Static Correction

Kuang He
November, 2006

What is this all about?

In seismic data processing, usually we
need to do stacking.
Rugged topography and complex near
surface layer are some of the important
challenges that we face in seismic data
processing.

In-class exercise: Why the hyperbola looking?

static correction
Often called statics, a bulk shift of a
seismic trace in time during seismic
processing.

Vertical static shift

Also called velocity replacement
An easy way to do the static correction

Steps to do vertical static shift

choosing a datum
selecting a velocity to
represent the traveltime
between the actual elevation
and the datum
computing the vertical
traveltime in this replacement
layer
applying the time shift to the
corresponding input trace.

Snells Law
i1: angle of incidence
i2: angle of refraction
v1, v2: velocities
For v2>>v1, i1

Wave-equation datuming
A more advanced method
Advantage: using the wave equation
datuming is more accurate than the
vertical static shift datuming, especially for
areas where the velocity contrast between
the near surface and the substratum is not
large.

Wave-equation datuming
Ref: [Berryhill 1979]
It uses the Kirchhoff integral formulation of
the wave equation
It is also called downward and upward
continuation

Wave-equation datuming
A simplification used: only to consider the
upgoing traces by halving all the velocities

Huygens principle
What is Huygens principle?

 Conceptually, each detector is replaced by

a small loudspeaker which plays back the
seismic signal previously recorded at that
location; the output trace simply
represents what one would hear at the
output location with all the loudspeakers
operating at once.

Kirchhoff theorem

Implementation of the algorithm

A model exhibiting a water bottom with irregular

topography and a large velocity contrast

An attempt to remove the effect of the water

bottom from the synthetic data solely by vertical
time shifts

The result of changing the datum of the synthetic

seismogram from sea level to coincide with the
water bottom, employing a wave-equation method

The result of changing the datum of Figure g from the water

bottom back to sea level, using a wave-equation method
and substituting 7000 ft/sec in place of the velocity of water.
This achieves a perfect correction.

The result of changing the datum from the water

bottom to a flat elevation beneath the water bottom.

Our own implementation of the

wave-equation datuming

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concrete tunnel floor

Thank you!