A new multidimensional method that eliminates internal multiples that interfere with primaries, without damaging the primary, without knowledge of subsurface properties, for off-shore and on-shore conventional and unconventional plays

Multiple removal is a longstanding problem in exploration seismology. Many methods have been developed including: stacking, FK filter, Radon transform, deconvolution and Feedback loop. They make statistical assumptions, assume move-out differences, or require knowledge of the subsurface and the generators of the multiples (e.g., Foster and Mosher, 1992; Verschuur et al., 1992; Berkhout and Verschuur, 1997; Jakubowicz, 1998; Robinson and Treitel, 2008; Wu and Wang, 2011; Meles et al., 2015; da Costa Filho et al., 2017; Lomas and Curtis, 2019). As the industry moved to deep water and more complex on-shore and off-shore plays, these methods bumped up against their assumptions. The Inverse Scattering Series (ISS) internal-multiple-attenuation algorithm (Araújo et al., 1994, Weglein et al., 1997 and Weglein et al., 2003) made none of the assumptions of previous methods (listed above) and stands alone, and is unique in its effectiveness when the subsurface and generators are complicated and unknown. It is the only multi-dimensional internal-multiple-removal method that can predict all internal multiples with exact arrival time and approximate amplitude without requiring any subsurface information. When internal multiples and primaries are isolated, the ISS internal-multiple-attenuation algorithm is usually combined with an energy-minimization adaptive subtraction to remove internal multiples. For isolated internal multiples, the ISS attenuator combined with energy-minimization adaptive subtraction is successful and effective. However, when internal multiples are proximal to and/or interfering with primaries or other events, the criteria behind energy-minimization adaptive subtraction can fail (e.g., the energy can increase rather than decrease when a multiple is removed from a destructively interfering primary and multiple). With interfering events, energyminimization adaptive subtraction can lead to damaging the target primary, which is the worst possible outcome. In this paper, we provide the first multi-dimensional ISS internal-multipleelimination algorithm that can predict both the correct time and amplitude of internal multiples. This is an important part of a three-pronged strategy proposed by Weglein at the 2013 SEG International Conference (Weglein 2014). Herrera and Weglein (2012) proposed a 1D ISS internal-multiple-elimination algorithm for all first-order internal-multiples generated at the shallowest reflector. Y. Zou and Weglein (2014) then went further and developed and illustrated an elimination algorithm that can eliminate all first-order internal multiples generated by all reflectors for a 1D earth. In this paper we provide the first multidimensional ISS internal-multiple-elimination method that can remove internal multiples interfering with primaries, without subsurface information, and without damaging the primary. We also compare the ISS elimination result with ISS attenuation plus energy-minimization adaptive subtraction for an interfering primary and internal multiple. This ISS internalmultiple-elimination algorithm is more effective and more computeintensive than the current most capable ISS attenuation-plusadaptive-subtraction method. We provide it as a new capability in the multiple-removal toolbox and a new option for circumstances when this type of capability is called for, indicated and necessary. That can frequently occur in offshore and onshore conventional and unconventional plays. We are exploring methods to reduce the computational cost of these ISS attenuation and elimination algorithms, without compromising effectiveness.