Abstract

Recently prestack Reverse time migration (RTM) algorithm for depth imaging has become feasible due to advances in computational power and clever programming techniques. RTM uses full acoustic two-way wave propagation algorithm for both forward and reverse time extrapolation. Amplitude preservation is based upon the assumption that acoustic wave equation approximates the wave propagation in real elastic earth. In this paper, first the amplitude characteristics of both the acoustic and elastic wave propagation are compared by looking at the reflection coefficients for a simple flat layered model. Then the input gathers generated by both acoustic and elastic forward modeling algorithm are migrated with RTM method.