Can frequency domain inversion of seismic data work?

R. Gerhard Pratt; Zhong-Min Song; Paul R. Williamson

doi:10.1117/12.164846

1 December 1993 Can frequency domain inversion of seismic data work?

R. Gerhard Pratt, Zhong-Min Song, Paul R. Williamson

Proceedings Volume 2033, Mathematical Methods in Geophysical Imaging; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.164846
Event: SPIE's 1993 International Symposium on Optics, Imaging, and Instrumentation, 1993, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

We approach the seismic inverse problem by forward modelling through finite differences in the frequency domain. We simulate a 3D wave equation, but we reduce the problem to a superposition of 2D problems by a wavenumber transformation in the out-of-plane direction. This combined frequency-wavenumber formulation is utilized in a convergent iterative inversion algorithm suitable for application to real data without the need for ad-hoc preprocessing of the seismic amplitudes. Because our algorithm operates in the frequency domain, it is straightforward to solve for a complex velocity parameter, in order to invert for inelastic attenuation. We invert single frequency components of the wavefield data at a time. Where the data are wide band it is often helpful to initiate the procedure with a low frequency, and then to use a high frequency to obtain an optimal resolution. Because the source behavior is rarely known in practice we include this parameter in our inversions. Our tests with synthetic data encourage us to answer the question posed in the title of this paper in the affirmative.

Citation Download Citation

R. Gerhard Pratt, Zhong-Min Song, and Paul R. Williamson "Can frequency domain inversion of seismic data work?", Proc. SPIE 2033, Mathematical Methods in Geophysical Imaging, (1 December 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.164846

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