Abstract: A reflection full waveform inversion method updates separately a density model and a velocity model of a surveyed subsurface formation. The method includes generating a model-based dataset corresponding to the seismic dataset using a velocity model and a density model to calculate an objective function measuring the difference between the seismic dataset and the model-based dataset. A high-wavenumber component of the objective function's gradient is used to update the density model of the surveyed subsurface formation. The model-based dataset is then regenerated using the velocity model and the updated density model, to calculate an updated objective function. The velocity model of the surveyed subsurface formation is then updated using a low-wavenumber component of the updated objective function's gradient. A structural image of the subsurface formation is generated using the updated velocity model.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing seismic data acquired with multicomponent sensors build an accurate S-wave velocity model of a surveyed underground formation using a full waveform inversion (FWI) approach. PS synthetic data is generated using approximative acoustic equations in anisotropic media with a P-wave model, a current S-wave velocity model and a reflectivity model as inputs. The current S-wave velocity model is updated using FWI to minimize an amplitude-discrepancy-mitigating cost function that alleviates the amplitude mismatch between the PS observed data and the PS synthetic data due to the use of the approximative acoustic equations.

Abstract: Methods and devices use improved FWI techniques for seismic exploration of subsurface formations including salt bodies using a travel-time cost function. In calculating the travel-time cost function, time-shifts may be weighted using cross-correlation coefficients of respective time-shifted recorded data and synthetic data generated based on current velocity model. The improved methods enhance the resulting image while avoiding cycle-skipping and issues related to amplitude difference between synthetic and recorded data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing seismic data acquired with multicomponent sensors build an accurate S-wave velocity model of a surveyed underground formation using a full waveform inversion (FWI) approach. PS synthetic data is generated using approximative acoustic equations in anisotropic media with a P-wave model, a current S-wave velocity model and a reflectivity model as inputs. The current S-wave velocity model is updated using FWI to minimize an amplitude-discrepancy-mitigating cost function that alleviates the amplitude mismatch between the PS observed data and the PS synthetic data due to the use of the approximative acoustic equations.

Abstract: Methods and devices use improved FWI techniques for seismic exploration of subsurface formations including salt bodies using a travel-time cost function. In calculating the travel-time cost function, time-shifts may be weighted using cross-correlation coefficients of respective time-shifted recorded data and synthetic data generated based on current velocity model. The improved methods enhance the resulting image while avoiding cycle-skipping and issues related to amplitude difference between synthetic and recorded data.

Abstract: Computing device, computer instructions and method for calculating an image of a subsurface based on least square migration and image de-convolution using a matching operator F. The method includes receiving seismic data d; computing a first image m of the subsurface based on the seismic data d; computing a second image h of the subsurface based on the first image m; applying a transform operation to the first and second images m and h to obtain a first transform of the first image and a second transform of the second image; calculating the matching operator F by matching the first transform of the first image to the second transform of the second image; and generating an updated image mupdated of the subsurface based on the matching operator F and the first transform of the first image.

Abstract: A reflection full waveform inversion method updates separately a density model and a velocity model of a surveyed subsurface formation. The method includes generating a model-based dataset corresponding to the seismic dataset using a velocity model and a density model to calculate an objective function measuring the difference between the seismic dataset and the model-based dataset. A high-wavenumber component of the objective function's gradient is used to update the density model of the surveyed subsurface formation. The model-based dataset is then regenerated using the velocity model and the updated density model, to calculate an updated objective function. The velocity model of the surveyed subsurface formation is then updated using a low-wavenumber component of the updated objective function's gradient. A structural image of the subsurface formation is generated using the updated velocity model.

Abstract: Computing device, computer instructions and method for calculating an image of a subsurface based on least square migration and image de-convolution using a matching operator F. The method includes receiving seismic data d; computing a first image m of the subsurface based on the seismic data d; computing a second image h of the subsurface based on the first image m; applying a transform operation to the first and second images m and h to obtain a first transform of the first image and a second transform of the second image; calculating the matching operator F by matching the first transform of the first image to the second transform of the second image; and generating an updated image mupdated of the subsurface based on the matching operator F and the first transform of the first image.