Three methods of visco‐acoustic migration based on the De Wolf approximation and comparison of their migration images

Abstract The viscosity of a medium affects the amplitude attenuation and velocity dispersion of seismic waves. Therefore, it is necessary to consider these factors during migration. First, to eliminate the viscous effect of a medium, we combine the Futterman model with the integral equation of the De Wolf approximation to construct a compensation operator of the De Wolf approximation for a visco‐acoustic medium. Next, we use the visco‐acoustic screen approximation method to realize the continuation operator then establish a prestack depth migration algorithm. Finally, an error analysis, impulse response test and model test are performed. The results show that three different generalized visco‐acoustic screen methods (phase screen method, generalized screen method and extended local Born Fourier method) can satisfactorily compensate for the attenuation of deep interface amplitude. Among these methods, the visco‐acoustic extended local Born Fourier method has the highest accuracy and the best compensation effect.