ON THE MIGRATION OF REFLECTION TIME CONTOUR MAPS *

A bstract After the sampling of a reflection time contour map, i.e. after times and time gradients at the grid points of a square sampling grid have been determined, its conversion into true depth contours can be performed by normal incidence ray tracing. At each grid point the spatial orientation of the ray is uniquely defined by a corresponding time gradient vector, whereas its continuation into the subsurface is controlled by Snell's law. For arbitrarily orientated velocity interfaces the 3 – D ray tracing problem can systematically be solved with the aid of vector algebra, by expressing Snell's law as an equation of vector cross products. This allows to set up a computer algorithm for migration of contour maps. Reliable sampling of reflection time contour maps in the presence of faults is essential for the realization of a practical map migration system. A possible solution of the relevant sampling problem requires a special map editing and digitization procedure. Lateral migration shifts cause a translation and distortion of the original sampling grid. On the transformed grid the true positions of faults can be related to their apparent ones on the reflection time contour map. Errors in the time domain correlations or an incorrect velocity distribution or a combination of both these effects may cause migration failures due to total reflection and time deficiencies, or give rise to an anomalous distortion of grid cells, the latter signifying a violation of the maximum convexity condition. Emphasis is placed upon the significance of map migration as an interpretive tool for solving time to depth conversion problems in the presence of severely faulted or salt intruded overburdens.