State of the Art in Full Waveform Inversion

Instructor: Ian F. Jones (Independent consultant)
Language: English
Level: Foundation
Duration and formats:
Online: 2 live sessions of 3-4 hours CPD Points: 4
Classroom: 1 day CPD Points: 5

Course Description

Over the past ten years, full waveform inversion (FWI) as emerged and developed to the point that is now the main technique of choice for detailed model building and reflectivity estimation for complex geological environments. In this review, I will outline the underlying principles involved in FWI, detailing the use of RTM to estimate the location of subsurface parameter error, and introduce the many and varied ‘flavors’ of FWI, noting their limitations and benefits. Use of FWI for model estimation, reflectivity generation, and pre-sack attribute analysis (AVA) will be covered, and demonstrated with field data examples.

Course Outline

For the topics listed below, real data examples will be used to demonstrate the application and limitation of each technique.

  • Why do we need a detailed velocity model?
  • Migration using wavefield extrapolation methods (WEM, RTM, etc.)
    • One-way versus two-way propagation
  • Resolving short-scale-length velocity anomalies
  • The mechanics of tomographic inversion with wavefield extrapolation theory (FWI)
    • The scattering limit
    • Refraction versus reflection
    • Different ‘norms’ (dynamic versus kinematic: least-squares, travel time, phase, optimal transport)
  • Examples of current industrial practice for various geological settings

Participants’ Profile

The course is designed to be followed by anyone with a broad geoscience background.

Prerequisites

No specific detailed foreknowledge is required, although a familiarity with geophysical terminology will be useful.

About the Instructor

Ian received a joint honours BSc in Physics with Geology from the University of Manchester, UK, in 1977, an MSc in Seismology from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, and a PhD in Geophysical Signal Processing from the University of British Columbia, Canada.

After working for ‘Inverse Theory & Applications’ in Canada for two years, he joined CGG, where for 15 years he was involved in R&D in the London and Paris offices, latterly as manager of the depth imaging research group. In 2000 he joined ION GX Technology, as a Senior Geophysical Advisor in London, and in 2021 joined BrightSkies Geoscience as a Consultant Senior Geophysical Advisor.

His interests include velocity model building and migration, having written the text books: ‘Velocities, Imaging, and Waveform Inversion: the evolution of characterising the Earth’s subsurface’ published by the EAGE in 2018; ‘An Introduction to Velocity Model Building’ published by the EAGE in 2010; and co-editing the SEG Geophysics Reprints series volumes ‘Classics of Elastic Wave Theory’ and also ‘Pre-Stack Depth Migration and Velocity Model Building’, as well as contributing the chapter on model building to the SEG online encyclopaedia.

He has served as an associate editor for the journals ‘Geophysics’ and ‘Geophysical Prospecting’, and teaches the EAGE/SEG/GESGB continuing education course on ‘Velocity Model Building and Migration’ and was an external lecturer at the University of Leeds and Imperial College London. Ian was awarded the EAGE’s Anstey Medal in 2003 for “contributions to the depth imaging literature”, made the SEG European Honorary Lecturer in 2012 for “contributions to advancing the science and technology of geophysics”, conducted the 2018-2019 EAGE International Education Tour, and was made an Honorary Life Member by the EAGE in 2018, and received the best paper award for his 2019 First Break tutorial on FWI.