The Marchenko algorithm can suppress the disturbing effects of internal multiples that are present in seismic reflection data. To achieve this, a set of coupled equations with four unknowns is solved. These coupled equations are separated into a set of two equations with two unknowns using a time window. The two unknown focusing functions can be resolved by an iterative or direct method. These focusing functions, when applied to reflection data, create virtual point-sources inside the medium. Combining individual virtual point-sources into a plane-wave leads to an efficient computation of images without internal multiples. In this study the internal multiples are eliminated in a redatuming step which is part of the imaging algorithm. To use the Marchenko algorithm with plane-wave focusing functions, the time window that separates the unknowns must be adapted. The design of the plane-wave Marchenko algorithm is explained and illustrated with numerically modeled and measured reflection data.

By solving a Marchenko equation, Green’s functions at an arbitrary (inner) depth level inside an unknown elastic layered medium can be retrieved from single-sided reflection data, which are collected at the top of the medium. To date, it has only been possible to obtain an exact solution if the medium obeyed stringent monotonicity conditions and if all forward-scattered (non-converted and converted) transmissions between the acquisition level and the inner depth level were known a priori. We introduce an alternative Marchenko equation by revising the window operators that are applied in its derivation. We also introduce an auxiliary equation for transmission data, which are collected at the bottom of the medium, and a coupled equation, which is based on both reflection and transmission data. We show that the joint system of the Marchenko equation, the auxiliary equation and the coupled equation can be succesfully inverted when broadband reflection and transmission data are available. This results in a novel methodology for elastodynamic Green’s function retrieval from two-sided data. Apart from these data, our approach requires P- and S-wave transmission times between the inner depth level and the top of the medium, as well as two angle-dependent amplitude scaling factors, which can be estimated from the data by enforcing energy conservation.

Green’s functions in an unknown elastic layered medium can be retrieved from single-sided reflection data by solving a Marchenko equation. This methodology requires a priori knowledge of all forward-scattered (non-converted and converted) waveforms. Moreover, the medium should satisfy stringent monotonicity conditions, which are often not met in realistic scenarios. In this contribution, we show that the situation is significantly less cumbersome if two-sided reflection and transmission data are recorded (for instance in laboratory settings). A novel methodology is presented to retrieve elastodynamic Green’s functions from such data. Apart from the two-sided reflection and transmission responses, our methodology requires knowledge of the direct non-converted PP- and SS-transmissions (a priori knowledge of forward-scattered converted waveforms is not needed). We demonstrate the success of our methodology by conducting a numerical experiment in an elastic layered medium that violates the monotonicity conditions of the Marchenko equation for single-sided reflection data. The limitations of the methodology and the sensitivity to errors in our initial estimates require further investigation.