Fast velocity model evaluation with synthesized wavefields

Fast velocity model evaluation with synthesized wavefields

Adam Halpert

Abstract:

Sophisticated interpretation tools such as automatic image segmentation allow for near-instant creation of multiple, geologically-plausible velocity models for a given imaging target. However, testing each of these models via remigration of the full dataset is not computationally feasible. By using an initial image to synthesize both an areal source function and a Born-modeled dataset, a large number of models can be tested and evaluated in a fraction of the time required for even a single migration of the full dataset. Tests using synthetic 2D data suggest that this method can demonstrate the impact of imaging using different models, even with small differences among them. Furthermore, a measure of image focusing can help quantify the relative merits of the different models.