Using numerical models to aid in the seismic imaging of complex geological structures

Abstract

A two dimensional seismic model of a complex geological structure in north-eastern British Columbia was used to optimize acquisition parameters, to evaluate processing techniques, and to aid in the seismic interpretation of acquired seismic data. Synthetic seismic data were acquired using numerical modelling that produced expanding wavefields at each source location, with the surface energy acquired as the source record. This data was processed using pre-stack depth migration from topography using the known velocity model. Various acquisition geometries and migration algorithms were evaluated. A near vertical structure was chosen for comprehensive analysis to track the energy on the wavefields and to identify its location on the source record. Tracking this energy through the migration to final stack enabled an optimisation of the acquisition parameters and the choice of a suitable migration algorithm.