Seismic Processing Velocities - Geophysics

This course is about seismic velocities, especially as related to seismic processing and 3D seismic exploration. Each presentation contains hand-created graphics, illustrated to explain the concepts. The presentations are separated into 9 individual presentations. The users will better understand the importance of proper seismic velocities and how doing it wrong can severely harm your interpretation. But how using the right velocities, in the right procedures, can greatly help image the subsurface as well as find horizontal layering and vertical fractures.

Parts 1 & 2: Introduction to standard NMO velocities and multiples. How are velocities picked and how to avoid multiples.

Parts 3-5: Fundamental differences between time migration velocities and depth migration velocities. Why depth migration is required for areas with lateral velocity variations. How migrated gathers are affected. What are velocity sags and pull-ups? How to build a traditional sub-salt velocity model.

Parts 6 & 7: Tomography and Full Waveform Inversion. How they are used in depth migration to improve psdm velocity fields. How are gathers affected before and after tomo and fwi? Simple graphics explain each concept.

Parts 8 & 9: Anisotropy. VTI, HTI. Anisotropy can be used to help find horizontal rock layering and vertical fracturing. How does anisotropy look on seismic data?

Bonus - Part 10: merging multiple volumes

Additional Bonus! I narrate a real 2D land seismic project. You will see the geological motivation behind the project, the seismic acquisition and equipment, the key steps in the seismic processing and images of the final migration. You will understand why most areas of the results are terrific while a small portion is poorly imaged. The project is located in an area of sparse seismic activity - South Dakota in USA.