Imaging beneath Basalts in the Norwegian Sea Using RTM Tomography and Least Squares RTM

Summary Sedimentary basins with prospectivity potential beneath volcanic intrusions occur in many parts of the world. However, the rugosity and high-impedance contrast of the basalt create significant challenges in imaging sub-basalt structures. Two-way wave equation techniques may be employed to address the complex multipathing that occurs during propagation of the wavefield through basalt. This is illustrated by the successful application of common offset RTM (COR) tomography and least squares RTM to a 3D data set from northwest Europe. The use of these techniques has improved the imaging and the velocity model within and beneath the basalt.