Discussion and conclusions

The standard approach to match the estimated multiples directly to the data and obtain the primaries by subtraction of the matched multiples often leads to weakened primaries and/or contamination with residual multiples. By exploiting the estimates of both, multiples and primaries, we prevent the matching algorithm from attempting to match weak residual primaries along with the multiples. Furthermore, we obtain simultaneous estimates of both the primaries and the multiples that are guaranteed to be consistent with the original data.

As with most inversions, the performance of the algorithm depends critically on the choice of the inversion parameters. There are no guaranteed combinations of parameters that work in every case, but we now discuss the most important: