Solving the imaging complexity via application of elastic FWI in the Nile Delta

This study highlights the application of Elastic FullWaveform Inversion (eFWI) to address imaging challenges in the complex geological structures of the Nile Delta. Unlike acoustic FWI (aFWI), eFWI incorporates both P- and S-wave physics, effectively handling significant velocity contrasts, such as those found in the Messinian layer, and reducing boundary smearing at salt-sediment interfaces. The application of eFWI to multi-azimuth streamer data provides superior imaging of mud volcanoes, small gas pockets, and channels in the post-Messinian, as well as improved resolution of complex Messinian and pre-Messinian layers.