Characteristics of Virtual Reflection Images in Seismic Interferometry Using Synthetic Seismic Data

To characterize virtual reflection images of deep subsurface by the method of seismic interferometry, we analyzed effects of offset range, ambient noise, missing data, and statics on interferograms. For the analyses, seismic energy was simulated to be generated by a 5 Hz point source at the surface. Vertical components of particle velocity were computed at 201 sensor locations at 100 m depths of 1 km intervals by the finite difference method. Each pair of synthetic seismic traces was cross-correlated to generate stacked reflection section by the conventional processing method. Wide-angle reflection problems in reflection interferometry can be minimized by setting a maximum offset range. Ambient noise, missing data, and statics turn to yield processing noise that spreads out from virtual sources due to stretch mutes during normal moveout corrections. The level of processing noise is most sensitive to amplitude and duration time of ambient noise in stacked sections but also affected by number of missing data and the amount of statics.