3D velocity-independent elliptically anisotropic moveout correction

Abstract Azimuthal anisotropy or lateral velocity variations cause azimuthal variations in moveout velocity, which can degrade seismic images if handled improperly. In cases in which apparent azimuthally anisotropic moveout is present, a single picked velocity is inadequate to flatten an event on a 3D CMP gather. Conventional velocity-analysis techniques require a significant amount of time and effort, especially in areas where apparent anisotropy is observed. We propose a velocity-independent imaging approach to perform an elliptically anisotropic moveout correction in three dimensions. The velocity-independent approach relies on volumetric local traveltime slopes rather than aggregate velocities and therefore provides an azimuthally flexible description of traveltime geometries throughout the gather. We derive theoretical expressions for extracting the moveout slowness matrix and the angle between the symmetry and acquisition axes as volumetric local attributes. A practical inversion scheme to extract the same parameters is also developed. These parameters are used to solve for moveout slowness as a function of azimuth. Tests on a synthetic common-midpoint (CMP) gather show accurate results for the automatic moveout correction and the inversion scheme. A field data example from west Texas illustrates the application of the automatic moveout correction as a residual moveout.