Compilation of material published 1983-2004.

This is an informal review of the principle techniques and issues associated with prestack depth imaging. The intended audience for this book would be those seismic interpreters, processors, managers, and explorationists who require basic familiarity with the technology that has so greatly expanded the range of geologic structures that can be successfully imaged. The emphasis of the book is on velocity-model building techniques that are the key to successful depth imaging.

A 3D velocity model is built with a both geophysical and geologic input because of the accuracy demands of depth imaging, so it becomes an increasingly effective interpretive tool. This book addresses ways in which the interpreter should participate in development of the model and underscores its interpretive value with case study examples.

This book presents a comprehensive overview of relative fidelity preservation processing methods and their applications within the oil and gas sector. Four key principles for wide-frequency relative fidelity preservation processing are illustrated throughout the text. Seismic broadband acquisition is the basis for relative fidelity preservation processing and the influence of seismic acquisition on data processing is also analyzed. The methods and principles of Kirchhoff integral migration, one-way wave equation migration and reverse time migration are also introduced and illustrated clearly. Current research of relative amplitude preservation migration algorithms is introduced, and the corresponding numerical results are also shown. RTM (reverse time migration) imaging methods based on GPU/CPU systems for complicated structures are represented. This includes GPU/CPU high performance calculations and its application to seismic exploration, two-way wave extrapolation operator and boundary conditions, imaging conditions and low frequency noise attenuation, and GPU/CPU system based RTM imaging algorithms. Migration velocity model building methods in depth domain for complicated structures are illustrated in this book. The research status and development of velocity model building are introduced. And the impacting factors are also discussed. Several different velocity model building methods are also represented and analyzed. The book also provides the reader with several case studies of field seismic data imaging in different kinds of basins to show the methods used in practice.

The use of diffraction imaging to complement the seismic reflection method is rapidly gaining momentum in the oil and gas industry. As the industry moves toward exploiting smaller and more complex conventional reservoirs and extensive new unconventional resource plays, the application of the seismic diffraction method to image sub-wavelength features such as small-scale faults, fractures and stratigraphic pinchouts is expected to increase dramatically over the next few years. “Seismic Diffraction” covers seismic diffraction theory, modeling, observation, and imaging. Papers and discussion include an overview of seismic diffractions, including classic papers which introduced the potential of diffraction phenomena in seismic processing; papers on the forward modeling of seismic diffractions, with an emphasis on the theoretical principles; papers which describe techniques for diffraction mathematical modeling as well as laboratory experiments for the physical modeling of diffractions; key papers dealing with the observation of seismic diffractions, in near-surface-, reservoir-, as well as crustal studies; and key papers on diffraction imaging.

What is the important geologic information recorded in Thrust Belts and Foreland Basins (TBFB) on the evolution of orogens? How do they transcript the coupled influence of deep and surficial geological processes? Is it still worth looking for hydrocarbons in foothills areas? These and other questions are addressed in the volume edited by Lacombe, Lavé, Roure and Vergés, which constitutes the Proceedings of the first meeting of the new ILP task force on "Sedimentary Basins", held in December 2005 at the Institut Français du Pétrole, on behalf of the Société Géologique de France and the Sociedad Geologica de España. This volumes spans a timely bridge between recent advances in the understanding of surface processes, field investigations, high resolution imagery, analogue-numerical modelling, and hydrocarbon exploration in TBFB. With 25 thematic papers including well-documented regional case studies, it provides a milestone publication as a new in-depth examination of TBFB.

Authored by the internationally renowned José M. Carcione, Wave Fields in Real Media: Wave Propagation in Anisotropic, Anelastic, Porous and Electromagnetic Media examines the differences between an ideal and a real description of wave propagation, starting with the introduction of relevant stress-strain relations. The combination of this relation and the equations of momentum conservation lead to the equation of motion. The differential formulation is written in terms of memory variables, and Biot's theory is used to describe wave propagation in porous media. For each rheology, a plane-wave analysis is performed in order to understand the physics of wave propagation. This book contains a review of the main direct numerical methods for solving the equation of motion in the time and space domains. The emphasis is on geophysical applications for seismic exploration, but researchers in the fields of earthquake seismology, rock acoustics, and material science - including many branches of acoustics of fluids and solids - may also find this text useful. New to this edition: This new edition presents the fundamentals of wave propagation in Anisotropic, Anelastic, Porous Media while also incorporating the latest research from the past 7 years, including that of the author. The author presents all the equations and concepts necessary to understand the physics of wave propagation. These equations form the basis for modeling and inversion of seismic and electromagnetic data. Additionally, demonstrations are given, so the book can be used to teach post-graduate courses. Addition of new and revised content is approximately 30%. Examines the fundamentals of wave propagation in anisotropic, anelastic and porous media Presents all equations and concepts necessary to understand the physics of wave propagation, with examples Emphasizes geophysics, particularly, seismic exploration for hydrocarbon reservoirs, which is essential for exploration and production of oil