Depth Imaging is the preferred seismic imaging tool for today's most challenging exploration and reservoir-delineation projects. In areas of structural or seismic velocity model complexity, many of the assumptions underpinning traditional time-domain processing are invalid and can produce misleading results. Typical situations might be heavily faulted sequences or salt intrusions. In these cases, only the careful application of 3D prestack depth imaging can be relied on to accurately delineate geological structure, aiding risk assessment and helping operators to improve drilling success rates.
Technology
From a technology perspective, high quality depth imaging has two main aspects: the ability to build detailed and accurate velocity models, coupled with a superior imaging algorithm. Ω-Depth provides a comprehensive suite of model building technologies and migration algorithms to solve even the most challenging imaging problems.
Velocity Model Building
Velocity Model Building is a key critical element in imaging the Earth. WesternGeco has wide range of velocity model building algorithms and workflows: from our new high-end Full Waveform Inversion, to our mature but continuously refined reflection tomography, that provide the best high resolution calibrated velocity and anisotropic Earth Models, and our powerful refraction tomographies that detect shallow velocity anomalies. All those algorithms work with any acquisition configuration and can be applied to any geological setting. Also, these computer intensive algorithms are integrated with an interactive graphics environment for rapid and accurate quality control of the interim and final results.
Experience
At WesternGeco we believe that experience is a major component of successful depth imaging. Our depth imaging teams have processed hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of 3D prestack depth migration from hundreds of projects around the world.
The appropriate application and success of any technology depends on the insight and skill of the people who apply it. Our geophysicists and geologists, with their wealth of depth-imaging experience, are perfectly positioned to apply the right technology and know-how with a single objective in mind: to solve complex imaging problems.