3D GOM WAZ survey experiment using Full Waveform Inversion

Exploration in geologically more complex areas requires new tools/methodologies in order to address these challenges. The recently introduced wide-azimuth data acquisition method offers better illumination, noise attenuation and lower frequencies to more accurately determine a velocity field for imaging. The methodology in this paper follows the layer striping approach where we developed the supra salt sediment followed by the top of salt, salt flanks, base of salt and finished with a limited subsalt update. The inversion stages were carefully QC-ed through gather displays to ensure the kinematics were honoured. In order to approximate the observed data, the acoustic inversion had attenuation, anisotropy, acquisition source and receiver depth incorporated in the propagator. The final results were validated by reverse time migration using the inverted velocity field versus the final tomography velocity regime.