Specular–diffraction Imaging by Directional Angle Decomposition

This work presents a new seismic imaging system for generating amplitude preserved, three dimensional directional gathers. The proposed directional angle decomposition enables the implementation of both specular and diffraction imaging in real 3D isotropic/anisotropic geological models, leading to simultaneous emphasis on both continuous structural surfaces and discontinuous objects, such as faults and small-scale fractures. Structural attributes at each subsurface point, e.g., dip, azimuth and continuity, can be derived directly from the directional angle gathers. The proposed system is most effective for imaging and analysis below complex structures, such as sub-salt and sub-basalt, high-velocity carbonate rocks, shallow velocity anomalies, and others.