Waveform inversion of poststacked reflection seismic data with well log constrained using nonlinear optimization methods

Abstract Surface reflection seismic inversion techniques are currently applied by the industry for mapping the rock physical properties of oil reservoirs. This information permits speeding up the interpretation process to ultimately provide well locations. At present, many companies require the inversion to be completed before any well is drilled. Inversion techniques can be applied to prestacked and poststacked seismic data. Prestacked data inversion is more complex than poststacked, but it provides more information for the interpreter (e.g., P-wave and S-wave impedances). On the other hand, poststacked inversion provides only the acoustic P-wave impedance. However, the main outcome of prestacked inversion is the increase in resolution when full waveforms are inverted. Currently, poststacked seismic inversion is used to correlate P-wave impedance with rock physical properties obtained from well logs. The logs are provided by a well near the survey line, allowing images of different rock properties to be ...