Dynamic angle and azimuth decomposition of RTM images

In the application of reverse time migration (RTM) to wide and full azimuth data, it important not only to produce a final RTM image, but also to decompose the data into prestack gathers that can be used both for processing and tomography. We discuss here a method where the RTM image can be mapped into angle-azimuth gathers by direct binning at each time step, where the RTM backscattered noise is minimized during the propagation process by the application of an inverse scattering imaging condition. We demonstrate the angle-azimuth decomposition to the application of RTM imaging and 3D angle tomographic model building in wide azimuth data from the Gulf of Mexico. Also, in preparation for the processing of a full azimuth survey in the Gulf of Mexico, we also examine the angle-azimuth decomposition for 3D RTM imaging using a full azimuth 3D synthetic based on the SEG SEAM model.