US 12,422,579 B2
System and method for forming a seismic velocity model and imaging a subterranean region
Weiguang He, Beijing (CN); Yujin Liu, Beijing (CN); and Song Han, Beijing (CN)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Sep. 30, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/937,443.
Prior Publication US 2024/0125955 A1, Apr. 18, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01V 1/28 (2006.01); G01V 1/30 (2006.01)
CPC G01V 1/282 (2013.01) [G01V 1/303 (2013.01); G01V 2210/614 (2013.01); G01V 2210/6161 (2013.01); G01V 2210/6222 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming an image of a subterranean region of interest, comprising:
obtaining an observed seismic dataset for the subterranean region of interest, wherein the observed seismic dataset comprises a plurality of seismic source locations, a plurality of receiver locations, and an observed seismic trace for each pair of seismic source location and seismic receiver location;
obtaining a seismic velocity model for the subterranean region of interest;
simulating, using a computer processor, a simulated seismic dataset wherein the simulated seismic dataset comprises a simulated seismic trace for each pair of seismic source location and seismic receiver location based, at least in part, on the seismic velocity model;
forming, using the computer processor, a plurality of trace pairs from the simulated seismic dataset and the observed seismic dataset, wherein each of the plurality of trace pairs comprises an observed seismic trace and a simulated seismic trace;
forming, using the computer processor, an objective function based, at least in part, on a penalty function and a cross-correlation between the observed seismic trace and the simulated seismic trace of each of the plurality of trace pairs;
finding, using the computer processor, an extremum of the objective function;
determining, using the computer processor, a seismic velocity increment based, at least in part, on the extremum;
forming, using the computer processor, an updated seismic velocity model by combining the seismic velocity increment and the seismic velocity model; and
forming, using the computer processor, the image of the subterranean region of interest based, at least in part, on the updated seismic velocity model.