Full waveform inversion for a long-wavelength velocity model using a regenerated wavefield based on the SWEET method

Abstract

In full waveform inversion (FWI), long-wavelength velocity models are essential for accurately estimating subsurface physical parameters. However, building long-wavelength velocity models with low-frequency components is challenging due to mechanical limitations in seismic data acquisition. We propose a novel FWI method that utilizes a regenerated wavefield derived from the Suppressed Wave Equation Estimation of Traveltime (SWEET) algorithm. The regenerated wavefield in our approach was obtained by convolving the arbitrary source wavelet with a Green’s function, which is represented by the first-arrival traveltime and amplitude extracted from the SWEET algorithm. Our approach can build long-wavelength velocity models, provided that a low-frequency wavelet is used. Furthermore, the potential for multi-scale inversion was demonstrated by gradually increasing the frequency of the source wavelet, leading to the acquisition of high-resolution models. In numerical examples, our proposed algorithm was validated using both synthetic and field data sets. We also assessed the noise sensitivity of the proposed method, confirming its applicability in practical scenarios. These results demonstrate that the proposed method is a robust and versatile tool for constructing long-wavelength and high-resolution velocity models from band-limited seismic data.

Keywords

Full waveform inversion / Long-wavelength velocity model / SWEET method / Regenerated wavefield / Multi-scale inversion

Funding

This research was supported by the Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion (KIMST), funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea (RS-2023-00259633); and the Basic Research Project “Development of operation management infrastructure for TAMHAE 3 and seamless seismic technology connecting coastal areas (25-3322)” of the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea.

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