Application of 2D Full Waveform Inversion to Walkaway VSP Data for the Estimation of Sub-Salt Elastic Parameters

C030 Application of 2D Full Waveform Inversion to Walkaway VSP Data for the Estimation of Sub- Salt Elastic Parameters M.A. Roberts* (Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP)) & B.E. Hornby (BP America Inc.) SUMMARY A major challenge facing exploration in the Gulf of Mexico is drilling below salt. Abnormal high pressures below salt creates a difficult drilling environment which can result in loss of well control and subsequently needing to sidetrack the well at a substantial cost. Seismic velocity is typically used for subsalt pore pressure estimation however seismic velocity measurements have large uncertainties below salt and in