Detecting artifacts in seismic profiles

Detecting imaging artifacts is a precondition for interpreting seismic profiles, as well as one of the fidelity (accuracy) measures for all seismic images. Based on field seismic reflection profiles, this paper analyzes some common and often miss-interpreted seismic imaging artifacts, and proposes to detect the artifacts through analyzing their origins. From the perspective of seismic imaging process, the origins of seismic imaging artifacts include three main factors: mistaking the signals, imaging distortions and errors in the reference velocity model. Many deceiving artifacts are originated by mistaking the signals in the processing and imaging processes. The imaging distortions are due to insufficiencies in seismic illumination, data frequency bandwidth and assumptions of the imaging methods, leading to smearing and other imaging distortion artifacts; With an erroneous reference velocity model, seismic images may show not only position errors, but also diffraction artifacts at discontinuous positions of seismic impedance. Hence, the measurable elements of the fidelity of seismic images should include resolution, position accuracy and artifact detection. These elements are connected with each other, thus should be evaluated jointly in detecting artifacts, according to the given study objectives and resources available.