2-D continuation operators and their applications

Continuation to zero offset [better known as dip moveout (DMO)] is a standard tool for seismic data processing. In this paper, the concept of DMO is extended by introducing a set of operators: the continuation operators. These operators, which are implemented in integral form with a defined amplitude distribution, perform the mapping between common shot or common offset gathers for a given velocity model. The application of the shot continuation operator for dip-independent velocity analysis allows a direct implementation in the acquisition domain by exploiting the comparison between real data and data continued in the shot domain. Shot and offset continuation allow the restoration of missing shot or missing offset by using a velocity model provided by common shot velocity analysis or another dip-independent velocity analysis method.