ErSE260: Seismic Imaging (3-0-3) 

We introduce the concept of seismic imaging in the framework of wavefield extrapolation and the imaging condition. We look at the various migration methods including Kirchhoff, phase-shift migration, Downward continuation methods, reverse time migration and others. We look at the impact of velocity and the role of imaging in estimating the velocity model.

Time and Place: 

• Lecture: Monday 2:30 - 3:55 pm & Thursday 2:30 - 3:55 pm, Bldg#1, Room#3309

• Lab: Thursday 10:30 - 12:30pm if needed, Bldg#1, Room#3309

Texts: Class notes (CN) + Theory of Seismic Imaging (TSI) by John Scales. The book can be downloaded freely from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/221678352_Theory_of_Seismic_Imaging

Additional References: Imaging the Earth Interior by Jon Claerbout can be downloaded freely from            

http://sepwww.stanford.edu/sep/prof/iei/toc_html/

Additional Websites: http://www.reproducibility.org/wiki/Main_Page

Assignments: Based on Madagascar open source package

Grading Policy: Exams will represent 50% of the final course grade. There will be one midterm exam and one (final) exam in the lecture part of the course. Homework and a final project will represent the remaining 50% of the final course grade and will consist of a series of homework exercises designed to help you learn the essence of seismic imaging. Individual homework exercises (10%) will be designed to complement our progress in class and it will include codes to achieve parts of what learned. These exercises are preparatory for the understanding of the concept that is compiled into a final formally written report (40%) that will be submitted at the end of the course.

General Course Expectations: Learn the fundamentals of Seismic Imaging and the theoretical framework of many of its components.

Overview: This course is devoted to the concept of seismic imaging for exploration purposes. We introduce seismic imaging in the framework of Green’s functions and wavefield extrapolation and discuss the various imaging conditions. We look at the various migration methods including Kirchhoff, phase-shift migration, Downward continuation methods, reverse time migration, and others. We discuss the role that velocity plays in the seismic imaging process.