Method of wavelet estimation and multiple prediction in full wavefield inversion

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8990053-B2
Application number	US-201213356342-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2012
Priority date	Mar 31, 2011
Publication date	Mar 24, 2015
Grant date	Mar 24, 2015

Abstract

Wavelet estimation method, particularly advantageous for full wavefield inversion (“FWI”) of seismic data, that makes use of both the primary and multiple reflections in the data. The inventive method uses an FWI algorithm to generate a subsurface model from primary reflections ( 101 ) in a shallow layer before first arrival of multiple reflections ( 101 ). The model is then used to simulate multiples ( 102 ). The wavelet is subsequently modified ( 104 ) such that the simulated multiples closely match the true recorded multiples ( 103 ). The simulated multiples may then be subtracted from the measured data ( 105 ) thereby creating a deeper top layer of data substantially free of multiples, and the method may then be repeated to extend the subsurface model to a greater depth ( 106 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for inversion of measured seismic data from a subsurface region, comprising:
(a) selecting a shallow layer from the seismic data, with the layer's depth determined to include primary reflections (shallow primaries), but exclude first arrivals of multiple reflections of interest (multiples);
(b) inverting the shallow primaries, using an estimated seismic source wavelet, to obtain a shallow model of a physical property aff…

Assignees

• Lazaratos Spyridon K
• Wang Ke
• Exxonmobil Upstream Res Co

Inventors

• Lazaratos Spyridon K
• Wang Ke

Classifications

• G01V2210/56

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01V1/282 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01V2210/614

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01V2210/67

  Physics · mapped topic