Abstract: A method is described for seismic depth uncertainty analysis including receiving wavelet basis functions and cutoff thresholds and randomly perturbing wavelet coefficients in reduced wavelet space based on the wavelet basis functions and the cutoff thresholds to generate a plurality of random wavelet fields; receiving a reference model in a depth domain; transforming the plurality of random wavelet fields to the depth domain and combining them with the reference model to form candidate models; performing a hierarchical Bayesian modeling with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling methods using the candidate models as input to generate a plurality of realizations; and computing statistics of the plurality of realizations to estimate depth uncertainty. The method may be executed by a computer system.

Abstract: A method is described for seismic depth uncertainty analysis including receiving wavelet basis functions and cutoff thresholds and randomly perturbing wavelet coefficients in reduced wavelet space based on the wavelet basis functions and the cutoff thresholds to generate a plurality of random wavelet fields; receiving a reference model in a depth domain; transforming the plurality of random wavelet fields to the depth domain and combining them with the reference model to form candidate models; performing a hierarchical Bayesian modeling with Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling methods using the candidate models as input to generate a plurality of realizations; and computing statistics of the plurality of realizations to estimate depth uncertainty. The method may be executed by a computer system.

Abstract: A method is described for stochastic modeling of seismic velocity and anisotropic parameters, including receiving 3D bounds of normal moveout velocity (Vnmo) and anisotropic parameter ?; modeling 3D bounds for vertical velocity V and anisotropic parameter ? based on the 3D bounds of Vnmo and ?; generating 3D model realizations of V, ?, and ? within the 3D bounds; and testing detectability of each of the 3D model realizations to create a detectable subset of model realizations wherein the detectability identifies which 3D model realizations will produce images with flat migrated gathers. The method may be executed by a computer system.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for correcting velocity models for complex topographies are disclosed herein. In general, embodiments of the method utilize velocity corrections based on geomechanical effects to correct a velocity model to take into account complex surface topographies. In particular, embodiments of the method use a nucleus strain theory to determine the velocity corrections. Further details and advantages of various embodiments of the method are described in more detail herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method for correcting velocity models for complex topographies are disclosed herein. In general, embodiments of the method utilize velocity corrections based on geomechanical effects to correct a velocity model to take into account complex surface topographies. In particular, embodiments of the method use a nucleus strain theory to determine the velocity corrections. Further details and advantages of various embodiments of the method are described in more detail herein.

Abstract: A system and method for subsurface characterization including depth and structural uncertainty estimation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method may include determining a detectability threshold for moveout in a seismic data gather based on the seismic data and computing a depth uncertainty function, wherein the depth uncertainty function represents an error estimate that is used to analyze an interpretation of the seismic data. In another embodiment, the method may include receiving a depth uncertainty volume and at least one interpreted horizon from seismic data, extracting a depth uncertainty cage for each of the interpreted horizons based on the depth uncertainty volume, and simulating multiple realizations for each of the interpreted horizons, constrained by the depth uncertainty cage. The multiple realizations may be used for analyzing changes to geometrical or structural properties of the at least one interpreted horizon.

Abstract: A system and method for subsurface characterization including depth and structural uncertainty estimation is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method may include determining a detectability threshold for moveout in a seismic data gather based on the seismic data and computing a depth uncertainty function, wherein the depth uncertainty function represents an error estimate that is used to analyze an interpretation of the seismic data. In another embodiment, the method may include receiving a depth uncertainty volume and at least one interpreted horizon from seismic data, extracting a depth uncertainty cage for each of the interpreted horizons based on the depth uncertainty volume, and simulating multiple realizations for each of the interpreted horizons, constrained by the depth uncertainty cage. The multiple realizations may be used for analyzing changes to geometrical or structural properties of the at least one interpreted horizon.