Developing Accurate Depth-imaging Velocity Models, Rapidly and Efficiently, for Gulf of Mexico Style Subsalt Exploration.

To build depth-imaging velocity models in the Gulf of Mexico accurately and rapidly, one must take account of, and make use of, the distinctive geologic conditions which prevail there. While the water column and salt layers have relatively invariant velocities, velocities in the sedimentary section are compaction-driven and therefore mainly a function of depth below mudline. A successful model building strategy must handie both the layer-based velocities for the water column and salt and grid based velocities for the sedimentary section. The purpose of this article is to present a series of techniques which show how this sort of model building strategy may be applied.