Patent ID: 8289809

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for migrating 3D seismic data to create depth images of reflector surfaces in a subsurface region where azimuth information at each image point is desired for petroleum exploration or production, said method comprising performing steps (a)-(c) one data trace at a time: (a) for each combination of the trace's corresponding seismic source and receiver locations and an image point, using a ray-based imaging method to determine direction angles at the image point of a first seismic ray connecting the source to the image point and of a second seismic ray connecting the receiver location to the image point; (b) geometrically determining mathematical relationships from which an azimuthal angle at the image point of a plane defined by each first and second seismic ray pair can be solved knowing the ray direction angles; (c) migrating the seismic data trace into data volumes labeled by a common azimuthal angle of the rays at each image point, wherein said common azimuthal angle is the azimuthal angle from (b) defined relative to a selected zero direction; wherein (a), or (c), or both are performed using a computer; and (d) outputting the migrated image as represented by data volumes of common azimuthal angle at each image point.