Transformation to zero offset in transversely isotropic media

摘要

Nearly all dip moveout correction (DMO) implementations to date assume isotropic homogeneous media. Usually, this has been acceptable considering the tremendous cost savings of homogeneous isotropic DMO and considering the difficulty of obtaining the anisotropy parameters required for effective implementation. In the presence of typical anisotropy, however, ignoring the anisotropy can yield inadequate results. Since anisotropy may introduce large deviations from hyperbolic moveout, accurate transformation to zero-offset in anisotropic media should address such nonhyperbolic moveout behavior of reflections. Artley and Hale's (1994) v(z) ray tracing-based DMO, developed for isotropic media, provides an attractive approach to treating such problems. By using a ray-tracing procedure crafted for anisotropic media, the author modifies some aspects of Artley and Hale's DMO so that it can work for v(z) anisotropic media. Application of this anisotropic DMO to data from offshore Africa resulted in a considerably better alignment of reflections from horizontal and dipping reflectors in common-midpoint gather than that obtained using an isotropic DMO. Even the presence of vertical inhomogeneity in this medium could not eliminate the importance of considering the shale induced anisotropy.