Seismic processing for the elimination of multiple reflections

1. A seismic processing method in which, in order to eliminate multiple reflections in seismic data obtained from seismic sensors,

the seismic data are migrated in time or in depth thereby generating a migrated section,

a seismic wave is extrapolated from a seismic source to a reflector in the migrated section to determine an approximation of multiple reflections by building a model of multiple reflections for any type of offset, and

said approximation of multiple reflections is subtracted from the seismic data.

2. A method according, to claim 1 , in which a wave propagation velocity field is modelled before migration.

3. A method according to claim 1 in which, after said extrapolation step:

each point of the reflector in the migrated section intersecting the downward extrapolated seismic wave, is illuminated,

a first seismic wave field is extrapolated upward from the points of the reflector in the migrated section which have been illuminated by the downward extrapolated seismic wave.

4. A method according to claim 3 , in which, after said illumination and extrapolation steps:

each point of a water/air interface intersecting the waves of the first wave field is illuminated, a second seismic wave field is extrapolated downward starting from the points of the water/air interface which have been illuminated by the waves of the first wave field.

5. A method according to claim 4 , in which, after said further illumination and extrapolation steps:

each point of the reflector in the migrated section intersecting the waves in the second wave field is illuminated,

a third seismic wave field is extrapolated upward starting from the points of the reflector in the migrated section which have been illuminated by the waves in the second wave field.

6. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of interpolating seismic data thus extrapolated towards the real positions of the receivers, and transforming interpolated seismic data from the frequency domain to the time domain, in order to obtain a first order multiple reflections model.

7. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising the steps of:

illuminating each point of a water/air interface intersecting the waves in the third wave field,

extrapolating a fourth seismic wave field downward starting from each point of the water/air interface, illuminated by the waves in the third wave field,

illuminating each point of the reflector in the migrated section intersecting the waves in the fourth wave field,

extrapolating a fifth seismic wave field upward from the points of the reflector, illuminated by the waves in the fourth wave field,

interpolating seismic data thus extrapolated towards the real positions of the receivers, and transforming interpolated seismic data from the frequency domain to the time domain, in order to obtain a second order multiple reflections model,

repeating these various steps to obtain a higher order multiple reflections model.

8. A method according to claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:

illuminating each point of the water/air interface intersecting the waves in the third wave field,

extrapolating a fourth seismic wave field downward starting from each point of the water/air interface, illuminated by the waves in the third wave field,

illuminating each point of the reflector in the migrated section intersecting the waves in the fourth wave field,

extrapolating a fifth seismic wave field upward from the points of the reflector, illuminated by the waves in the fourth wave field,

interpolating seismic data thus extrapolated towards the real positions of the receivers, and transforming interpolated seismic data from the frequency domain to the time domain, in order to obtain a second order multiple reflections model,

repeating these various steps to obtain a higher order multiple reflections model.