Non-Linear Inversion Travel-Time Tomography: Imaging High-Contrast Inhomogeneities

B. Zhou; C. Sinadinovski; S. A. Greenhalgh

doi:10.1071/EG992459

ISSN: 0812-3985
E-ISSN: 1834-7533

Non-Linear Inversion Travel-Time Tomography: Imaging High-Contrast Inhomogeneities
Authors B. Zhou^a, C. Sinadinovski^b and S. A. Greenhalgh^b
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^a Department of Applied GeophysicsChengdu College of Geology, Chengdu, , 610059, , PR, . China ^b School of Earth Sciences Flinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100 Adelaide, , SA, 5001
Publisher: Australian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Source: Exploration Geophysics, Volume 23, Issue 1-2, Mar 1992, p. 459 - 464
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/EG992459
- Published online: 01 Mar 1992

Abstract

An iterative and constrained non-linear travel-time tomographic scheme is developed for imaging high-contrast inhomogeneities. The technique has been successfully tested using synthetic data. We have investigated the influence upon the image quality of the random errors in travel times for a cross-hole survey configuration.

In the forward problem, the ray path is traced by finding the minimal travel time of each shot-receiver pair in the updated model. For non-linear inversion, we approximate the velocity distribution with a specific first-order surface function so that the analytical derivatives with respect to each grid-point value of the velocity variation can be calculated. A constrained inversion from an arbitrary starting model is implemented in an iterative fashion.

Our results indicate that with 180° symmetric angular coverage and a cell size comparable to the minimum dimension of the target, it is possible to get a resolvable image of a high-contrast target only in the direction parallel to the boreholes, even without a priori information. Constraints from knowledge about the velocity distribution along the boreholes or along the surface are very important in overcoming the poor directional resolution. The combination of cross-hole data with VSP data substantially improves travel-time tomography as a means of imaging high-contrast inhomogeneities. The results also show that if the relative travel-time random errors in data exceed an estimated expected value of about 2.5%, the fine detail in the shape of a reconstructed target could be severely distorted.

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References

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Article Type: Research Article

Keyword(s): non-linear inversion; ray tomography; seismic velocity

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Non-Linear Inversion Travel-Time Tomography: Imaging High-Contrast Inhomogeneities

Abstract

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