Structural uncertainty of time-migrated seismic images

Conclusions

We have estimated structural uncertainty in seismic time-domain images simultaneously with performing prestack time migration. To accomplish this task, we projected the uncertainty in migration velocity picking into the structural uncertainty by measuring the structural sensitivity of seismic images to velocity. The latter measure is provided by velocity continuation, which serves both as an imaging tool and as a tool for sensitivity analysis. Field data examples show that structural uncertainties can be significant even in the case of mild structures and slow velocity variations. Taking these uncertainties into account should improve the practice of seismic structural interpretation by making it more compliant with risk-management assessment in reservoir characterization.