Full Waveform Inversion

DUG Elastic Multi-parameter FWI Imaging: A seismic shift.

Multi-parameter elastic least-squares imaging powered by FWI.

Built for research and production at high frequency with huge datasets on HPC. Leverage superior physics and reduce turnaround time for unsurpassed subsurface characterisation.

**HOT OFF THE PRESS**

DUG Elastic MP-FWI Imaging is here!

Our new elastic imaging technology solves for reflectivity, Vp, Vs, P-impedance, S-impedance and density. It delivers unsurpassed imaging along with elastic rock properties for quantitative interpretation and pre-stack amplitude analysis — directly from field-data input! Watch the video here.


High impedance contrasts, such as those produced by salt, produce significant elastic effects that must be accounted for to correctly image the seismic wavefield and deliver true-amplitudes for quantitative interpretation. DUG Elastic MP-FWI Imaging utilises superior physics to remove the assumptions and approximations of both traditional processing and imaging, and traditional quantitative interpretation workflows.

DUG Elastic MP-FWI Imaging solves for three-component reflectivity, Vp, Vs, P-impedance, S-impedance and density.

Resolving illumination issues caused by complex salt bodies has been a persistent geophysical challenge. DUG MP-FWI Imaging uses all parts of the scattered wavefield to reconstruct the reflectivity and kinematic Earth parameters. Naturally treating both up- and down-going wavefields, along with prismatic waves, multiples and ghosts as valuable information, guarantees significantly better subsurface sampling than primary-only imaging. This in turn delivers much-improved illumination, resolution and ultimately imaging of subsurface geology.

In these land dataset examples quite spectacular uplift was observed. DUG MP-FWI Imaging resolved subtle structural and stratigraphic features that were simply not imaged with a conventional processing and imaging workflow. Even with the additional complexity that comes with onshore data acquisition (such as topography and near-surface effects), DUG MP-FWI Imaging produced far superior results. Significantly better illumination and event continuity is obvious when comparing the sections below, thanks to least-squares imaging of the full wavefield—that includes interbed multiples. Incredible near-surface detail has been resolved, as can be seen on the shallow depth-slices to the right. This example highlights why DUG MP-FWI Imaging is now the technology of choice, and a must-have for any seismic project, either land or marine.

A comparison between imaging results in a complex salt environment, offshore Gulf of Mexico. Conventional reverse time migration (RTM), after pre-processing & regularisation versus DUG MP-FWI Imaging result using field-data input. Superior resolution. Superior imaging. (Data courtesy of Shell)

Shallow-water environments are notoriously challenging for conventional processing workflows due to the presence of strong, short-period multiples that obscure primary signal. In this shallow-water dataset from the Barents Sea, DUG MP-FWI Imaging generated a high-resolution image up to 110 Hz. (Data courtesy of Aker BP)

A comparison of results from a hybrid (towed-streamer and OBN) dataset from the Norwegian North Sea. (Data courtesy of Seismic Partner and Geoex MCG)

DUG Multi-parameter FWI Imaging

Obtain unrivalled results faster with DUG’s Multi-parameter FWI (MP-FWI) Imaging technology. Simultaneous model building and high-frequency, least-squares imaging deliver accurate, high-resolution Earth models using field-data input—without the many time-consuming, subjective, serial steps of a conventional processing and imaging workflow. At high frequency, this revolutionary approach provides reflectivity images for both structural and quantitative interpretation, including angle stacks for AVA analysis. Our new elastic imaging technology solves for three-component reflectivity, Vp, Vs, P-impedance, S-impedance and density.

  • Unsurpassed imaging using field-data input
  • Land — Marine — OBN
  • Multi-vintage — Multi-survey
  • Superior physics — Rapid turnaround
  • Simultaneous model building and least-squares imaging
  • Significantly better illumination by using more signal (multiples, ghosts, and prismatic waves)
  • Invert for reflectivity, velocity, anisotropy, source signatures, and attenuation
  • DUG Elastic MP-FWI Imaging solves for three-component reflectivity, Vp, Vs, P-impedance, S-impedance and density 
  • Full offset and angle stack (AVA) outputs

Model building with FWI

FWI inverts for high-resolution earth models using the entire seismic wavefield. It is an integral part of our depth model-building strategies for conventional imaging workflows.

  • Model updates using diving waves (bananas) and reflections (roo ears)
  • Invert for source wavelets, velocity, anisotropy, Q

A JV project between TGS and DUG, the “Peninsular Malaysia Mega Merge 3D” involved 39 different surveys (including 3 OBC surveys). With data vintages from 1989 to 2014 the combined area was over 17,000 square kilometres. The high-resolution velocity model was built up to a maximum frequency of 35 Hz.

Starting velocity model and final model after FWI. Depth slice and inline with migrated stack overlaid with the respective velocity model. In this OBN example the shallow channels are well resolved after FWI, correcting the imaging distortions at depth. (Data courtesy of Carbon Transition and TGS)

Before and after FWI. Smooth starting velocity model prior to FWI (left) and after FWI, co-rendered with the seismic data (right). (Data courtesy of Shell NZ).

Shallow depth slice of the velocity model prior to FWI versus shallow depth slice of the velocity model after FWI highlighting significant short wavelength detail. 

FWI using both high-resolution streamer data and sparse OBN data. Velocity updates beyond 5 km depth are achieved thanks to the long offset diving wave penetration of the OBN data. (LumiSeisTM data courtesy of MCG)

The engine room

Designed for geoscience, not computer science. Backed by some of the greenest HPC on the planet.

  • Loop-skipping mitigation
  • Integrated footprint removal
  • Multi-survey and multi-acquisition geometry compatible
  • Accelerated convergence using machine learning techniques
  • Domain decomposition
  • Bespoke functionality for marine (both shallow and deep water), land and ocean bottom surveys
  • Designed for HPC – computer science and hardware interactions are managed by the software for maximum robustness and efficiency

Quality control

  • Integrated QC products and data manipulation with complete control of dataflow pipeline
  • QC maps (including quantitative measures of objective function and phase)
  • Synthetics-only (forward modelling) mode
  • Independent source-wavelet inversion
  • Diving-wave depth of penetration

Diving wave penetration QC. The white “bananas” demonstrate the maximum depth of update expected from diving wave FWI.

P-impedance. Warmer colours represent lower values. Simultaneous AVA inversion results using pre-stack reflectivity inputs from conventional processing and imaging (time pre-processing and Kirchhoff depth migrations) versus DUG MP-FWI Imaging using field-data input. (BEX MC3D data courtesy of Multi-Client Resources)

Vp/Vs ratio. Warmer colours represent lower values. Simultaneous AVA inversion results using pre-stack reflectivity inputs from conventional processing and imaging (time pre-processing and Kirchhoff depth migrations) versus DUG MP-FWI Imaging using field-data input. (BEX MC3D data courtesy of Multi-Client Resources)

Gas probability after fluid and lithology prediction using a Bayesian classification framework. High probability is shown in red. Qualitatively the results are very similar—but note the vastly different workflows to get to each result. (BEX MC3D data courtesy of Multi-Client Resources)

Crossplots (prepared in exactly the same way) for each respective set of inverted rock properties. PDFs of modelled fluid and lithology combinations are also depicted. Note the DUG MP-FWI Imaging results have produced less scatter (or higher signal-to-noise ratio) which translates to less uncertainty. (BEX MC3D data courtesy of Multi-Client Resources)

Quantitative interpretation

Quantitative interpretation (QI) requires true amplitudes and high signal-to-noise ratio. DUG Elastic MP-FWI Imaging delivers elastic rock properties for QI and pre-stack amplitude (AVA) analysis—directly from field-data input.

Superior results, faster. Let’s talk.

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