Migration Velocity Analysis by Optimization: Linear Theory
, by Paul Fowler
A method is presented for finding the velocity function that yields the
optimal pre-stack time migrated
image from seismic data.
A linear theory is developed which relates changes in the estimated migration
velocities to changes in an underlying interval velocity model.
This velocity analysis method thus
provides not only the migration velocities, but also a
corresponding interval velocity model.
The
algorithm is fully automatic, and requires no picking
of traveltimes or horizons.
It should correctly estimate velocities in the presence of complex
geologic structures.
Two versions of the algorithm are developed: the
first requires that velocity varies only weakly laterally,
whereas the second should handle much larger lateral velocity
variations.
STANFORD