A 2D multistage median filter to reduce random seismic noise

Random noise lowers the S/N of seismic data and decreases the accuracy of dynamic and static corrections, thus degrading final data quality. A 2D multistage median filter (MLM) that effectively reduces the high-frequency random noise can be implemented by applying 1D median filters (MF) in several directions and choosing a value derived from them to output at the center of the 2D window. The choice of window size depends on the intensity of the random noise and the percentage of the input data samples within the window that contain noise. Synthetic data can be used to demonstrate how to choose the window size. The tendency of the method to damage the signal while reducing the noise can be minimized by optimizing window size and by applying two passes with modest-sized windows as opposed to a single pass with a larger window. Results of using the method on prestack and poststack data from the Songliao basin in China demonstrate that the method is effective at both stages.