US Patent 7764571 Vector 3-component 3-dimensional Kirchhoff prestack migration

An apparatus and a method for migration of three components, 3-Dimensions seismic (3-C, 3-D) data acquired by down-hole receivers and surface seismic sources. This method utilizes full 3 components reflection wave field. It uses a dynamic, vector energy mapping method to image a reflection position and maps each time sample only to its reflected image point. Therefore, this method reduces unwanted data smearing and false mirror images. This method overcomes the weakness of using only a single component trace or pre-rotated three-component traces in the 1-C or 3-C 3-D VSP migration and produces better 3-D image.