Analysis and removal of spatial noise in 3D seismic surveys

Abstract

Current processing of 3D seismic surveys involves a mixture of 3D techniques and conventional 2D techniques. For example, velocity analysis, residual statics, stacking and migration use 3D methods but it is common practice to use conventional 2D programs for most other aspects of processing. Whilst this is satisfactory in itself, it is possible to use the three dimensional nature of the data to a greater extent than it is presently customary. This paper describes the improvements in data quality which can be obtained by one such technique. The process analyses the spatial properties of the data in order to discriminate between signal and noise and hence to suppress noise that cannot be removed by conventional 2D means.