Seismic depth imaging

Depth imaging requires two main elements: velocity estimation and depth migration. Depth migration requires a velocity model, and velocity estimation requires a migrated image. This circular dependency is usually solved in an iterative loop, part of a large optimization problem. Clearly, accurate imaging is not ultimately possible unless both the migration and velocity analysis problems are solved accurately.

The current state-of-the-art in seismic imaging has wave-equation migration standing for the depth migration algorithm and traveltime tomography standing for the velocity estimation algorithm. Although this pair of methods proved successful in cases of many complicated structures, neither one is ideal for the task, as illustrated by their failures (40). The goal of this thesis is to push the limits for both, and design more accurate and powerful methodologies for the future.

 

• Migration
• Velocity estimation