Abstract: A method for partitioning a search direction when using least squares reverse time migration (LSRTM) is provided. LSRTM may be used iteratively in order to improve imaging accuracy. As part of LSRTM, multiple local line searches may be performed. In particular, image space may be partitioned, such as by using a set of masks. The search direction, such as the gradient, may be partitioned using the set of masks. Local line searches may be performed for each partition of the search direction, resulting in finding respective line search constants. The respective line search constants may then be used for iterating the model in order to improve imaging accuracy.

Abstract: Iterative methods for inversion of seismic data to update a physical property model are disclosed. Such methods may comprise iteratively updating the model until a first predetermined resolution is achieved, using full wavefield inversion of the seismic data up to a first frequency threshold and assuming the seismic data is free of attenuation effects; extracting geobodies from the updated model; obtaining a Q model using the geobodies; and updating the physical property model using an inversion process, wherein the Q model is incorporated into the inversion process. These steps may be repeated until a second predetermined resolution of the physical property model is achieved, wherein the first frequency threshold is progressively increased in each repetition. The Q model may be updated with seismic data at all available frequencies to obtain a full-band Q model; and the physical property model may be updated using full-band migration and the full-band Q model.

Abstract: A method for partitioning a search direction when using least squares reverse time migration (LSRTM) is provided. LSRTM may be used iteratively in order to improve imaging accuracy. As part of LSRTM, multiple local line searches may be performed. In particular, image space may be partitioned, such as by using a set of masks. The search direction, such as the gradient, may be partitioned using the set of masks. Local line searches may be performed for each partition of the search direction, resulting in finding respective line search constants. The respective line search constants may then be used for iterating the model in order to improve imaging accuracy.

Abstract: A method, including: generating updated velocity models, each corresponding to one of a plurality of initial velocity models of intersecting 2D seismic survey lines, wherein updates to the plurality of initial velocity models are computed by imposing a seismic-tie regularization constraint on an inversion process that inverts for the updates to the plurality of initial velocity models, and the seismic-tie regularization constraint causes the updated velocity models to have consistent values for depth of seismic reflectivity at intersecting spatial locations.

Abstract: Iterative methods for inversion of seismic data to update a physical property model are disclosed. Such methods may comprise iteratively updating the model until a first predetermined resolution is achieved, using full wavefield inversion of the seismic data up to a first frequency threshold and assuming the seismic data is free of attenuation effects; extracting geobodies from the updated model; obtaining a Q model using the geobodies; and updating the physical property model using an inversion process, wherein the Q model is incorporated into the inversion process. These steps may be repeated until a second predetermined resolution of the physical property model is achieved, wherein the first frequency threshold is progressively increased in each repetition. The Q model may be updated with seismic data at all available frequencies to obtain a full-band Q model; and the physical property model may be updated using full-band migration and the full-band Q model.

Abstract: A method for exploring for hydrocarbons, including: simulating a seismic waveform, using a computer, wherein computations are performed on a computational grid representing a subsurface region, said computational grid using perfectly matched layer (PML) boundary conditions that use an energy dissipation operator to minimize non-physical wave reflections at grid boundaries; wherein, in the simulation, the PML boundary conditions are defined to reduce computational instabilities at a boundary by steps including, representing direction of energy propagation by a Poynting vector, and dissipating energy, with the dissipation operator, in a direction of energy propagation instead of in a phase velocity direction; and using the simulated waveform in performing full waveform inversion or reverse time migration of seismic data, and using a physical property model from the inversion or a subsurface image from the migration to explore for hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Method for reconstructing subsurface Q depth profiles from common offset gathers (92) of reflection seismic data by performing migration (40), ray tracing (100), CDP-to-surface takeoff angle finding (96, 98), kernel matrix construction (110), depth-to-time conversion and wavelet stretching correction (80), source amplitude spectrum fitting, centroid frequency shift calculation (90), and box-constrained optimization (120).

Abstract: A method for generating seismic attribute gathers, the method including: computing, with a computer, seismic images with a field dataset; generating, with a computer, synthetic data corresponding to the seismic images; computing, with a computer, an attribute volume by applying an expectation method to the synthetic data; mapping, with a computer, the attribute volume to the seismic images; and generating, with a computer, seismic attribute gathers by stacking the seismic images mapped to the attribute volume.

Abstract: A method, including: generating updated velocity models, each corresponding to one of a plurality of initial velocity models of intersecting 2D seismic survey lines, wherein updates to the plurality of initial velocity models are computed by imposing a seismic-tie regularization constraint on an inversion process that inverts for the updates to the plurality of initial velocity models, and the seismic-tie regularization constraint causes the updated velocity models to have consistent values for depth of seismic reflectivity at intersecting spatial locations.

Abstract: A method for generating seismic attribute gathers, the method including: computing, with a computer, seismic images with a field dataset; generating, with a computer, synthetic data corresponding to the seismic images; computing, with a computer, an attribute volume by applying an expectation method to the synthetic data; mapping, with a computer, the attribute volume to the seismic images; and generating, with a computer, seismic attribute gathers by stacking the seismic images mapped to the attribute volume.

Abstract: Method for estimating reflector dips in a window of post stack image traces (51) of seismic data for use in velocity tomography (57). The method iteratively (56) flattens (55) the image traces against a specified reference trace through the application of conjugate-gradient least-squares inversion (53). Different from other dip estimation methods which emphasize on strong-amplitude reflectors, the inventive method automatically inverts for the reflector dip for every grid point in the image window.

Abstract: A method for exploring for hydrocarbons, including: simulating a seismic waveform, using a computer, wherein computations are performed on a computational grid representing a subsurface region, said computational grid using perfectly matched layer (PML) boundary conditions that use an energy dissipation operator to minimize non-physical wave reflections at grid boundaries; wherein, in the simulation, the PML boundary conditions are defined to reduce computational instabilities at a boundary by steps including, representing direction of energy propagation by a Poynting vector, and dissipating energy, with the dissipation operator, in a direction of energy propagation instead of in a phase velocity direction; and using the simulated waveform in performing full waveform inversion or reverse time migration of seismic data, and using a physical property model from the inversion or a subsurface image from the migration to explore for hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Method for reconstructing subsurface Q depth profiles from common offset gathers (92) of reflection seismic data by performing migration (40), ray tracing (100), CDP-to-Data Domain surface takeoff angle finding (96, 98), kernel matrix construction (110), depth-to-time conversion and wavelet stretching correction (80), source amplitude spectrum fitting, centroid frequency shift calculation (90), and box-constrained optimization (120).

Abstract: Method for reconstructing subsurface profiles for seismic velocity or other geophysical properties from recorded seismic data. In one embodiment, a starting model of seismic velocity is assumed (10). The computational domain is divided into two (or more) subdomains by horizontal planes based on an analysis of velocity model (30), and the allowed maximum grid size for each subdomain is determined (50). Auxiliary perfectly matched layers (PML's) are attached to each planar interface between subdomains (80), e.g. two PML's on each side of the interface between the coarse and fine subdomains. Simulated seismic data are computed using the SG-DO technique (100-230). The simulated seismic data are compared to the recorded seismic data, then the residual is calculated (240) and used to update the model (320). The method may be iterated until the model is suitably converged (260).