Least-Squares Reverse-Time Migration of Simultaneous-Source Data

Simultaneous-source recording, where multiple shots are fired at very similar times and recorded by the same receiver array, has been proposed as a method of both improving source sampling and reducing survey acquisition costs. However, this acquisition method complicates the subsequent processing considerably, requiring either data separation or an imaging method capable of accepting simultaneous-source data as input without generating artefacts or crosstalk. In this paper we demonstrate that least-squares reverse-time migration (LSRTM) is a promising candidate algorithm for this application. Using the 3D SEG Advanced Modeling Program (SEAM) salt model we show that LSRTM can effectively image simultaneous-source data suppressing crosstalk while at the same time improving bandwidth.