2D inversion of refraction traveltime curves using homogeneous functions

A method using simple inversion of refraction traveltimes for the determination of 2D velocity and interface structure is presented. The method is applicable to data obtained from engineering seismics and from deep seismic investigations. The advantage of simple inversion, as opposed to ray‐tracing methods, is that it enables direct calculation of a 2D velocity distribution, including information about interfaces, thus eliminating the calculation of seismic rays at every step of the iteration process. The inversion method is based on a local approximation of the real velocity cross‐section by homogeneous functions of two coordinates. Homogeneous functions are very useful for the approximation of real geological media. Homogeneous velocity functions can include straight‐line seismic boundaries. The contour lines of homogeneous functions are arbitrary curves that are similar to one another. The traveltime curves recorded at the surface of media with homogeneous velocity functions are also similar to one another. This is true for both refraction and reflection traveltime curves. For two reverse traveltime curves, non‐linear transformations exist which continuously convert the direct traveltime curve to the reverse one and vice versa. This fact has enabled us to develop an automatic procedure for the identification of waves refracted at different seismic boundaries using reverse traveltime curves. Homogeneous functions of two coordinates can describe media where the velocity depends significantly on two coordinates. However, the rays and the traveltime fields corresponding to these velocity functions can be transformed to those for media where the velocity depends on one coordinate. The 2D inverse kinematic problem, i.e. the computation of an approximate homogeneous velocity function using the data from two reverse traveltime curves of the refracted first arrival, is thus resolved. Since the solution algorithm is stable, in the case of complex shooting geometry, the common‐velocity cross‐section can be constructed by applying a local approximation. This method enables the reconstruction of practically any arbitrary velocity function of two coordinates. The computer program, known as godograf , which is based on this theory, is a universal program for the interpretation of any system of refraction traveltime curves for any refraction method for both shallow and deep seismic studies of crust and mantle. Examples using synthetic data demonstrate the accuracy of the algorithm and its sensitivity to realistic noise levels. Inversions of the refraction traveltimes from the Salair ore deposit, the Moscow region and the Kamchatka volcano seismic profiles illustrate the methodology, practical considerations and capability of seismic imaging with the inversion method.     

基于初至波走时层析成像的Tikhonov正则化与梯度优化算法

初至波走时层析成像是利用地震初至波走时和其传播的射线路径来反演地下介质速度的技术.该问题本质上是一个不适定问题,需要使用正则化方法并辅之以适当的最优化技巧.本文从数值优化的角度介绍了初至波走时层析成像的反演原理,建立了Tikhonov正则化层析成像反演模型并提出求解极小化问题的加权修正步长的梯度下降算法.该方法可以从速度模型的可行域中迭代找到一个最优解.数值试验表明,该方法是可行和有应用前景的.     

METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF VELOCITY AND DEPTH FROM SEISMIC REFLECTION DATA1

The estimation of velocity and depth is an important stage in seismic data processing and interpretation. We present a method for velocity-depth model estimation from unstacked data. This method is formulated as an iterative algorithm producing a model which maximizes some measure of coherency computed along traveltimes generated by tracing rays through the model. In the model the interfaces are represented as cubic splines and it is assumed that the velocity in each layer is constant. The inversion includes the determination of the velocities in all the layers and the location of the spline knots. The process input consists of unstacked seismic data and an initial velocity-depth model. This model is often based on nearby well information and an interpretation of the stacked section. Inversion is performed iteratively layer after layer; during each iteration synthetic travel-time curves are calculated for the interface under consideration. A functional characterizing the main correlation properties of the wavefield is then formed along the synthetic arrival times. It is assumed that the functional reaches a maximum value when the synthetic arrival time curves match the arrival times of the events on the field gathers. The maximum value of the functional is obtained by an effective algorithm of non-linear programming. The present inversion algorithm has the advantages that event picking on the unstacked data is not required and is not based on curve fitting of hyperbolic approximations of the arrival times. The method has been successfully applied to both synthetic and field data.     

ITERATIVE TOMOGRAPHIC METHODS TO LOCATE SEISMIC LOW-VELOCITY ANOMALIES: A MODEL STUDY1

The possibilities for reconstructing seismic velocity distributions containing low-velocity anomalies by iterative tomographic methods are examined studying numerical and analogue 2D model data. The geometrical conditions of the model series were designed to generalize the geometrical characteristics of a typical cross-hole tomographic field case. Models with high (30%) and low (8%) velocity contrasts were realized. Traveltimes of 2D ultrasonic P-waves, determined for a dense net of raypaths across each model, form the analogue data set. The numerical data consists of traveltimes calculated along straight raypaths. Additionally, a set of curved-ray traveltimes was calculated for a smoothed version of the high-contrast model. The Simultaneous Iterative Reconstruction Technique (SIRT) was chosen from the various tomographic inversion methods. The abilities of this standard procedure are studied using the low-contrast model data. The investigations concentrate on the resolving power concerning geometry and velocity, and on the effects caused by erroneous data due to noise or a finite time precision. The grid spacing and the source and receiver patterns are modified. Smoothing and slowness constraints were tested. The inversion of high-contrast analogue model data shows that curved raypaths have to be considered. Hence, a ray-tracing algorithm using velocity gradients was developed, based on the grid structure of the tomographic inversion. This algorithm is included in the SIRT-process and the improvements concerning anomaly localization, resolution and velocity reconstruction are demonstrated. Since curved-ray tomography is time-consuming compared with straight-ray SIRT, it is necessary to consider the effects of grid spacing, ray density, slowness constraints and the     

Depth and morphology of reflectors from the non-linear inversion of arrival-time and waveform semblance data. Part I: method and applications to synthetic data

We propose a two-dimensional, non-linear method for the inversion of reflected/converted traveltimes and waveform semblance designed to obtain the location and morphology of seismic reflectors in a lateral heterogeneous medium and in any source-to-receiver acquisition lay-out. This method uses a scheme of non-linear optimization for the determination of the interface parameters where the calculation of the traveltimes is carried out using a finite-difference solver of the Eikonal equation, assuming an a priori known background velocity model. For the search for the optimal interface model, we used a multiscale approach and the genetic algorithm global optimization technique. During the initial stages of inversion, we used the arrival times of the reflection phase to retrieve the interface model that is defined by a small number of parameters. In the successive steps, the inversion is based on the optimization of the semblance value determined along the calculated traveltime curves. Errors in the final model parameters and the criteria for the choice of the best-fit model are also estimated from the shape of the semblance function in the model parameter space. The method is tested and validated on a synthetic dataset that simulates the acquisition of reflection data in a complex volcanic structure. This study shows that the proposed inversion approach is a valid tool for geophysical investigations in complex geological environments, in order to obtain the morphology and positions of embedded discontinuities.     

一种改进的地震反射层析成像方法

针对复杂介质的地震反射走时层析成像存在数据拾取困难问题,本文提出了一种新的地震反射层析成像速度模型建立方法,该方法用速度和地震射线走时描述模型,用地震反射波走时、地震波在源点和接收点处的传播方向信息反演模型.为提高反演的稳定性和计算效率,引入了Hamilton函数描述射线,在相空间计算反演所需的射线路径和目标函数对模型参数的导数,对理论模型和实际地震资料进行了试算,试算表明该方法对复杂介质具有较强的适应能力.     

Non‐uniqueness with refraction inversion – a syncline model study

Non‐uniqueness occurs with the 1D parametrization of refraction traveltime graphs in the vertical dimension and with the 2D lateral resolution of individual layers in the horizontal dimension. The most common source of non‐uniqueness is the inversion algorithm used to generate the starting model. This study applies 1D, 1.5D and 2D inversion algorithms to traveltime data for a syncline (2D) model, in order to generate starting models for wave path eikonal traveltime tomography. The 1D tau‐p algorithm produced a tomogram with an anticline rather than a syncline and an artefact with a high seismic velocity. The 2D generalized reciprocal method generated tomograms that accurately reproduced the syncline, together with narrow regions at the thalweg with seismic velocities that are less than and greater than the true seismic velocities as well as the true values. It is concluded that 2D inversion algorithms, which explicitly identify forward and reverse traveltime data, are required to generate useful starting models in the near‐surface where irregular refractors are common. The most likely tomogram can be selected as either the simplest model or with a priori information, such as head wave amplitudes. The determination of vertical velocity functions within individual layers is also subject to non‐uniqueness. Depths computed with vertical velocity gradients, which are the default with many tomography programs, are generally 50% greater than those computed with constant velocities for the same traveltime data. The average vertical velocity provides a more accurate measure of depth estimates, where it can be derived. Non‐uniqueness is a fundamental reality with the inversion of all near‐surface seismic refraction data. Unless specific measures are taken to explicitly address non‐uniqueness, then the production of a single refraction tomogram, which fits the traveltime data to sufficient accuracy, does not necessarily demonstrate that the result is either ‘correct’ or the most probable.     

P‐wave velocity distribution in basalt flows of the Enni Formation in the Faroe Islands from refraction seismic analysis

The main objective of this work is to establish the applicability of shallow surface‐seismic traveltime tomography in basalt‐covered areas. A densely sampled ～1300‐m long surface seismic profile, acquired as part of the SeiFaBa project in 2003 ( Japsen et al. 2006 ) at Glyvursnes in the Faroe Islands, served as the basis to evaluate the performance of the tomographic method in basalt‐covered areas. The profile is centred at a ～700‐m deep well. V_P, V_S and density logs, a zero‐offset VSP, downhole‐geophone recordings and geological mapping in the area provided good means of control. The inversion was performed with facilities of the Wide Angle Reflection/Refraction Profiling program package ( Ditmar et al. 1999 ). We tested many inversion sequences while varying the inversion parameters. Modelled traveltimes were verified by full‐waveform modelling. Typically an inversion sequence consists in several iterations that proceed until a satisfactory solution is reached. However, in the present case with high velocity contrasts in the subsurface we obtained the best result with two iterations: first obtaining a smooth starting model with small traveltime residuals by inverting with a high smoothing constraint and then inverting with the lowest possible smoothing constraint to allow the inversion to have the full benefit of the traveltime residuals. The tomogram gives usable velocity information for the near‐surface geology in the area but fails to reproduce the expected velocity distribution of the layered basalt flows. Based on the analysis of the tomogram and geological mapping in the area, a model was defined that correctly models first arrivals from both surface seismic data and downhole‐geophone data.     

INMOD—TWO DIMENSIONAL INVERSE MODELING ALGORITHM BASED ON RAY THEORY*

Two dimensional inverse modeling, a process to be applied after standard processing and interpretation, uses interfaces picked by the user. These interfaces are transformed into an approximate subsurface model. The subsurface model is represented by curved interfaces and interval velocities. The interfaces have to be unique functions of the line coordinate. Otherwise they may be arbitrarily curved and may begin or terminate anywhere along the section, e.g., at faults, pinchouts, salt domes and the like. Interval velocities may vary laterally along the section. The inverse modeling algorithm then modifies the model until traveltimes calculated from this model match the traveltimes observed as closely as possible in a least squares sense. The traveltimes corresponding to the model are obtained through ray tracing taking exact account of refraction. The traveltimes observed are the arrival times of single impulses before stacking contributing to the interfaces. These traveltimes are provided by ANAKON, a continuous interface analysis system. The comparison of INMOD results with those of well measurements and those of classical interval velocity computation from seismic data shows the accuracy of the method. Deviations of INMOD derived interface depths are within 2% of well data.     

三维复杂地形近地表速度估算及地震层析静校正

在地表一致性模型的基础上提出一种可适用于宽线剖面、弯曲测线、传统的二维和目前广泛使用的三维地震观测.在地形及近地表低降速带地质结构复杂的探区，低降速带厚度及速度估算的精度是静校正处理的关键.本研究根据三维地震观测的初至走时数据，利用最小平方与QR分解相结合的算法，在三维空间重建近地表低降速带速度模型，根据重建速度模型实现了静校正长波长分量与短波长分量的同步计算.分析了复杂的近地表低降速带模型初至波的性质，在观测值的自动拾取以及理论值的计算中充分考虑了可能成为初至波的直达波、折射波和反射波的利用，提高了低降速带速度模型反演的精度.在初至走时观测数据的拾取中，本研究采用分形算法克服了初至波波形差异以及折射波相位反转导致的拾取误差，实现了三维初至拾取的大规模全自动化运算.在射线路径与初至波理论走时的计算中，本研究采用一种计算量与模型复杂程度无关的三维射线追踪方法，该方法以最小走时射线路径保证了与观测数据有同等意义的初至波的射线追踪及理论走时的计算.野外实际资料的处理结果表明了方法的有效性.     

COMPUTING FIELD STATICS WITH THE HELP OF SEISMIC TOMOGRAPHY*

Field static corrections in general need be applied to all onshore seismic reflection data to eliminate the disturbing effects a weathering layer or near-surface low velocity zone has on the continuity of deep seismic reflections. The traveltimes of waves refracted at the bottom of the low velocity zone (or intermediate refracting interfaces) can often be observed as first breaks on shot records and used to develop a laterally inhomogeneous velocity model for this layer, from which the field static corrections can then be obtained. A simple method is described for computing accurate field statics from first breaks. It is based on a linearization principal for traveltimes and leads to the algorithms that are widely and successfully applied within the framework of seismic tomography. We refine an initial model for the low velocity layer (estimated by a standard traveltime inversion technique) by minimizing the errors between the observed first arrivals on field records and those computed by ray theory through an initial model of the low velocity layer. Thus, one can include more lateral velocity variations within the low velocity layers, which are important to obtain good field static corrections. Traditional first break traveltime inversion methods cannot, in general, provide such refined velocity values. The technique is successfully applied to seismic data from the Amazon Basin. It is based on a simple model for the low velocity layer that consists of an undulating earth surface and one planar horizontal refractor overlain by a laterally changing velocity field.     

Joint AVO inversion, wavelet estimation and noise-level estimation using a spatially coupled hierarchical Bayesian model

The main objective of the AVO inversion is to obtain posterior distributions for P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity and density from specified prior distributions, seismic data and well-log data. The inversion problem also involves estimation of a seismic wavelet and the seismic-noise level. The noise model is represented by a zero mean Gaussian distribution specified by a covariance matrix. A method for joint AVO inversion, wavelet estimation and estimation of the noise level is developed in a Bayesian framework. The stochastic model includes uncertainty of both the elastic parameters, the wavelet, and the seismic and well-log data. The posterior distribution is explored by Markov-chain Monte-Carlo simulation using the Gibbs' sampler algorithm. The inversion algorithm has been tested on a seismic line from the Heidrun Field with two wells located on the line. The use of a coloured seismic-noise model resulted in about 10% lower uncertainties for the P-wave velocity, S-wave velocity and density compared with a white-noise model. The uncertainty of the estimated wavelet is low. In the Heidrun example, the effect of including uncertainty of the wavelet and the noise level was marginal with respect to the AVO inversion results.     

Seismic traveltime inversion of 3D velocity model with triangulated interfaces

Seismic traveltime tomographic inversion has played an important role in detecting the internal structure of the solid earth. We use a set of blocks to approximate geologically complex media that cannot be well described by layered models or cells. The geological body is described as an aggregate of arbitrarily shaped blocks, which are separated by triangulated interfaces. We can describe the media as homogenous or heterogeneous in each block. We define the velocities at the given rectangle grid points for each block, and the heterogeneous velocities in each block can be calculated by a linear interpolation algorithm. The parameters of the velocity grid positions are independent of the model parameterization, which is advantageous in the joint inversion of the velocities and the node depths of an interface. We implement a segmentally iterative ray tracer to calculate traveltimes in the 3D heterogeneous block models. The damped least squares method is employed in seismic traveltime inversion, which includes the partial derivatives of traveltime with respect to the depths of nodes in the triangulated interfaces and velocities defined in rectangular grids. The numerical tests indicate that the node depths of a triangulated interface and homogeneous velocity distributions can be well inverted in a stratified model.     

电阻率和速度随机分布的MT与地震联合反演

在已有研究成果的基础上,为了适应物性参数剧烈变化的复杂模型并满足联合反演的要求,开发了速度和电阻率随机分布共网格单元模型的建模技术.基于这种统一的物性随机分布的网格介质模型,利用有限元方法和改进的射线追踪法分别正演计算大地电磁场和地震走时,结合改进的模拟退火算法,研究实现了电阻率和速度随机分布条件下的大地电磁与地震资料的同步联合反演.对物性界面不完全一致和物性变化剧烈的带地形复杂模型的试验,表明了该方法在精细反演复杂电阻率和速度结构方面的效果,克服了以往研究局限于简单模型的不足.对地震资料品质差的地区开展的实际资料联合反演,表明了方法的适用性,先验信息约束下的联合反演提高了反演精度.     

长白山天池火山研究区地壳三维界面与速度分布联合成像

迅速发展并得到广泛应用的空间深地震测深技术通过采用三维数据采集的观测系统,利用三维层析技术,以求获得区域地壳三维分层结构和三维速度分布图像。它与传统的二维宽角反射－折射剖面技术相结合,可以有效地研究区域性地壳结构,特别是壳内深断裂和低速层的空间展布特征。Kanasewich等(1985)给出了利用空间深地震测深资料重建地壳三维界面的方法,我们在其方法的基础之上,进一步提出地壳三维界面和速度分布联合反演的方法。正问题的计算是在Chander(1977)关于三维平界面的快速两点追踪算法上的改进,在获得界面三维反演结果的基础之上,利用剩余走时残差,采用模型不分块反演技术(Tarantola,Nercession 1986)重建地壳三维速度图像。 1998年国家地震局地球物理勘探中心在长白山火山区实施了三维深地震测深观测,目的是研究天池火山的岩浆系统。利用本次实验所获得的780余个PmP波走时数据,采用上述的方法重建了研究区莫霍界面和地壳三维速度分布图像。研究结果表明,本区莫霍界面由北东方向向南逐渐加深,在天池火山口下达最深,并且被一些可能存在的地壳厚度陡变带(或深断裂)所切割。在东西方向莫霍面由西向东缓缓加深,其变化较南北方向缓和。特别值得注意的是,存在着一条近北东方向的莫霍面深度陡变带(或深断裂带)从天池火山口西部穿过,相应位置与马鞍山—三道白河地堑型断裂相一致,该断裂带可能对天山火山喷发时岩浆的运移起到重要作用。深度为15km和25km的P波速度图像表明,在天池火山口下分布着近南北走向明显的低P波速度分布,其南北方向延伸的范围约为80－90公里左右。比较这两个深度上的低P波速度体的分布特点,可以看出这个低P波速度体尺度随深度逐渐变小,但在25km深度处仍清晰可见,这表明该区岩浆自上地幔侵入地壳的“痕迹”,这也意味着,长白山天池火山的岩浆系统极有可能延伸到上地幔或更深一些。     

基于HAFMM的无射线追踪跨孔雷达走时层析成像

本文使用最小二乘线性迭代反演方法对跨孔雷达直达波初至时数据进行反演,每次迭代过程中,用有限差分法求解走时程函方程,并用高精度快速推进方法(HAFMM)进行波前扩展,通过追踪波前避免了进行射线追踪.为了验证该方案,我们对三组合成数据进行了测试,分析了单位矩阵算子、一阶差分算子和拉普拉斯算子等三种不同模型参数加权算子对模型的约束和平滑效果;讨论了FMM和HAFMM对反演精度的影响;测试了LSQR,GMRES和BICGSTAB等三种矩阵反演算法的反演效果.此外,我们还对一组野外实测数据进行了反演,对比了基于本方案以及基于平直射线追踪和弯曲射线追踪的走时层析成像反演效果.对比分析结果表明,使用拉普拉斯算子和HAFMM进行反演能较好地进行目标体重建,而三种矩阵反演方法对反演效果的影响差别不大;并且通过对波前等时线图的分析可以定性地判断异常体的性质和位置;而在对实测数据目标体的重建上,本方案能达到甚至优于弯曲射线算法的重建效果.     

2D多尺度非线性地震速度成像

将遗传算法和单纯形算法相结合,得到了一种高效、健全的2D混合地震走时反演方法.把速度场划分为不同的空间尺度,定义网格节点上的速度作为待反演参数,采用双三次样条函数模型参数化,正问题采用有限差分走时计算方法,反问题采用多尺度混合反演方法.首先在较大的空间尺度内反演,然后减小空间尺度,将大尺度的反演结果作为次一级尺度反问题的初始模型,再进行混合反演,如此类推逐次逼近全局最优解.一个低速度异常体的数值模拟试验和抗走时扰动试验表明该方法是有效和健全的.我们将该方法应用到青藏高原东北缘阿尼玛卿缝合带东段上部地壳速度结构研究中,并与前人的成果进行了对比.     

Non‐uniqueness with refraction inversion – the Mt Bulga shear zone

The tau‐p inversion algorithm is widely employed to generate starting models with many computer programs that implement refraction tomography. However, this algorithm can frequently fail to detect even major lateral variations in seismic velocities, such as a 50 m wide shear zone, which is the subject of this study. By contrast, the shear zone is successfully defined with the inversion algorithms of the generalized reciprocal method. The shear zone is confirmed with a 2D analysis of the head wave amplitudes, a spectral analysis of the refraction convolution section and with numerous closely spaced orthogonal seismic profiles recorded for a later 3D refraction investigation. Further improvements in resolution, which facilitate the recognition of additional zones with moderate reductions in seismic velocity, are achieved with a novel application of the Hilbert transform to the refractor velocity analysis algorithm. However, the improved resolution also requires the use of a lower average vertical seismic velocity, which accommodates a velocity reversal in the weathering. The lower seismic velocity is derived with the generalized reciprocal method, whereas most refraction tomography programs assume vertical velocity gradients as the default. Although all of the tomograms are consistent with the traveltime data, the resolution of each tomogram is comparable only with that of the starting model. Therefore, it is essential to employ inversion algorithms that can generate detailed starting models, where detailed lateral resolution is the objective. Non‐uniqueness can often be readily resolved with head wave amplitudes, attribute processing of the refraction convolution section and additional seismic traverses, prior to the acquisition of any borehole data. It is concluded that, unless specific measures are taken to address non‐uniqueness, the production of a single refraction tomogram that fits the traveltime data to sufficient accuracy does not necessarily demonstrate that the result is either correct, or even the most probable.     

模拟退火方法在三维速度模型地震波走时反演中的应用

采用块状建模以及三角形拼接的界面描述方式,并通过立方体速度网格线性插值获得块体内部的速度分布。正演过程中采用逐段迭代射线追踪方法计算三维复杂地质模型中的射线走时,并采用模拟退火方法进行了三维模型中的地震波走时反演研究。模型测试结果表明,使用的射线追踪和走时反演算法有效。