Enhanced seismic imaging systems and methods employing modified velocity model contrasts

1. A computer-implemented method for seismic imaging of a subsurface, the method being implemented in a computer system that includes one or more physical computer processors, the method comprising:

obtaining, at the one or more computer processors, seismic data that includes information about geologic layer boundaries in the subsurface;

determining an initial velocity model of the subsurface wherein at least one geologic layer boundary occurs at a sharp velocity transition, wherein a velocity on a first side of the at least one geologic layer boundary is at least fifty percent higher than a velocity on a second side of the at least one geologic layer boundary;

conditioning, at the one or more computer processors, the initial velocity model to produce a conditioned velocity model, wherein the sharp velocity transition has been replaced by a gradual velocity transition including a velocity overshoot layer, where the gradual velocity transition is positioned to begin at the at least one geologic layer boundary and ramp into a geologic layer with minimal need of fine resolution of structures important for hydrocarbon exploration and the velocity overshoot layer is located inside the geologic layer with minimal need of fine resolution of structures, and wherein the velocity overshoot layer is designed to compensate for kinematic differences due to the gradual velocity transition;

using the seismic data and the conditioned velocity model to generate a seismic image of the subsurface, at the one or more computer processors; and

causing, by the one or more computer processors, an output representing with visual information of the seismic image of the subsurface, the visual information providing insight in interpreting geologic features based on the seismic image of the subsurface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sharp velocity transition is between a sediment velocity and a salt velocity.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the kinematic differences are modeled traveltime differences of seismic waves traveling through the subsurface.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the seismic image is generated by reverse time migration.

5. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing software code for seismic imaging of a subsurface which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to:

obtain seismic data that includes information about geologic layer boundaries in the sub surface;

determine an initial velocity model of the subsurface wherein at least one geologic layer boundary occurs at a sharp velocity transition, wherein a velocity on a first side of the at least one geologic layer boundary is at least fifty percent higher than a velocity on a second side of the at least one geologic layer boundary;

condition the initial velocity model to produce a conditioned velocity model, wherein the sharp velocity transition has been replaced by a gradual velocity transition including a velocity overshoot layer, where the gradual velocity transition is positioned to begin at the at least one geologic layer boundary and ramp into a geologic layer with minimal need of fine resolution of structures important for hydrocarbon exploration and the velocity overshoot layer is located inside the geologic layer with minimal need of fine resolution of structures, and wherein the velocity overshoot layer is designed to compensate for kinematic differences due to the gradual velocity transition;

use the seismic data and the conditioned velocity model to generate a seismic image of the subsurface; and

facilitate generation of output of visual information representing seismic image of the subsurface so that the visual information can be used for interpreting interpret geologic features based on the seismic image of the subsurface.

6. A computer system for seismic imaging of a subsurface comprising:

one or more processors;

a data storage device containing a plurality of single-shot migrated images, unstacked seismic images, or partially stacked seismic images and a dip dataset representative of a small range of structural dips at each image point of interest;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the device to:

obtain seismic data that includes information about geologic layer boundaries in the subsurface;

determine an initial velocity model of the subsurface wherein at least one geologic layer boundary occurs at a sharp velocity transition, wherein a velocity on a first side of the at least one geologic layer boundary is at least fifty percent higher than a velocity on a second side of the at least one geologic layer boundary;

condition the initial velocity model to produce a conditioned velocity model, wherein the sharp velocity transition has been replaced by a gradual velocity transition including a velocity overshoot layer, where the gradual velocity transition is positioned to begin at the at least one geologic layer boundary and ramp into a geologic layer with minimal need of fine resolution of structures important for hydrocarbon exploration and the velocity overshoot layer is located inside the geologic layer with minimal need of fine resolution of structures, and wherein the velocity overshoot layer is designed to compensate for kinematic differences due to the gradual velocity transition;

use the seismic data and the conditioned velocity model to generate a seismic image of the subsurface; and

facilitate generation of output of visual information representing the seismic image of the subsurface so that the visual information can be used for interpreting interpret geologic features based on the seismic image of the subsurface.