Gaussian Beam migration: a viable alternative to Kirchhoff?

Abstract

Gaussian Beam migration is an elegant, accurate, and efficient depth migration method. It has the ability to image complicated geologic structures with fidelity exceeding that of single-arrival Kirchhoff migration, and approaching that of wave-equation migration. In fact, for very steep dips, the accuracy of Gaussian Beam migration can exceed that of most wave-equation migrations. The method also has the important advantage that it can readily account for the presence of anisotropy.