IPA18-466-SG

PROCEEDINGS, INDONESIAN PETROLEUM ASSOCIATION

Forty-Second Annual Convention & Exhibition, May 2018

THE APPLICATION OF PSDM VTI METHOD TO GENERATE A VELOCITY MODEL THAT

CAN SOLVE THE MISTACKING PROBLEM

Aulia Ahmad Nafis*

Hasan Nurudin**
Ikhsan Hanurogo**
Bagus Sapto M*
Ahmad Zaenudin*

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION

Complex geology setting and strong lateral
velocity variations creates the mistacking problem
in fault shadow area which happens due to lateral
varying velocities across the fault area and the
reflectors will have distortion because on one side
of the fault the velocities are slow and the other
side are fast, therefore the reflectors will not stack
properly. The PSDM Vertical Transverse Isotropy
(VTI) method is able to solve mistacking because
the velocity model which is used in this method
will be more accurate. To make an accurate
velocity model estimation, it is required a method
that can represent the real earth condition. And an
anisotropic PSDM method is considered to solved
this problem. In this case we use Vertical
Transverse Isotropy (VTI) model for Anisotropic
analysis because this model is able to explain the
anisotropic effect simply on the sediment layer.
The data processing is divided into two parts
namely isotropic PSDM to flatten near offset
gather (angle mute <30 degree) and anisotropic
PSDM to flatten far offset gather (angle mute >30
degree). Then some parameter which play an
important role to make more accurate velocity
estimation are Thomsen’s parameter (delta and
epsilon), CIP Pick (RMO), Dip Estimation and
Tomography (CIP Diff and Z tomo) and the
accuracy of the velocity model estimation is
controlled by flatness gather and gamma
synthetic. The velocity has a good accuracy with
the flatness gather and gamma synthetic as the
controlling factors shows less error, after that the
final velocity model is used for depth migration
process to compare the seismic image before and
after doing the method. And for the result, PSDM
VTI method shows that the result of the velocity
model is closer to the real condition and able to
flatten the gather until far offset therefore the
mistacking problem can be resolved
* University of Lampung
** ElnusaTbk.
To generate an accurate subsurface image using a
seismic method, it needs a velocity model that is able
to define appropriately the velocity of wave
propagation in the subsurface. The velocity model
that is generated by PSTM Method become
inaccurate when encountering complex geology
setting and strong lateral velocity, so it will cause a
mistake in imaging the subsurface. In this case, there
will be a mistacking problem in the area that is
shadowed by fault. Due to the lateral changes in
velocity as we pass across a fault plane, we will have
distortion in the gathers causing mistacking and
distortion of the reflectors, creating a shadow area
around the fault (schulte,2012) as in Figure 1 which
shows the mistacking problem. In addition to the
above problems, common seismic imaging (isotropic
media assumptions) assume that the materials have
same characteristic in all directions — they have no
orientation, and we can make measurements in any
direction and get the same result. The earth is not
only heterogeneous (waves propagate at different
velocities at different locations), but also anisotropic
(propagation velocity is a function of propagation
direction) (Robein, 2016)he assumption of isotropic
media, cannot define the difference of the velocity
that propagates based on its direction. And it will
make the CDP gather have hockey stick effect as in
Figure 2 that causes mistacking to be worse than
before.
To solve this problem, an accurate velocity interval
and anisotropic assumption will be more appropriate
to define the velocity of wave propagation.
Therefore, depth migration with anisotropic
assumption will generate the velocity model which
can image the subsurface close to the real condition
of the subsurface. The Transverse Isotropy method is
seen as a simple anisotropic approach but effective in
determining anisotropic effect, because Transverse
Isotropy has one symmetry pole and analyzes the
anisotropic effect based on its symmetry axis so it is
suitable to use in sediment layer. This research will
use one of the Transverse Isotropy methods which is
VTI (Vertical Transverse Isotropy).
METHODS
The processing data will be done with two processes,
namely isotropic PSDM and anisotropic PSDM.
Velocity model from isotropic PSDM process will
flatten the gather on near offset (<30 degree) and
velocity model from anisotropic PSDM process at far
Offset (> 30 Degree), angle mute 30 degree boundary
shown as yellow line in Figure 2.
1. Velocity model from isotropic PSDM
 Convert Vrms to Vinterval
Vrms will be converted to Vinterval by using
Dix Transformation. Dix (1955) derives the
equation for travel time by considering raypath
bending. Converting vrms to vint is done by
using a dix transform which can be explained
by the equation:
∗ ∗
 Gather Preparation and Common Image Point
Pick (CIP Pick)
Gather Preparation will eliminate multiple in
the data with radon transform, therefore CIP
Pick will not identify the multiple as an event.
The result of the gather will be given a
30degree angle mute for PSDM Isotropic and
it will be larger every iteration process until far
offset (PSDM anisotropic). Then CIP Pick will
identify the event on the seismic gather
automatically and calculate the amount of time
residual (Δt) to flatten the gather
 Dip structure estimation
Dip structure estimation is used to estimate
the shape of the subsurface structure in the
form of positive and negative value
information. Dip structure estimation is
required in doing tomography, therefore it
represent the real subsurface structure.
 CIP Diff danZtomo
CIP Diff and Z Tomo is a Tomography
operation where CIP Diff will work to create
a tomography equation while Z Tomo will
solve the equation. Tomography is used in
the refinement of a velocity model with the
deviation of the velocity value on the initial
model as a reference, where the initial model
will be analyzed the time residual (Δt) in
mathematical equations. CIP Diff will make
the equations and the relationship from the
change of velocity with attention to the result
of CIP Pick, Velocity and Dip Estimation.
Then the equation that is made by CIP Diff
will be solved by Ztomo with the Damping
Factor as a controller, the higher damping
factor then the smaller change of velocity.
Tomography in this research is using the grid
tomography method, so the value of change
of the velocity will be reviewed to each grid,
which is determined by observing dipping
event that made by the dip structure
estimation. The more iteration is done, the
smaller the grid will be created so that the
results are more focused. The change of
velocity should not be greater than 10%, if
more than that then the change of velocity is
considered inaccurate.
VRMS is generated from PSTM data(Figure
3), after iteration of processing to flatten the
near offset gathers and generate the final
Isotropic Vinterval (Figure 4)
2. Velocity model from anisotropic PSDM
The isotropic gather and isotropic velocity will be
used to process anisotropic PSDM, and the step in
doing the next iteration of the processing is the same
as isotropic PSDM but the velocity model will input
value ε and δ (thomsen parameter) as anisotropic
parameter). δ (delta) is the thomsen parameter that
influences the velocity in the vertical direction and it
is most influential vertically so that it is often called
depthing parameter, with the equation:
δ
2
Ɛ (Epsilon) is the thomsen parameter that influences
for the velocity at far offset and it’s often called
elliptical parameter, which can be explained by the
equation:
ɛ
2
The result of thomsen parameter estimation can be
seen in Figure 5(Delta) and Figure 6 (Espilon). It
shows the distribution of thomsen parameter which
will be input into the velocity before the refinement
of the velocity. The process will take 3 times iteration
to flatten the gather until far offset. The results of the
VTI Velocity Interval can be seen in Figure 7.
RESULT AND DISCUSSION
 QC of the velocity model
The velocity model QC result was done by
looking at gather and gamma analysis. The
Isotropic PSDM will flatten the gather with angle
mute under 30 degrees. The gather is initially not
flat (Figure 8) After third iteration of PSDM
anisotropic process, the gather at far offset
becomes flat. In Figure 8 there is still a hockey
stick effect and after the anisotropic PSDM is
done, the far offset is flat as shown in Figure 9. In
addition to the gather, we need another controller
for QC, then it used gamma analysis, where
gamma static analysis will assess the accuracy of
the velocity based on the depth scale. The farther
from the middle indicates a larger error so it can
be considered the smaller error value show that
the velocity is more appropriate. As shown in
Figure 10 where the image (a) of gamma initial
show the error is still large. Then after the gather
is made to be flat until far offset, the error value
in figure (b) is reduced than before, so it shows
refinement from the value of the velocity.
 PSTM and PSDM VTI Comparison
To ensure that the mistacking problem has been
resolved, the final velocity model will be used in
migration process and compared with the section
before process. In this research that resulted of
mistacking occurs caused by strong lateral
velocity due to the fault then create a distorted
wave. With the PSDM method that use the
velocity interval, it will define the strong lateral
velocity well so mistacking can be avoided. The
results of Anisotropic PSDM processing
showed a much better image than PSTM
(Figure 11). In PSTM section, there is still a
mistacking problem along the fault plane. Once
The PSDM VTI applied, the reflector become
more continues and improve image quality
(Figure 12).
With this method, errors in estimating the
velocity and the anisotropic effect present in the
area is resolved and able to generate better
image of the subsurface structure (Figure 12).
The mistacking issues is resolved by this
method
CONCLUSIONS
1 PSDM VTI process generate more accurate
and accurate velocity model
2 The application of PSDM VTI method
resolved the mistacking problem and generate
better images
3 The used of velocity intervals and estimation
of anisotropic effects make the velocity model
more accurate
REFERENCES
Dix, C. H. 1955. Seismic Velocities from Surface
Measurements. Geophysics 20. Exploratorium.
2013. Faultline Seismic Science at The Epicenter.
Etienne, R. 2016. On the Use of Epsilon and Delta
in Anisotropic Velocity Model. EAGE E-Lecture
Schultze, B. 2012. Overview of The Fundamentals
of Imaging. CSEG Recorder. Talisman Energy:
Calgary
Figure1 - The mistackingisdue to the strong lateral varying velocities across the fault creates distortion around
the fault plane and the reflectors will not stack properly, on one side of the fault the velocities are
fast and on the other side they are slow (Schulte, 2012).
Figure 2 - On this CDP Gather we will find Hockey Stick Effect where gather on far offset will be curved like
hockey stick due to difference of the velocity based on its direction, this resulted in the seismic
section do not stack properly
Figure 3 - Velocity RMS is generated by PSTM process. In this case Velocity RMS will be converted into initial interval velocity therefore we can make initial velocity
model
Figure 4 – After the of velocity model is done by PSDM method as much as 1 time iteration so we will get interval velocity that we can call it as Velocity Isotropy because
this velocity model has not given an analysis of anisotropic effect
Figure 5 - δ (delta) is the Thomsen parameter that influences the velocity in the vertical direction and it is most influential vertically so that it is often called depthing
parameter
Figure 6 - Ɛ (Epsilon) is the Thomsen parameter that influences for the velocity at far offset and it’s often called elliptical parameter
Figure 7 - After the process of PSDM VTI is complete, the final velocity model that generated by the process will be used in migration, so the improvement of image can
be compared
Figure 8 - Before PSDM VTI is applied, we can see that the reflector on this gather is not flat particularly on the far offset (hockey stick effect) . If the gather is not flat,
the reflector will not stack properly and caused mistaking
Figure 9- After PSDM VTI is applied, the final velocity model can define the velocity of wave propagation on the subsurface appropriately, therefore the reflector on this
gather has been flat until far offset (there is no longer hockey stick effect).
Figure 10 (a) - Gamma static analysis will assess the accuracy of the velocity based on the depth scale. Before
PSDM VTI is applied, the gamma static indicates large error value
Figure 10 (b) - Gamma static after PSDM VTI is closer to the middle and it indicates an improvement to the
velocity model which has less error value than before. So it can be considered that the velocity
is more appropriate
Figure 11 -The yellow box shows before the PSDM VTI is applied, the reflectors are affected by mistacking.

Figure 12 - After PSDM VTI is applied the reflectors have a better continuity which increase the image
quality. The velocity model after PSDM VTI defines better velocity of wave propagation.