FOR GEO-IMAGING
Led by scientists at the Technical University of Delft
Multiple Utilization & Structural Imaging (M&I) project
- surface-related and internal multiple estimation;
- using multiples to estimate missing (near) offsets;
- imaging of blended seismic data, optionally including surface multiples;
- imaging using also internal multiples, i.e. full wavefield migration (FWM);
- estimation of the velocity model , i.e. joint migration-inversion (JMI), also including anisotropy and fine-layering effects.
The focus in the M&I project is not only separating primaries from multiples, but also using both primaries and multiples in the migration process (FWM). Hence, multiples are considered as important information. In addition, the migration process has been extended to simultaneously estimate velocity as well (JMI). We expect that multiple utilization and simultaneous velocity estimation will improve the quality of seismic images beyond expectation
Towards a new era of geo-imaging applications
The Delphi Consortium was founded back in the early 1980s. It focused on research to improve the seismic imaging method and it targeted sponsors from the oil & gas industry. Of course the world has changed since then. Over the years there has been an increasing awareness of the impact of fossil fuels on the environment. The fact that the rising concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air is due to anthropogenic emission and is contributing to the global temperature increase is hardly questioned anymore.
Within DELPHI we have decided to remove the focus of our research on hydro-carbon applications, and to broaden the scope to other geophysical and geotechnical applications in the geo-energy sector as we recognize that similar type of technologies, methods and algorithms are applicable in all these fields.
Delphi almost 41 years young!
The Delphi Consortium has almost 41 years of experience in geo-imaging research. It started with post-stack 1D seismic inversion and evolved to 3D full wavefield inversion. Still, we are exciting with an ever-evolving team of young scientists and senior staff to serve the community and explore new geo-imaging challanges!
Delphi Consortium for Geo-Imaging
Led by scientists at the Technical University of Delft (the ‘Delphi team’), ca. 25 international companies in the geo-energy and geo-technical sector finance together new options in the field of geophysical imaging. With modern geo-imaging technology it is possible to look into the earth at both shallow and large depths, making the complex geological structures visible and showing the composition and properties of rocks in great detail.
Advanced geophysical imaging is vital for the exploration and production of the Earth’s resources (hydro-carbons and minerals). Furthermore, it will play a crucial role in reducing the CO2 footprint on our planet by CO2 sequestration in a safe and sustainable manner. Similarly, storage of hydrogen, e.g. below salt structures, can help to enabling a continuous energy supply. All these subsurface processes require accurate geophysical monitoring.
On a smaller depth scale, this technology can be utilized for geothermal activities or characterizing the near-surface area for engineering applications like underground construction and installing wind turbines. In addition, the use of multi-physics can provide unique resolution of the subsurface information, exploiting the complementary sensitivities of e.g. acoustic and electromagnetic measurements.
Strategic research portfolio
The Delphi Consortium, founded in 1982 by professor Guus Berkhout, and since 2016 directed by Dr. Eric Verschuur, provides participating companies insight into the world of the latest technological opportunities in the field of advanced acquisition, closed-loop, full wavefield seismic imaging and high-resolution characterization of the target area. The Delft research group focuses on the major bottlenecks that all companies have in common. Therefore, the research is fundamental and forward-looking (‘strategic fundamental’) and does not aim at solving specific problems of individual companies.
The research findings – being distributed in the form of reports, presentations and algorithms – are pre-competitive and are used by all participating companies to update their vision of the future. In addition, the Delphi algorithms function as an enabling ‘technology platform’ for the renewal of their products and services portfolio. Delphi creates options for the future. The participating companies make their own choices about what they do with those options.
Dear Delphi member
Besides aiming for conducting high-quality research we also strive to optimally bring these results to you. Currently, we give written reports (as PDFS), provide software releases and have twice a year our consortium meetings.Of course, we can always improve. Therefore, click on Delphi Survey via which you can provide your feedback or suggestions to our program.
With kind regards, Eric Verschuur
The Delphi sponsors community
Being a member of the Delphi Consortium is more than receiving annual reports and prototype software releases. It is being part of a community. We have twice a year meetings, without seat limit for employees of the sponsoring companies. Having up to four days of interaction means extensive information exchange and for us receiving feedback on research directions. Our Masterclass – the first day of our meeting - will always highlight a certain topic of our research portfolio and/or informs you on new directions in our community, all with hands-on exercises.
Furthermore, being Delphi member means the option to provide datasets for demonstrating certain research items, having access to students for possible internships or job-interviews, having access to staff to communicate on certain issues or invite them for company visits, propose site visit to have more one-to-one communication, etc.
Such consortium model within the geophysical community has proven to be unique, compared to most other research field, and we believe this is really a win-win situation!
Traditionally, seismic imaging has been largely developed to explore the subsurface in the search for oil & gas. Over the years, the seismic method has been improved tremendously with respect to resolution, structural accuracy, signal-to-noise ratio, etc. To search for hydrocarbons is not the only activity related to the subsurface though. In particular, in recent years the number of applications making use of the (near) subsurface has increased considerably. Many of these aim at the development of a sustainable energy system
Cyclic interaction, Multi-physics and Machine Learning
The research within Delphi is based on maximizing the information from geophysical measurements and optimally making use of prior knowledge in terms of gravity data, EM and geologic information. Within this framework the topics of acquisition, processing, imaging and characterization of geophysical measurements are fully inter-connected, where the resolution requirements in the characterization phase drive the innovations in acquisition, within the given economic constraints. This is what we refer to as cyclic interaction.
The full wavefield approach ensures that all higher-order scattering in the measurements are considered as part of the total illumination of the subsurface. In this way, all ‘noise’ in the data becomes ‘signal’, multi-scattering problems become opportunities for additional illumination! Furthermore, the strategic use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technology provides a great support to our physics-based solutions.
Besides striving for a stronger emphasis on sustainable geo-imaging applications, Delphi hopes to cross-fertilize its research to other application fields such as medical imaging and non-destructive testing. We believe that – despite its difference in scales – the high-resolution challenges and potential innovations are common in these fields. Examples are imaging in the human body in areas with bone (the chest, the brain) and using all high-order scattering in complex constructions.
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