asymmetric migration operator.

Results and conclusions. As a result, diffraction images of the target area are constructed from these data sets. From a comparative analysis of the constructed diffraction images we conclude that from data processed with a focus on reflected waves it is difficult, and in some places impossible, to construct reliable diffraction images, therefore it is necessary to carry out processing focused on scattered waves. Also, we conclude from that analysis that diffraction images obtained from data with the preservation of the scattered component are more reliable compared to the results for data a` er a standard processing graph, and they can be used for interpretation.