As the requirements for higher resolution subsurface images increase, the technique of wide azimuth marine (WAZ) data acquisition has become increasingly common. The promise of this technique is to provide oil companies with enhanced images, especially in areas with complex geology such as the Gulf of Mexico. In order to attain optimal imaging results from wide azimuth surveys the application of advanced data processing techniques is necessary. As a known leader in depth imaging, GXT has developed a set of tools to address WAZ data processing.
Key tools within GXT's WAZ portfolio include:
Wide azimuth 3D SRME. A process that attenuates multiples found in marine data sets. Based on the work of a consortium at Delft University, the GXT implementation has optimal application in wide azimuth settings
Wide azimuth tomography. Estimates the sedimentary velocity field. GXT uses a combination of Kirchhoff, beam and reverse time migration to build offset and angle gathers used in this tomographic inversion, front-ended by a robust automatic picking program.
Wide azimuth reverse time migration. Acquisition geometries of wide azimuth surveys are ideally suited for RTM due to low shot count and high fold. Because RTM works on common shot gathers it enables efficient processing of wide azimuth data.
