High Performance Computational Seismic Imaging in Complex Scattering Environments

Seismic waves propagating through complex subsurface structures produce data that is challenging to interpret. This problem has been investigated in the context of seafloor canyons and rocks saturated with multiple fluids types. For rocks saturated with multiple fluids, elastic finite-difference modelling shows the full range of behaviour observed in experimental data without invoking more complex rock physics models. Quantitative analysis describes seafloor canyon geometries that violate seismic imaging assumptions. Given a correct velocity model, depth migration or reverse time migration usually mitigate prism waves and imaging distortions caused by seafloor canyons.