Seismic Applications of Full Waveform Inversion

Full waveform inversion (FWI) is a powerful imaging technique which exploits the richness of seismic waveforms. We further developed FWI to obtain multi-parameter images at high resolution. Here, we involve physical parameters, such as velocities and attenuation of seismic waves as well as mass density, which are essential for a reliable petrophysical characterization of subsurface structures in hydrocarbon exploration, geotechnical applications and underground constructions. Referring to this, we successfully applied FWI to field datasets recorded in the Black Sea and in the shallow-water area of a river delta in the Atlantic Ocean. We obtained detailed subsurface images containing rock formations which might be potential gas deposits. Additionally, we performed synthetic studies as preparatory steps to verify methodological improvements for further field-data applications. Here, we demonstrate resolution capabilities of FWI for imaging geological structures beneath salt bodies, investigate strategies to recover attenuation information from seismic data and perform a joint inversion of surface waves to image the very shallow subsurface.