Reverse-Time Migration (RTM) is an ultra high-end prestack two-way wave-equation migration for accurate imaging in and below areas with both great structural and velocity complexities, such as sedimentary areas with steep salt inclusions. RTM has a proven track record for generating final images and is increasingly used for refining structural boundaries during velocity model building.
RTM computes numerical solutions to the complete wave-equation. As such, it has no dip limitation and handles all complex waveform multi-pathing, including caustics and prismatic waves. Historically, RTM was deemed impractical due to high computational costs and a greater sensitivity to velocity and reflectivity parameters than the more established one-way downward-continuation methods. However, our massive parallel compute clusters, coupled with more accurate velocity model building workflows (e.g. using i2i), now make RTM a viable option in the imaging portfolio.
RTM has been extended to incorporate vertical transverse isotropy (VTI) and, recently, tilted transverse isotropy (TTI), and is fully compliant with the latest multi- wide- and full-azimuth geometries.
Reverse time migration (RTM) has increasingly become the high-end final migration of choice in areas of the greatest structural and velocity complexity.
Related references
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Fletcher, R., Fowler, P., Kichenside, P., Albertin, U. (2006):
Suppressing unwanted internal reflections in prestack reverse-time migration. Geophysics, vol 71, no. 6, pp E79-E82.
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Fletcher, R. F. Fowler, P. Kitchenside, P. Albertin, U:
Suppressing artifacts in prestack reverse time migration, Extended Abstracts, 75th SEG Conference & Exhibition, November 2005.
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