Target-oriented FWI for subsalt imaging

We applied full waveform inversion (FWI) to an offshore field in the Gulf of America (GoA). It is a challenging case for FWI study: the area of interest is in a mini basin under a huge trunk of salt canopy and surrounded by massive salt as well. With a target-oriented FWI workflow, we obtained a promising velocity model update for the challenged subsalt area using several wide azimuth (WAZ) datasets. The corresponding FWI-derived reflectivity (FDR) image discloses critical detailed structures of geological formations located beneath thick layers of salt deposits; it serves as a high-resolution seismic image for interpretation, evaluation, and a useful reference for well planning and drilling decisions in the future.