A New Generalized Screen Propagator for Wave Equation Depth Migration

We revisit the extrapolation operator for wave equation depth modelling and migration in the frequency-wavenumber domain, and propose a new generalized screen propagator which can handle both steep dipping angles as well as large lateral velocity variations. A simple controlled ZO-data set associated with a dipping reflector of 60 degrees and strong velocity contrasts was depth-migrated employing a 1st order version of the new generalized screen propagator. The method reconstructed the dipping reflector accurately and with negligible distortions. Alternative use of the Split Step Fourier (SSF) and the 1st order Extended Local Born Fourier (ELBF) techniques, gave in both cases much distorted images of the same model.