Seismic Multiple Attenuation in the Continent–Ocean Transition Zone of the Northern South China Sea

Abstract

In this study, we process four new multichannel reflection seismic profiles acquired in 2015 and 2016 in the continent–ocean transition zone (COT) of the northern South China Sea (SCS). We apply a multi-domain, progressive, and seabed-controlled denoising technique and obtain a good denoising effect. Combining velocity analysis in the multi-round time domain and forward modeling, we analyze the types and characteristics of multiples in the study area and formulate an effective demultiple technique to attenuate strong seabed multiples, diffracted multiples from rough seafloor, and other multiples from deep reflectors. The processing results show that the sea surface-related multiple elimination technique predicts the sea surface-related multiples accurately by data convolution, and has a good effect in attenuating seabed multiples. Diffracted multiple attenuation method extracts high-frequency and high-energy diffracted multiples, and suppresses multiples by the energy ratios of multiples to primary events. To attenuate deep multiples, we select predictive deconvolution to attenuate periodic deep multiples after many trials and detailed analysis. The combination of these different techniques in sequence proves to be quite effective in attenuating different seismic multiples in the COT. The imaged crustal structures near the COT often show strong magmatism and/or basement uplifting. The faulted and thinned continental crust adjacent to the COT corresponds to the lowest free-air gravity anomalies. Gravity anomalies often increase from the COT to the oceanic crust. An exception is to the northeast of the SCS, where the relatively wide COT shows very high gravity anomalies, likely induced by mantle upwelling and serpentinization.

Keywords

• South China Sea
• continent–ocean transition
• seismic exploration
• data processing
• multiple attenuation
• gravity anomaly