IMPROVED MULTIPLE ATTENUATION IN COMMON DEPTH POINT STACKING

Abstract

Since the introduction of the common depth point method of seismic reflection shooting, we have seen a continued increase in the multiplicity of subsurface coverage, to the point where nowadays a large proportion of offshore shooting uses a 48 fold 48 trace configuration. Of the many benefits obtained from this multiplicity of coverage, the attenuation of multiple reflections during the common depth point stacking process is one of the most important.

Examinations of theoretical response curves for multiple attenuation in common depth point stacking shows that although increased multiplicity does give improved multiple attenuation, this improvement occurs at higher and higher frequencies and residual moveouts (of the multiples) as the multiplicity continues to increase. For multiplicities greater than 12, the improvement is at relatively high frequencies and residual moveouts, while there is no significant improvement for the lower frequencies of multiples with smaller residual moveouts, which unfortunately are those most likely to remain visible after the stacking process.

The simple process of zeroing, or muting, certain selected traces (mostly the shorter offset traces) before stacking can give an average 6 to 9 decibels improvement over a wide range of the low frequency and residual moveout part of the stack response, with 9-15 decibels improvement over parts of this range. The cost of this improvement is an increase in random noise level of 1-2 decibels. With digital processing methods, it is easy to zero the necessary traces over selected portions of the seismic section if so desired.

The process does not require a detailed knowledge of the multiple residual moveouts, but can be used on a routine basis in areas where strong multiples are a problem, and a high stacking multiplicity is being used.