Least-squares reverse time migration in the presence of density variations

Least-squares migration (LSM) is commonly regarded as an amplitude-preserving or true amplitude migration algorithm that, compared with conventional migration, can provide migrated images with reduced migration artifacts, balanced amplitudes, and enhanced spatial resolution. Most applications of LSM are based on the constant-density assumption, which is not the case in the real earth. Consequently, the amplitude performance of LSM is not appropriate. To partially remedy this problem, we have developed a least-squares reverse time migration (LSRTM) scheme suitable for density variations in the acoustic approximation. An improved scattering-integral approach is adopted for implementation of LSRTM in the frequency domain. LSRTM images associated with velocity and density perturbations are simultaneously used to generate the simulated data, which better matches the recorded data in amplitudes. Summation of these two images provides a reflectivity model related to impedance perturbation that is in better accordance with the true one, than are the velocity and density images separately. Numerical examples based on a two-layer model and a small part of the Sigsbee2A model verify the effectiveness of our method.