Statics

Module 12
Statics

Learning Objectives
Knowledge:
Definition and types of static correction
Elevation statics
Refraction statics
Reflection statics
Applications in processing flow

Statics

Why Statics Are Important

Statics are corrections for near surface conditions that

affect subsurface travel times and amplitudes
Accurate structural interpretation of seismic data
depends on proper static correction to a reference datum
Subsurface anomalies can be caused by near surface
effects
Data quality, particularly CMP stack interpretability,
depends on proper static corrections
Static corrections need to be iterated with velocity
analysis

Statics

Topics

Seismic datum
Types of static corrections
Static problem definition
Static correction process
Short period versus long period
Refraction statics analysis
Residual statics analysis

Seismic Datum

Statics

Definition

An arbitrary planar surface

Usually flat or smoothly varying
Serves as an agreed and known reference
Upon which sources and receivers are
assumed to lie after processing

Two types:
Processing datum: selected to minimize the
effects of topography and near-surface
zones of low velocity
Structural datum: selected as a convenient
reference for structural interpretation
4

Why use a seismic datum?

Statics

Depth

Compensate for topography

No Seismic Datum

Seismic Datum

(reference = surface)

(reference = datum)

Surface

Surface

Reflector 1

Reflector 1

Reflector 2

Reflector 2

Time

Surface

Datum

Datum

Reflector 1

Reflector 1

Reflector 2

Reflector 2

Statics

Correcting traces to seismic datum

Definition: Datum Statics

Process that moves the seismic source and
receiver from field elevation to the seismic datum
Each data trace usually receives a bulk time shift
determined by the coordinates of its source and
receiver
More sophisticated methods use seismic imaging
techniques to shift data (downward continuation)
A detailed knowledge of near-surface velocity is
required
The velocity model is usually derived from the
data and may require considerable effort
Static correction methods are distinguished by the
way the velocity model or time shifts are derived
6

Statics

Simple cases

Marine datum statics

Land datum statics assuming earth of flat,
homogenous layers

Statics

Datum statics: marine case

Surface &
Seismic Datum
Source Static

Receiver
Static

Water
Layer

Sediment

yyAssumptions:
Assumptions:
-- Flat
Flattopography
topography&&datum
datum(sea
(sealevel)
level)
-- Constant
Constantwater
watervelocity
velocity
-- Source
Sourceand
andreceiver
receiverat
atconstant
constantdepth
depth
yyStatic
Staticcorrection
correctionsimply
simplycompensates
compensatesfor
for
source
sourceand
andreceiver
receiverdepth
depthbelow
belowsurface
surface
yyStatics
Staticsare
arepositive
positive(shift
(shifttraces
tracesdown)
down)
8

Datum statics: land case

Statics

Surface

Weathered
Layer

Source
Static

Receiver
Static
Base of Weathering
Seismic Datum

Consolidated
Substratum

yyAssumptions:
Assumptions:
-- Flat
Flattopography
topography
-- Constant
Constantweathered
weatheredlayer
layerthickness
thickness
and
andvelocity
velocity
-- Horizontal
Horizontalseismic
seismicdatum
datum
-- Surface
Surfacesource
sourceand
andreceiver
receiver
yyStatic
Staticcorrection
correctionsimply
simplyremoves
removes2-way
2-way
travel
traveltime
timefrom
fromsurface
surfaceto
todatum
datum
yyAssumptions
rarely
met
in
practice
Assumptions
rarely
met
in
practice
9

Statics

Discussion questions

Are the assumptions of marine datum statics

ever violated in practice? How might this
occur? What would be the effect on the
seismic data?

Are the assumptions of land datum statics

ever violated in practice? How might this
occur? What would be the effect on the
seismic data?

10

Statics

Why statics occur in onshore data

Many onshore exploration areas are covered

with a relatively thin layer of low velocity
material
This low velocity layer consists of aerated
material above the water table and/or
geologically recent unconsolidated sediments
This layer is often called the weathered layer
but often has little to do with the geologic
weathered layer
Seismic properties are often highly variable in
the near surface
11

Statics

Why statics occur in onshore data

Seismic sources and receivers are placed at

or near the surface
Passing through the weathered zone distorts
seismic data
Introduces time delays controlled by the local
properties of the weathered layer at both the
source and receiver locations
Process of static correction must determine
and correct for these delays

12

Statics

The Statics Problem

How to correct for highly variable weathered layer?

Velocity variation
Thickness
variation

Thickness
variation

13

Determining the Weathering Layer

Statics

Possible methods
Special high-resolution reflection or refraction survey
Not generally undertaken
Usually too expensive to justify

Analysis of first breaks from conventional data

No additional cost
May lack sufficient resolution due to coarse trace spacing
Requires careful picking of first breaks
Refraction or tomographic analysis generates near-surface
model

Analysis of uphole data

Based on direct travel time measurements obtained from
conventional dynamite seismic acquisition
No additional cost
Lacks detail
Prone to errors due to bad picks and inaccurate depth of shot

14

Uphole Time
Uphole geophone leads
to recording system

Uphole Time

1-way vertical travel time from

the center of shot to the
surface
Not a detailed measurement
of near-surface velocity
Can contain errors
Charges can float upward due to
water in hole
Uphole phone planted on loose
drilling waste
Inaccurate time picks

15

Cap Leads to blaster

Uphole time is the

1-way vertical
travel time from the
center of charge to
the surface

Explosive Charges

Statics

Statics

Useful Terms

Datum Statics
Elevation Statics
Refraction Statics
Residual Statics
Tomostatics
Surface Consistent Statics
Generalized Linear Inverse
16

Statics

Effect of Static Corrections

No Statics Applied

17

Statics

Effect of Static Corrections

Elevation Statics

18

Statics

Effect of Static Corrections

Elevation Statics +
Refraction Statics +
Residual Statics

19

Statics

Residual Statics Example

Before Residual Statics

After Residual Statics

20

Statics

Tomostatics Example

21

Statics

Discussion

Is the statics problem really a near surface

imaging problem?
Where should statics corrections become
dynamic?

22

Statics

Elevation Statics

23

Statics

Elevation Static Correction Calculations

Surface Energy Source

24

Statics

Effect of Statics on Reflection

25

Statics

Elevation Statics Are Not Enough

Often, after both NMO and elevation static corrections

are applied, CMP traces are still not exactly aligned in
time. This is usually due to changes in propagation
delay through the near-surface layers, which may
change widely in velocity and thickness.

26

Statics

Shot Records &

Stack with Elevation Statics Only

27

Statics

Long and Short Wavelength Statics

i

Statics are classified by their spatial extent

Mx
Long wavelength statics have spatial size greater
than the seismic spread length
Short wavelength statics have spatial size less than
the seismic spread Length
k ij

Seismic Spread Length

Statics
L

Long
Wavelength (L)

Low-k
High-k

S
28

Short (S )

1
k

Statics

Short Versus Long Wavelength

Short means less than a spread length

Handled well by residual methods

Long means more than spread length

Field statics
Requires near surface model
Model derived from refraction analysis or
tomography

Near surface imaging problem where

reflection methods dont work
29

Static Correction Techniques

Statics

Refraction Statics
Develops a model of near surface using refraction analysis
of first-breaks on shot records
Advantage of correcting long period statics

Tomostatics
Builds detailed near-surface model by inverse modeling
travel times
Handles both long and short period statics
Advantage of producing more accurate results, especially
when used with downward continuation

Residual Statics (correlation autostatics)

Decomposes trace shift measurements into surface
consistent statics
Advantage of correcting short period statics
30

Statics

Refraction Statics
or
First Arrival Methods

31

Statics

Critical Angle

32

Statics

First Arrivals and Refractions

Seismic Record (Off-End)

Direct Arrival

Distance

Geophones
Source

Direct Arrival

Velocity = V0

First Refraction

Time

First Refraction
t

Second
Refraction

V0
V1

t
d

Second Refraction
V0
V1
V2
33

Statics

1.
2.
3.
4.

Slope-Intercept Analysis
2. Plot picks

Pick refractions
Plot picks
Fit straight lines
Determine refractor
velocities and
thicknesses

1.
2.
3.
4.

34

Pick refractions
Plot picks
Fit straight lines
Determine refractor
velocities and
thicknesses

Statics

First Break Picks

35

Statics

First Break Picks

36

Statics

2000 Channel Field Record

Land 3-D Survey Swath Shooting

37

Statics

Refraction Static Corrections

Step 1. Pick refraction travel times

Can be difficult!

Step 2. Decompose refraction times

Calculate thickness and velocity of near-surface
layers

Step 3. Construct near surface model

Provides reference for long period statics

Step 4. Compute statics corrections

Differences between modeled travel times and
measured travel times
38

Statics

Near Surface Model from Refractions

39

Statics

Refraction Arrivals
Before and After Statics
Selected CMP Gathers

Selected CMP Gathers After Linear Moveout (LMO) Correction

Stack of LMO Corrected CMPs Before Refraction Statics

Stack of LMO Corrected CMPs After Refraction Statics

40

Statics

Near Surface Modeling Options

Slope-Intercept Analysis
Simple, area-wide models
Based on refraction picks
Handles multi-layer

Generalized reciprocal method

Forward and reverse travel times
Calculates velocity/depth changes
Relatively stable

41

Direct waves, head waves and reflections

Statics

Xc

S
V1
V2

direct wave

direct wave

T0

refracted wave

Ti

ic ic

r
V1
V2

Xc

critical point
refracted wave

sin i V1
=
sin r V2

direct wave:

sin ic =

Td ( X ) =

refracted wave: Th ( X ) =

V1
V2

X c = 2d tan ic

X
V1
2d 1 X X c 2d cos ic X
X
+
=
+ = Ti +
; X Xc
cos ic V1
V2
V2
V1
V2

Ti =

2d cos ic
V1

T0 =

2d
V1

2d
X2
X2
2
reflected wave: Tr ( X ) =
V + V 2 = T0 +42V 2
1
1
1

Near Surface Modeling Options

Statics

Generalized linear inverse

Iterative, model-based approach
Handles multiple layers
Updates layer velocity and thickness based on
differences between observed and predicted
refraction travel times

Travel-time Tomograpy

Suitable for very complex, detailed 3-D models

Inverse modeling approach
Assume a model and predict travel-time
Update model to minimize travel-time errors
Uses Generalized Linear Inverse

43

Statics

Reflection & Refraction Statics Comparison

CMP stack after refraction statics only
Good long period statics
Poor reflection character

CMP stack with residual statics only

Poor long period statics
Good reflection character

CMP stack after both refraction and residual statics

Good long period statics
Good reflection character
44

Statics

Tomostatics

45

Statics

TomoStatics

Computes velocity model that matches

observed travel times with minimum error
Inverse modeling approach that begins by
assuming a nave model
Computes travel times through model and
compares to observations
Adjusts model to minimize travel time errors
Iterates until complete
Can produce very detailed results
Accuracy depends on accurate picks
46

Statics

First Arrival Travel Times

47

Statics

Tomography Input

First Arrival Travel

Times

Initial Velocity Model

48

Statics

Tomographic Solution

Velocity model

Raypath Density
49

Statics

Near Surface Model by Tomography

Turning Rays
Useful for modeling
near surface when
refractions are weak or
absent
Velocity Model

Initial Guess
Linear
Tomography
Non-linear
Tomography
50

Statics

Near-Surface Model by Tomography

Time slices through near-surface model
Very detailed image
Shows NW-SE geologic trend
Faulting in NE corner

51

Statics

Tomography

The detailed models obtained from

tomography allow better near-surface
corrections
Downward Continuation, a seismic imaging
process, provides better results than simple
time shifts
Wave equation approach to removing effects of
shallow geology
Provides data that would have been obtained if
the source and receiver were positioned below the
troublesome near-surface
Output data is referenced to seismic datum
52

Statics

TOMO+ 2D/3D TomoStatics Interpretation

810 Highway 6 South, Suite 220, Houston, Texas 77079, USA

Tel: 281-597-1429; Fax: 281-597-1201; www.geotomo.com
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Statics

Near Surface Model

Engineering Example
300 m

Reflection Seismic
(Time Section)

550 m/s
750
Velocity Model
From Tomographic
Inversion of First
Arrivals Only
(Depth Section)

1200
2100
3000

54

Statics

Tomographic Velocity Solution

China Case

55

Statics

Example - Field Statics

56

Statics

Example - Tomostatics

57

Statics

Example Tomostatics + Residual Statics

58

Statics

3D Tomography Example
Texaco - Utah, USA

Mountainous area
Overthrust system
Irregular survey geometry

59

Statics

3D Tomography Example
Texaco - Utah, USA

Velocity model
time slices
resulting from
tomographic
inversion of
first arrivals

60

Statics

3D Tomography Example
Exxon/Mobil - South Africa

Near-surface low-velocity zone

Thin layer of high-velocity unit
Refraction analysis methods failed

61

Statics

3D Tomography Example
Exxon/Mobil - South Africa

62

Statics

Delay Time Statics versus TomoStatics

Delay Time

TomoStatics
63

Statics

Residual Statics

64

Statics

Difference Between Residual NMO

and Statics
Statics

Residual NMO

True
Horizon
Positions

Offset increases from left to right

65

Statics

Statics for Three CMPs

CMP 1

CMP 2

True
Horizon
Positions

66

CMP 3

Statics

Applying Residual Static Corrections

Pre-processing
Apply elevation statics
Scale and deconvolve data
Sort to CMP, NMO correct with best velocity field and mute

Measure trace delays by cross-correlation

Build model trace by summing traces
Cross-correlate model trace with input traces

Compute surface consistent static shifts from trace delays

Assume trace delays are the sum of several unknown components
including source and receiver statics, NMO shift and structure shift
Use the redundancy of seismic acquisition to solve for the unknown
component shifts

67

Statics

Residual Static Correction

+ +

Model Trace

Step 1: Build model trace by summing all traces

from several moveout corrected CDPs

Step 2: Measure trace shifts by cross-correlation

with model
0 Time Shift

Step 3: Compute surface consistent statics from

trace shifts and apply to traces to align events

Static corrected
traces with events
Aligned for stacking

68

Statics

Residual Statics Example

After Residual Statics

Before Residual Statics

69

Statics

Processing Flowchart
Residual Statics Corrections

CMP Gathers with

Elevation Statics

Velocity Analysis
NMO Correction
Compute Residual
Statics

Apply Residual
Statics

Velocity Analysis

Apply Residual
Statics

NMO Correction
Velocity Analysis
Compute Residual
Statics

NMO Correction
Compute Residual
Statics

Initial Statics Pass

Statics Iteration 1
70

Statics Iteration 2

Additional
Processing

Statics

Surface Consistent Model

A model for a seismic trace that splits its

characteristics into portions attributed to its
source, receiver, offset, mid-point, etc.
May be applied to static corrections, amplitude
corrections and deconvolution
Exploits redundancy in seismic acquisition
Usually many more trace measurements and
equations than unknown variables
Surface consistent effects can be calculated
Statistical quality measures can be obtained

71

Statics

Tips for Interpreters

Finding static problems

72

Statics

Tips for Finding Statics

Difficult to do on stacked data, almost

impossible from migrated data
Use Common Source and Common Receiver
stacks
Help locate and estimate static shifts
Quickly find trace shifts that are not due to near
surface (recording system delays that fluctuate)
Caution! Source and Receiver shifts are not
decoupled

73

Tips for Finding Statics

Statics

Structure that correlates with topography

Ask processors to plot elevation on 2-D sections
for easy evaluation
Surface
Reflector 1

Surface

OR

Reflector 2

Reflector 1
Reflector 2

74

Statics

Tips for Finding Statics

Look for reflections that have a shingled
or barber pole appearance
Shingled
appearance
?
Barber pole
appearance
?

75

Statics

Tips for Finding Statics

Any abrupt vertical

misalignment of
reflections is suspicious

?
76

Statics

Tips for Finding Statics

Structure common to all reflection events

0s
Structure of shallowest
reflector repeated in
deeper events

3s
77

Statics

Tips for Finding Statics

Poor reflection quality may be due to

improper static corrections
Bad static corrections mean bad velocities and
bad stacking
Do bad data and topography correlate? Near
surface conditions may change with topography
causing static problems
Are poor data areas found in localized areas
surrounded or bordered by good data?

78

Statics

Summary

Statics are near surface conditions that affect the travel

times and amplitudes of subsurface reflectors--the keys
to seismic interpretation
Without proper static correction, seismic data may have
poor reflection quality
Subsurface anomalies can be caused by near surface
effects
Static correction may hamper velocity analysis and slow
data processing
Kinds of static problems:
Long Period > spread length Refraction Static Analysis
Short Period < spread length Residual Static Analysis
Combination both short and long period Hybrid &
Tomographic Static Analysis
79

Statics

Module 12

Statics Exercise 1

80

Statics

Statics Interpretation Exercise 1

Instructions
Begin with CDP stacks only!
Fold CDP section near left side and match to
events on right side of section
Mark events with color pencil
Extend events across section
Locate and describe residual static problems
Unfold rest of display and examine common
source and common receiver stacks
Modify locations and descriptions to fit with
common source and common receiver stacks
81

Statics Interpretation Exercise 1

Statics

Information

80 ft Station Interval
160 ft Source Interval
300 channel Vibroseis
Split spread, -12,280 to -360, gap, +360 to
+12,280
Reflections above 800 ms have only regional dip
Negative static values move traces up
Positive static values move traces down

82

Statics

Tips for Finding Residual Statics

Difficult to do on stacked data, almost

impossible from migrated data
Look for reflections that have a shingled or
barber pole appearance
Any abrupt, vertical misalignment of
reflections is suspicious
Structure common to all reflection events

83

Statics

Tips for Finding Residual Statics

Poor reflection quality may be due to

improper static corrections
Bad static corrections mean bad velocities and
bad stacking
Do bad data and topography correlate? Near
surface conditions may change with topography
causing static problems

84

Statics

Tips for Finding Residual Statics

Use Common Source and Common Receiver

stacks
Help locate and estimate static shifts
Source and Receiver shifts are not decoupled
Quickly find trace shifts that are not due to near
surface (recording system delays that fluctuate)

85

Statics

Statics Interpretation
Exercise 1
Find the Statics

86

Find These Static Patterns

Statics

S
R

S
R

S
R

S
R

S
R

All shifts are 32 ms

87

Statics

Statics Interpretation
Exercise 1
Find the Statics
Exercise Solution

88