MIGRATION OF SEISMIC INTERFACES *

A bstract Most interpretation work is still based on stacked and not on migrated sections. In the case of heavy faulting and considerable velocity contrasts between formations, migration of interpreted interfaces poses a problem. In more detail, the problem may be specified as follows: — a given interpretation of a number of interfaces along with a given heterogeneous velocity field may not always have a plausible solution in the form of migrated interfaces in depth; — fault planes, salt boundaries, etc., are, in most cases, not directly interpretable in a section and are plotted by intuition using interface terminations as a guide; — the velocity field in fault zones is, in most cases, hard to determine. The interpreter may arrive at a plausible solution by repeating the migration process with various possible interpretations and various velocity assumptions. The subject of this paper is an algorithm based on ray‐theory which allows one: — to handle faults and velocity variations at faults properly; — to perform migration in steps, working a particular geological unit at a time and proceeding to the next unit once the foregoing one has been properly migrated; — to display ray‐paths, where necessary, for investigation of interface distortions, e.g., below fault areas. The algorithm is designed and implemented for application in an interactive environment. Inspection of intermediate and final results, investigation of interface distortions and modifications are performed on a graphics screen. Thus, various possible interpretations and velocity assumptions may be investigated within a short time. Interfaces interpreted on migrated sections may be over‐migrated because of neglection of the influence of refraction in most section migration programs. This over‐migration may also be corrected using the above algorithm in the “image ray” mode.