Diving wave illumination using migration gathers

1. A process for use in seismic exploration, comprising:

for a plurality of different acquisition geometries:

performing forward modeling on a subsurface attribute model of a subterranean region to generate a set of low frequency seismic data, the subsurface attribute model being based on data representative of the subterranean region;

performing a reverse time migration on the low frequency seismic data to obtain a plurality of gathers with large opening angles; and

stacking the gathers with large opening angles to yield a diving wave illumination image; and

estimating a full-waveform inversion depth of investigation from the diving wave illumination image based on the diving wave illumination image of the different acquisition geometries, wherein the full-waveform inversion depth of investigation is associated with a proposed acquisition geometry of the different acquisition geometries;

wherein at least one of the forward-modeling, performing, stacking, and estimating are performed by a processor.

2. The process of claim 1 , further comprising:

validating an updated subsurface attribute model using the full-waveform inversion depth of investigation,

providing an enhanced seismic image of the subterranean region using the updated subsurface attribute model; and

using the enhanced seismic image of the subterranean region to explore for hydrocarbons.

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the subsurface attribute model is a smooth subsurface attribute model.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the low frequency seismic data are between approximately 2 Hz-6 Hz.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the large opening angles comprise angles greater than approximately 160°.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the data representative of the subterranean region is a set of seismic data.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the estimated depth of investigation is for the proposed acquisition geometry, and wherein the proposed acquisition geometry is based on a position of a source and a position of a receiver.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the subsurface attribute model is a velocity model.

9. A process for use in seismic surveying, comprising:

for a plurality of different acquisition geometries:

obtaining a set of synthetic, low frequency seismic data representative of a subterranean region, including:

obtaining a subsurface attribute model of the subterranean region, the subsurface attribute model being based on data representative of the subterranean region; and

performing forward modeling on the subsurface attribute model using a respective acquisition geometry to generate the low frequency seismic data; and

imaging the low frequency seismic data, including:

performing a reverse time migration on the low frequency seismic data to obtain a plurality of gathers with large opening angles; and

stacking the gathers with large opening angles to yield a diving wave illumination image; and

estimating a full-waveform inversion depth of investigation from the diving wave illumination image based on the diving wave illumination image of the different acquisition geometries, wherein the full-waveform inversion depth of investigation is associated with a proposed acquisition geometry of the different acquisition geometries.

10. The process of claim 9 , wherein the low frequency seismic data are between approximately 2 Hz-6 Hz.

11. The process of claim 9 , wherein the estimated depth of investigation is for the proposed acquisition geometry, and wherein the proposed acquisition geometry is based on a position of a source and a position of a receiver.

12. The process of claim 9 , wherein the forward modeling is based on an actual acquisition geometry for sources and receivers that was used to acquire a set of seismic data from which the subsurface attribute model was constructed.

13. The process of claim 9 , wherein the reverse time migration comprises an optical flow reverse time migration.

14. The process of claim 9 , wherein the large opening angles comprise angles greater than approximately 160°.

15. A process for use in evaluating a seismic data processing strategy, comprising:

for a plurality of different acquisition geometries:

performing forward modeling on a subsurface attribute model of a subterranean region to generate a set of low frequency seismic data, the subsurface attribute model being based on a seismic data set representative of the subterranean region;

performing a reverse time migration on the low frequency seismic data to obtain a plurality of gathers with large opening angles; and

stacking the gathers with large opening angles to yield a diving wave illumination image;

estimating a depth of investigation from the diving wave illumination image based on the diving wave illumination image of the different acquisition geometries, wherein the full-waveform inversion depth of investigation is associated with a proposed acquisition geometry of the different acquisition geometries; and

determining from the estimated full-waveform inversion depth of investigation whether the seismic data processing strategy is likely to yield an acceptable product.

16. The process of claim 15 , further comprising:

validating an updated subsurface attribute model using the full-waveform inversion depth of investigation, and

providing an enhanced seismic image of the subterranean region using the updated subsurface attribute model.

17. The process of claim 15 , wherein the low frequency seismic data are between approximately 2 Hz-6 Hz.

18. The process of claim 15 , wherein the forward modeling includes a proposed acquisition geometry for sources and receivers.

19. The process of claim 15 , wherein the forward modeling is based on an actual acquisition geometry for sources and receivers that was used to acquire a set of seismic data from which the subsurface attribute model was constructed.

20. The process of claim 15 , wherein the large opening angles comprise angles greater than approximately 160°.

21. A process for use in seismic exploration, comprising:

for a plurality of different acquisition geometries:

performing forward modeling on a velocity model of a subterranean region to generate a set of synthetic, low frequency seismic data, the velocity model being based on data representative of the subterranean region;

performing a reverse time migration on the low frequency seismic data to obtain a plurality of gathers with large opening angles; and

stacking the gathers with large opening angles to yield a diving wave illumination image; and

estimating a full-waveform inversion depth of investigation from the diving wave illumination image based on the diving wave illumination image of the different acquisition geometries, wherein the full-waveform inversion depth of investigation is associated with a proposed acquisition geometry of the different acquisition geometries.

22. The process of claim 21 , wherein the low frequency seismic data are between approximately 2 Hz-6 Hz.

23. The process of claim 21 , wherein the forward modeling includes a proposed acquisition geometry for sources and receivers.

24. The process of claim 21 , wherein the forward modeling is based on an actual acquisition geometry for sources and receivers that was used to acquire a set of seismic data from which the velocity model was constructed.

25. The process of claim 21 , wherein the gathers include diving waves and backscattered energy.

26. The process of claim 21 , wherein the large opening angles comprise angles greater than approximately 160°.

27. A process for use in seismic surveying, comprising:

for a plurality of different acquisition geometries:

obtaining a velocity model of the subterranean region, the velocity model being based on data representative of the subterranean region; and

forward modeling on the velocity model using a respective acquisition geometry to generate the low frequency seismic data; and

imaging the low frequency seismic data, including:

performing a reverse time migration on the low frequency seismic data to obtain a plurality of gathers with large opening angles; and

stacking the gathers with large opening angles to yield a diving wave illumination image; and

estimating a full-waveform inversion depth of investigation from the diving wave illumination image based on the diving wave illumination image of the different acquisition geometries, wherein the full-waveform inversion depth of investigation is associated with a proposed acquisition geometry of the different acquisition geometries.

28. The process of claim 27 , wherein the low frequency seismic data are between approximately 2 Hz-6 Hz.

29. The process of claim 27 , wherein the forward modeling includes a proposed acquisition geometry for sources and receivers.

30. The process of claim 27 , wherein the forward modeling includes an actual acquisition geometry for sources and receivers that was used to acquire a set of seismic data from which the velocity model was constructed.

31. The process of claim 27 , wherein the large opening angles comprise angles greater than approximately 160°.

32. A process for use in evaluating a proposed seismic survey plan, comprising:

for a plurality of different acquisition geometries:

obtaining a velocity model of geological region to be seismically surveyed using data representative of the subterranean region;

performing forward modeling on the velocity model with a respective acquisition geometry defining the source and receiver locations to generate a set of synthetic, low frequency seismic data;

performing a reverse time migration on the low frequency seismic data to obtain a plurality of gathers with large opening angles; and

stacking the gathers with large opening angles to yield a diving wave illumination image; and

estimating a full-waveform inversion depth of investigation for a survey of the subterranean region based on the diving wave illumination image of the different acquisition geometries, wherein the full-waveform inversion depth of investigation is associated with a proposed acquisition geometry of the different acquisition geometries.

33. The process of claim 32 , wherein the low frequency seismic data are between approximately 2 Hz-6 Hz.

34. The process of claim 32 , wherein the gathers include diving waves and backscattered energy.

35. The process of claim 32 , wherein the large opening angles comprise angles greater than approximately 160°.