Multiples

Multiples are events that are reflected more than

once.
It can be very difficult to identify and remove and it
will lead to misinterpretation if it’s interfered with the
primary events
Multiples are multiplicative events seen in
seismic sections. These events have
undergone more than one reflection. They
are produced in the data gathering process
when the signal doesn't take a direct path
from the source to the geologic event and
finally back to the receiver on the surface
What are Multiples?
 Primary Multiple
Primary Multiple
path path
path path

Z Z

Figure 1 : Primary (left) Figure 2

and multiple (right) ray
paths.
 X

Figure 2: Primary
Zero-offset

Time (s)
section with 1.0
primary and 1st Multiple
multiple
arrivals. 2.0
2nd Multiple
Etc...

Figure 2 shows the zero-offset observations from Error! Reference source not
found.’s single primary path, its multiple path, and the addition of a second
multiple path. For this two-layer Earth model, additional multiples appear at
integer periods of the primary, in addition to those shown in
Figure 2. In this example, the primary reflection time is 0.8 seconds and the
successive multiples are at 1.6, 2.4, 3.2 … seconds. With the combination of
additional path lengths and less-than-total interface reflections, the multiples’
amplitudes decrease with each successive appearance
What Types of Problems can Multiples
Cause?
Multiples can present many pitfalls for the
interpreter and cause problems in seismic data
interpretation. This is because the features which
multiples create may not reflect the true
approximation of the geology of a structure or an
area. For instance, multiples can enhance geologic
features such as small anticlines, so that they appear
larger than what they truly are. This is attractive to
the oil/gas finder, but can lead to false conclusions
concerning the location and amount of pay.1
 How do we detect multiples?
Seismic data contains multiples, even after multiple
attenuation. In many cases, multiple attenuation reduces
the multiples’ amplitudes so there contribution is not
apparent. However, there are stubborn cases for which the
“attenuated” multiples’ amplitudes are competitive against
the primaries, leading to incorrect interpretations. For that
reason, it is wise to be able to recognize the appearance of
multiples in seismic data.
methods to recognize multiples in seismic data

1- Appearance: •

Multiples share the appearance of their originating

primary reflectors. Depending upon the sign (+ or
-) of the reflection coefficient of the multiple-
producing reflectors, the multiple may have the
opposite polarity as compared to the original
primary.
• 2- Time Delay:
Multiples appear later in time than the originating
primary because a multiple path adds to the path of
the primary.

• 3- Multiple Sequence:
The originating primary may repeat a multitude of
times, as a multiple sequence. For horizontal
reflectors, the time increment is constant between
each expression of the multiple. Dipping multiples
violate this constant-time-interval rule
• 4- Dip:
Multiples have a greater apparent dip than the dip of the
originating primary and are located in the down-dip
direction on stacked data. Successively later multiples
associated with a given dipping reflector, have increasingly
large apparent dips.

• 5- Competition with Strong Primaries

Velocities:
Stronger primaries residing at the multiple’s arrival time can
mask the appearance of the multiple.
Velocities picked from multiple energy differ significantly
from primary-energy picks. It is typically significantly lower.
 •Characteristics of Multiples
1. Periodic.

2. Large moveout.

3. Higher Amplitude than the time coincident

primaries
•Types of Multiples :-
1. Short path Multiples.

2. Long path multiples.

•Short path Multiples:-
These types of Multiples arrives so soon after
the primary reflection that it adds a “tail” to the
primary reflection.
•Short Path Multiple (Peg leg) :-

a. Short path multiples that have been reflected from

the top and base of thin reflectors.
b. Delays part of the energy from the primary
reflection which effectively lengthens the wavelet.
c. Have the same polarity as the primary.
•Short path multiple (Ghost) :-

a. Occur in Marine surveys when a submerged source

is used.
b. Energy travels up from the source to the air/water
interface, reflects, and continues down as a
“secondary” source.
•Short path Multiple (water
reverberation) :-

a. Due to large reflection coefficients at the

air/water and the air/rock interface.

b. This type of multiple also occurs as a long

path multiple over long distances.
•Long path multiples :-

a. It’s the reflection between surface and water

bottom over a great distance.

b. It looks like a separate event/layer on the

seismogram.
Multiples attenuation
Deconvolution method :
Another possibility for attenuating multiples is by the
use of predictive deconvolution. Deconvolution is the
method by which seismic data may be filtered according
to the processor's preference.
Knowledge of the arrival time of primary reflectors
allows the arrival time of multiples from the same
surface to be predicted. By using the arrival time, the
deconvolution operators can selectively pick multiples
out of the data.
The shortcoming of this method is that it primarily
works only with simple multiples, as those with more
intricate paths have a much harder to predict travel
time.
 Deconvolution :
• Objectives of deconvolution
– Make source into spike
– Reshape source signal
– Remove multiples
How do we do this ?
• We need to decide two things
– –How small to compress the source
– –How long a source we want to compress
• We will use the cross-correlation and
auto-correlation functions to do this
Multiple attenuation
•Notch filter :-

a. A Notch filter is a filter that passes all frequencies except

those in a stop band centered on a center frequency.

B. This filter used to attenuates the ghost multiple.

 Deconvolution
a. is a filtering process which removes a wavelet from
the recorded seismic trace by reversing the process of
convolution.
b. The commonest way to perform Deconvolution is to
design a Wiener Filter to transform one wavelet into
another wavelet in a least-squares sense.
c. Predictive Deconvolution suppresses multiple
reflections and optionally alters the spectrum of the
input data to increase resolution. It is almost always
applied at least once to marine seismic data.
Deconvolution (continued)
 Deconvolution (continued)
• Purpose of Deconvolution is :-
a. To sharpen up reflection events.
b. To remove periodic events (reverberations).
Example of deconvolution operator
 Predictive Deconvolution.
a. Gapped or Predictive Deconvolution is the
commonest type of deconvolution.

b. The method tries to estimate and then remove

the predictable parts of a seismic trace (usually
multiples).

c. Predictive deconvolution can also be used to

increase resolution by altering wavelet shape and
amplitude spectrum.
Predictive Deconvolution (continued).
• A common application of predictive deconvolution :
Multiple suppression.
•The mathematical assumptions of
Predictive Deconvolution :-
1. The primary reflection series is random.
2. The source wavelet is minimum phase and
doesn’t vary through the earth.
3. The noise is random and is of minimal level.
4. The multiple period is fixed.
5. The data are zero offset and dip is ignored
Predictive deconvolution (continued).
•Spike deconvolution :-
• This technique shortens the embedded wavelet
and attempts to make it as close as possible to a
spike.
• The frequency bandwidth of the data limits the
extent to which this is possible.
• This is also called whitening deconvolution,
because it attempts to achieve a flat, or white,
spectrum. This kind of deconvolution may result
in increased noise, particularly at high
frequencies.
Spike Deconvolution (Pre-whitening).
Spike Deconvolution (continued).
Spike Deconvolution (continued).
 Autocorrelation
• The autocorrelation function is critical in
picking the deconvolution parameters
of gap (also called minimum
autocorrelation lag) and operator
length (sometimes called maximum
autocorrelation lag).
• Peaks in the autocorrelation function indicate
time delays where the two traces are most
similar
Autocorrelation (continued).