Application of local optimisation with Steepest Ascent Algorithm for the residual static corrections in a southern Algeria geophysical survey

Static corrections in the seismic data processing sequence are one of the most sensitive steps in seismic exploration undertaken in areas with complex topography and geology. Using the stack energy as an objective function for the inversion problem, static corrections can be performed without using the cross-correlation of all traces of a Common Depth Point (CDP) with all other CDP traces. This step is a time-consuming operation and requires huge computer memory capacities. The pre-calculation step of the cross-correlation table can provide greater processing efficiency in practice; by either a local optimisation algorithm such as Steepest Ascent applied to the traces, or a global search method such as genetic algorithms. The sudden change of the topography and the signal/noise (S/N) ratio decrease can cause failure in residual static (RS) corrections operations; consequently, it may lead to poor quality of the seismic section. In this study, we firstly created a synthetic seismic section (synthetic stack), which describes a geological model. Then, the Steepest Ascent Algorithm (SAA) method is used to estimate RS corrections and evaluate its performance, in order that the encountered problems in the field will be overcome. The generated synthetic stack, with a two-layer tabular geological model, has been disturbed by introducing wrong static corrections and random noise. Thus, the model became a noised stack with low S/N ratio and poor synthetic horizons continuity. After 110 iterations, the SAA estimated the appropriate corrections and eliminated disturbances introduced earlier. Moreover, it improves the quality of the stack and the continuity of synthetic horizons. Therefore, we have applied this algorithm using the same methodology for calculating the RS corrections of real data of seismic prospection in southern Algeria; the input data has poor quality caused by near-surface anomalies. We found that our proposed methodology has improved the RS corrections in comparison to currently used conventional methods in the seismic processing in Algerian industry.