Over the years, GX Technology (GXT) has become a recognized leader in the area of pre-stack depth imaging, a capability that extends throughout the company’s Image-Driven seismic solutions. Pre-stack depth migration (PreSDM) is a processing technique that moves seismic reflections to their correct locations in space. Although not universally applied in every seismic program, PreSDM is critical in areas where there are significant and rapid lateral or vertical changes in velocity that distort images acquired in the time domain. The Gulf of Mexico is one such area and it was here, in the complex world of sub-salt imaging, that GXT rose to prominence as a leader in advanced PreSDM.
To successfully apply PreSDM techniques, a seismic imaging provider must have advanced capabilities in data conditioning and, especially, in velocity modeling. GXT has developed recognized leadership in both of these areas, and in PreSDM generally, as evidenced by third-party market research.
Since every imaging situation is unique, and hybrid solutions that combine more than one PreSDM approach sometimes yield the best result, GXT offers a comprehensive toolkit of technologies in which solutions include:
- Shot-based wave equation depth migration, to provide the best imaging results for complex geological environments, such as those produced by a rugose top of salt. GXT’s wave equation PreSDM solution does not suffer from problems typically associated with conventional wave equation implementations, such as numerical dispersion, azimuthal anisotropy, or limited dips. GXT’s shot-based wave equation migration can also be applied to extract true 3D reflection angle gathers.
- Kirchhoff depth migration algorithms that have been customized by GXT to be amplitude preserving (and therefore a premier choice for AVO studies), capable of accommodating turning rays (for imaging very steep dips and overhangs), and able to account for anisotropic conditions. A key benefit is that GXT’s Kirchhoff solutions are significantly faster than most other Kirchhoff-based tools employed by the industry.
GXT is committed to maintaining its technological and operational leadership in the area of PreSDM. The company’s Image-Driven approach produces the highest quality seismic images under the most extreme imaging conditions. These detailed, less ambiguous images improve subsurface interpretation even in geologically complex areas, reducing drilling risk for the oil & gas companies. GXT is constantly improving the run-time performance of its sophisticated migration methods without sacrificing the quality of its results. The company aims to deliver “no compromises” images efficiently, on-time, and within budget.
