Discussion

To be fair, it should be noted that the flattening method only acts in the vertical dimension. This implicitly imposes several limitations. For instance, only vertical faults and beds that are not overturned can be properly restored. Also, the true stratigraphic thickness will be lost and replaced with the true vertical thickness at the reference trace.

The potential prestack applications of this method are numerous, and many of the challenges that must be overcome for poststack data are also present in prestack data.

The integrated time shift data has many potential uses. This method can easily be adapted to flatten data cubes on one or any particular combination of horizons. This would assist geologists in analyzing thicknesses for rates of deposition and timing of structural events.