Imaging complex structures with first-arrival traveltimes

Published as SEP Report, 84, 1-10 (1995)

Imaging complex structures with first-arrival traveltimes

Dimitri Bevc

dimitri@sep.stanford.edu

Abstract:

I present a layer-stripping Kirchhoff migration algorithm which is capable of obtaining accurate images of complex structures by downward continuing the data and imaging from a lower datum. I use eikonal traveltimes in a Kirchhoff datuming algorithm for the downward continuation. After downward continuation, I perform Kirchhoff migration. The method alternates steps of datuming and imaging. Because traveltimes are computed for each step, the adverse effects of caustics, headwaves, and multiple arrivals do not develop. In principal, this method only requires the same number of traveltime calculations as a standard migration. Tests on the Marmousi data set produce excellent results.