Processing Flow for Seismic Reflection Data

Olumide Asojo
2 November 2000

Objective: To combine all traces in each CMP gather into one (to stack them). The stacked trace
represents the time it takes to travel from a surface location (the CMP location) to the reflector and back
along the same path.

Result: A set of stacked traces plotted below the CMP location for each gives an image in time
of the reflecting boundary in the earth.

PURPOSE STEP

Places shot/receiver separations in trace headers. Geometry calculation

Removes traveltime differences due to topography. Static correction

(not needed at Potts' Site)

Refractions cannot be used because the raypaths Mute refractions

are different from reflections.

Finds which frequencies are strongest and may Calculate amplitude spectrum
allow separation into signal and noise.

Removes noise leaving signal (reflections)

Requires a difference in frequency between signal Frequency filtering
and noise  frequency filtering

Finds the velocity necessary to do NMO Velocity analysis

correction (Vrms).

Removes traveltime differences due Normal moveout correction

to different raypaths represented in CMP gather.
After correction, all raypaths are effectively
the same (vertical)

Removes noise leaving signal (reflections) Dip (velocity) filtering

Requires a difference in dip between signal
and noise  dip filtering

1
Stack. Reduces noise, enhances signal. Stack CMP gathers

Broad wavelets are converted to spikey ones,

Deconvolution
improving resolution.

Reduces high frequency noise introduced by

deconvolution. (Not yet done) Time-variant frequency
filtering

Positions dipping events more correctly. Migrate stacked traces

(Not yet done)

This converts from time to depth (something

Depth-convert migrated traces
drillable) (Not yet done)

This processing has produced an image that looks like a geological cross-section.