First‐arrival traveltime tomography with modified total‐variation regularization

First‐arrival traveltime tomography is a robust tool for near‐surface velocity estimation. A common approach to stabilizing the ill‐posed inverse problem is to apply Tikhonov regularization to the inversion. However, the Tikhonov regularization method recovers smooth local structures while blurring the sharp features in the model solution. We present a first‐arrival traveltime tomography method with modified total‐variation regularization to preserve sharp velocity contrasts and improve the accuracy of velocity inversion. To solve the minimization problem of the new traveltime tomography method, we decouple the original optimization problem into the two following subproblems: a standard traveltime tomography problem with the traditional Tikhonov regularization and a L₂ total‐variation problem. We apply the conjugate gradient method and split‐Bregman iterative method to solve these two subproblems, respectively. Our synthetic examples show that the new method produces higher resolution models than the conventional traveltime tomography with Tikhonov regularization, and creates less artefacts than the total variation regularization method for the models with sharp interfaces. For the field data, pre‐stack time migration sections show that the modified total‐variation traveltime tomography produces a near‐surface velocity model, which makes statics corrections more accurate.     

起伏地形下的高精度反射波走时层析成像方法

全球造山带及中国大陆中西部普遍具有强烈起伏的地形条件.复杂地形条件下的地壳结构成像问题像一面旗帜引领了当前矿产资源勘探和地球动力学研究的一个重要方向.深地震测深记录中反射波的有效探测深度可达全地壳乃至上地幔顶部,而初至波通常仅能探测上地壳浅部.为克服和弥补初至波探测深度的不足,本文基于前人对复杂地形条件下初至波成像的已有研究成果,采用数学变换手段将笛卡尔坐标系的不规则模型映射到曲线坐标系的规则模型,并将快速扫描方法与分区多步技术相结合,发展了反射波走时计算和射线追踪的方法.进而利用反射波走时反演,实现起伏地形下高精度的速度结构成像,从而为起伏地形下利用反射波数据高精度重建全地壳速度结构提供了一种全新方案.数值算例从正演计算精度、反演中初始模型依赖性、反演精度、纵横向分辨率以及抗噪性等方面验证了算法的正确性和可靠性.     

Comparison of optimization algorithms for parameter estimation of multi-phase flow models with application to geological carbon sequestration

Optimization of multi-phase transport models is important both for calibrating model parameters to observed data and for analyzing management options. We focus on examples of geological carbon sequestration (GCS) process-based multi-phase models. Realistic GCS models can be very computationally expensive not only due to the spatial distribution of the model but also because of the complex nonlinear multi-phase and multi-component transport equations to be solved. As a result we need to have optimization methods that get accurate answers with relatively few simulations. In this analysis we compare a variety of different types of optimization algorithms to understand the best type of algorithms to use for different types of problems. This includes an analysis of which characteristics of the problem are important in choice of algorithm. The goal of this paper is to evaluate which optimization algorithms are the most efficient in a given situation, taking into account shape of the optimization problem (e.g. uni- or multi-modal) and the number of simulations that can be done. The algorithms compared are the widely used derivative-based PEST optimization algorithm, the derivative-based iTOUGH2, the Kriging response surface algorithm EGO, the heuristics-based DDS (Dynamically Dimensioned Search), and the Radial Basis Function surrogate response surface based global optimization algorithms ‘GORBIT’ and ‘Stochastic RBF’. We calibrate a simple homogeneous model ‘3hom’ and two more realistic models ‘20layer’ and ‘6het’. The latter takes 2 h per simulation. Using rigorous statistical tests, we show that while the derivative-based algorithms of PEST are efficient on the simple 3hom model, it does poorly in comparison to surrogate optimization methods Stochastic RBF and GORBIT on the more realistic models. We then identify the shapes of the optimization surface of the three models using enumerative simulations and discover that 3hom is smooth and unimodal and the more realistic models are rough and multi-modal. When the number of simulations is limited, surrogate response surfaces algorithms perform best on multi-modal, bumpy objective functions, which we expect to have for most realistic multi-phase flow models such as those for GCS.     

ELASTIC PARAMETER ESTIMATION BY COHERENCY OPTIMIZATION1

We present a method for estimating P- and S-velocities within defined layers (macromodel), using only kinematic properties (i.e. traveltimes) of the wavefield. The method does not require identification of mixed-mode events on prestack or post-stack data. After obtaining a V_p-depth model by coherency inversion, S-velocities are determined by coherency optimization along computed traveltime curves for mixed-mode events on prestack data. Since the method does not involve any dynamic wavefield computations, a simple ray-tracing algorithm is used to solve the forward problem. The simplicity of the scheme, together with the ability to apply it locally, makes it highly suitable for interactive use. Results of this method may be used to detect Poisson's ratio anomalies within or between layers and may serve as an initial model for more complicated elastic inversion algorithms.     

京津唐张地区速度结构和震源位置联合反演的遗传算法

震源参数和速度结构的联合反演是一个典型的非线性名参数最优化问题，常规的局部线性化反演方法往往易于陷入局部极值，且严重依赖于初始模型的选取。模拟生物界进化的遗传算法则是一种简单而高效的全局性搜索方法。     

Velocity model estimation for depth imaging: Comparison of three tomography methods on a 2D real data set

The estimation of velocity models is still crucial in seismic reflection imaging as it controls the quality of the depth‐migrated image, which is the basis of geological interpretation. Among the numerous existing methods for velocity determination, tomographic methods are very attractive for their efficiency and ability to retrieve heterogeneities of the medium. We present three tomographic methods in order to estimate heterogeneous velocity models from 2D prestack PP reflection data: a traveltime tomography in the time‐migrated domain, a traveltime and slope tomography in the non‐migrated time domain, and a slope tomography in the depth‐migrated domain. The first method (traveltime tomography in the time domain) is based on continuous picked events, whereas the two slope tomographic methods, one in the time domain and the other in the depth domain, are based on locally coherent events, with no assumptions about reflector geometry or the unknown velocity field. The purpose of this paper is not to describe in detail the theoretical basis and implementation of the methods, but to apply and compare their output using the same marine real data set. Based on the estimated velocity models, the migrated images and the common‐image gathers from the three processing routes, the relative strengths and weaknesses of the methods are discussed. Finally, similarities are indicated and potential alternative approaches are proposed.     

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.     

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.     

上地幔顶部折射波走时层析成像研究综述

简要介绍了上地幔顶部折射波走时层析成像研究的发展历程，详细介绍了上地幔项部折射波走时层析成像研究的各种方法并分析了其优缺点，介绍了国内外有关上地幔顶部折射波的研究工作和成果，阐述了上地幔顶部速度结构与构造活动的关系及其地球动力学意义。     

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.     

基于一种反余切紧凑约束的电磁波走时层析研究

电磁波走时层析可用于空洞和孤石等离散块体异常的探测中.在传统电磁波走时层析中,通常采用一个低阶差分泛函来稳定反演过程,而这类泛函都具有光滑约束的性质,在成像结果中难以对此类离散块体异常进行准确的解释.本文基于Tikhonov正则化思想,提出了一种反余切泛函,该泛函具有紧凑约束的性质且无需选择一个聚焦因子.结合弯曲胖射线层析理论和重加权正则化共轭梯度反演算法,对两个理论模型进行了成像效果研究.与低阶差分泛函和最小支撑泛函的成像结果相比,该方法能够更好地突出异常的边界,成像结果中的虚假异常也要更少.同时,还分析讨论了激发电磁波的中心频率以及数据噪音对成像结果的影响.此外,针对一个地下连续墙墙体内部缺陷的现场模型,利用该方法取得了理想的成像结果,良好地揭示了缺陷的形态和位置.     

Common-offset common-reflection-surface attributes estimation with differential evolution

Common-reflection surface is a method to describe the shape of seismic events, typically the slopes (dip) and curvature portions (traveltime). The most systematic approach to estimate the common-reflection surface traveltime attributes is to employ a sequence of single-variable search procedures, inheriting the advantage of a low computational cost, but also the disadvantage of a poor estimation quality. A search strategy where the common-reflection surface attributes are globally estimated in a single stage may yield more accurate estimates. In this paper, we propose to use the bio-inspired global optimization algorithm differential evolution to estimate all the two-dimensional common-offset common-reflection surface attributes simultaneously. The differential evolution algorithm can provide accurate estimates for the common-reflection surface traveltime attributes, with the benefit of having a small set of input parameters to be configured. We apply the differential evolution algorithm to estimate the two-dimensional common-reflection surface attributes in the synthetic Marmousi data set, contaminated by noise, and in a land field data with a small fold. By analysing the stacked and coherence sections, we could see that the differential evolution based common-offset common-reflection surface approach presented significant signal-to-noise ratio enhancement.     

弹性矢量波成像域联合层析反演

在地震弹性矢量波场框架下,推导了多波联合层析速度反演方程以及走时残差与角道集剩余曲率的转换关系式,提出了一种利用成像域角道集更新P波、S波速度的走时层析反演方法.其实现过程可以概括为:将弹性波多分量数据作为输入,基于高斯束实现矢量波场成像并提取角道集,利用层析反演方程求解慢度更新量,最终获得多波联合反演结果.模型试算和实际资料处理验证了该方法的反演效果,能够为弹性矢量波联合深度偏移提供高质量的叠前速度场.     

初至波菲涅尔体地震层析成像

根据地震波传播的有限频理论,对于某个特定震相的观测信息,不仅射线路径上的点对该信息具有影响,射线领域上的其他点对接收信息也具有影响,这种影响可以用核函数来表达.本文基于波动方程的Born近似与Rytov近似,给出了非均匀介质情况下初至地震波振幅与走时菲涅尔体层析成像单频、带限层析核函数的计算方法.通过对均匀介质情况下初至地震波菲涅尔体层析成像核函数解析表达式的理论模型实验与分析,给出了不同维度振幅、走时单频菲涅尔体的空间分布范围,进而给出了带限菲涅尔体边界的确定方法.将本文的走时菲涅尔体层析成像理论应用于表层速度结构反演中,理论模型试验与实际资料处理结果表明,初至波菲涅尔体地震层析成像方法比传统的初至波射线层析成像理论具有更高的反演精度.     

Wave equation tomographic velocity inversion method based on the Born/Rytov approximation

This paper discusses Born/Rytov approximation tomographic velocity inversion methods constrained by the Fresnel zone. Calculations of the sensitivity kernel function and traveltime residuals are critical in tomographic velocity inversion. Based on the Born/Rytov approximation of the frequency-domain wave equation, we derive the traveltime sensitivity kernels of the wave equation on the band-limited wave field and simultaneously obtain the traveltime residuals based on the Rytov approximation. In contrast to single-ray tomography, the modified velocity inversion method improves the inversion stability. Tests of the near-surface velocity model and field data prove that the proposed method has higher accuracy and Computational efficiency than ray theory tomography and full waveform inversion methods.     

跨孔地震层析成像的级联方法

对厚度小于1/4波长的超薄波速干扰体进行高分辨率成像,作者曾采用走时反演和波场反演相结合的方法,体现了由低分辨率向高分辨率逐步逼近的思想.级联算法是这种思想的进一步发展,我们将具有不同分辨率的算法串联起来,以达到高分辨率成像的目的.本文介绍一种三级串联的算法,并进行了算法分析,数值计算的例子说明这种级联算法分辨率高、稳定性好,只需要地震资料而不要求其它先验信息,因此能较好地满足实际应用的要求.     

Applications of hybrid genetic algorithms in seismic tomography

Almost all earth sciences inverse problems are nonlinear and involve a large number of unknown parameters, making the application of analytical inversion methods quite restrictive. In practice, most analytical methods are local in nature and rely on a linearized form of the problem equations, adopting an iterative procedure which typically employs partial derivatives in order to optimize the starting (initial) model by minimizing a misfit (penalty) function. Unfortunately, especially for highly non-linear cases, the final model strongly depends on the initial model, hence it is prone to solution-entrapment in local minima of the misfit function, while the derivative calculation is often computationally inefficient and creates instabilities when numerical approximations are used. An alternative is to employ global techniques which do not rely on partial derivatives, are independent of the misfit form and are computationally robust. Such methods employ pseudo-randomly generated models (sampling an appropriately selected section of the model space) which are assessed in terms of their data-fit. A typical example is the class of methods known as genetic algorithms (GA), which achieves the aforementioned approximation through model representation and manipulations, and has attracted the attention of the earth sciences community during the last decade, with several applications already presented for several geophysical problems.In this paper, we examine the efficiency of the combination of the typical regularized least-squares and genetic methods for a typical seismic tomography problem. The proposed approach combines a local (LOM) and a global (GOM) optimization method, in an attempt to overcome the limitations of each individual approach, such as local minima and slow convergence, respectively. The potential of both optimization methods is tested and compared, both independently and jointly, using the several test models and synthetic refraction travel-time date sets that employ the same experimental geometry, wavelength and geometrical characteristics of the model anomalies. Moreover, real data from a crosswell tomographic project for the subsurface mapping of an ancient wall foundation are used for testing the efficiency of the proposed algorithm. The results show that the combined use of both methods can exploit the benefits of each approach, leading to improved final models and producing realistic velocity models, without significantly increasing the required computation time.     

A review of the influencing factors on teleseismic traveltime tomography

Teleseismic traveltime tomography is an important tool for investigating the crust and mantle structure of the Earth. The imaging quality of teleseismic traveltime tomography is affected by many factors, such as mantle heterogeneities, source uncertainties and random noise. Many previous studies have investigated these factors separately. An integral study of these factors is absent. To provide some guidelines for teleseismic traveltime tomography, we discussed four main influencing factors:the ...     

Optimization of Cell Parameterizations for Tomographic Inverse Problems

—?We develop algorithms for the construction of irregular cell (block) models for parameterization of tomographic inverse problems. The forward problem is defined on a regular basic grid of non-overlapping cells. The basic cells are used as building blocks for construction of non-overlapping irregular cells. The construction algorithms are not computationally intensive and not particularly complex, and, in general, allow for grid optimization where cell size is determined from scalar functions, e.g., measures of model sampling or a priori estimates of model resolution. The link between a particular cell j in the regular basic grid and its host cell k in the irregular grid is provided by a pointer array which implicitly defines the irregular cell model. The complex geometrical aspects of irregular cell models are not needed in the forward or in the inverse problem. The matrix system of tomographic equations is computed once on the regular basic cell model. After grid construction, the basic matrix equation is mapped using the pointer array on a new matrix equation in which the model vector relates directly to cells in the irregular model. Next, the mapped system can be solved on the irregular grid. This approach avoids forward computation on the complex geometry of irregular grids. Generally, grid optimization can aim at reducing the number of model parameters in volumes poorly sampled by the data while elsewhere retaining the power to resolve the smallest scales warranted by the data. Unnecessary overparameterization of the model space can be avoided and grid construction can aim at improving the conditioning of the inverse problem. We present simple theory and optimization algorithms in the context of seismic tomography and apply the methods to Rayleigh-wave group velocity inversion and global travel-time tomography.     

基于MSFM的复杂近地表模型走时计算

地震走时层析成像方法是解决复杂近地表模型速度建模问题的重要技术.该方法是一种迭代反演方法,在反演过程中需要反复计算地震射线走时.故而,高效高精度且能适应复杂模型的走时计算方法是地震走时层析成像实用化的关键技术之一.本文引入医学成像领域研究的MSFM(Multi-stencils Fast Marching Methods)用于地震层析反演中的走时计算.该方法在标准FMM(Fast Marching Methods)基础上利用坐标旋转生成新的FMM计算模板,使计算网格点对角方向邻点参与计算,改善了标准FMM存在对角方向误差大的缺陷.本文分析对比了MSFM和标准FMM的计算精度和计算效率;针对地震层析成像技术解决的起伏地表模型建模问题,研究了起伏地表模型地震走时计算的MSFM实现方法;采用炮点邻近区域局部细分网格技术只需增加很少的计算量即可大幅提高计算精度.理论分析和模型试算表明MSFM算法明显改善了FMM的计算精度,同时保持了FMM算法的高效性.文章通过对崎岖地表模型的正演和层析反演试算,验证了基于MSFM的地震走时计算方法对复杂模型有很强的适应能力.研究表明该方法作为地震走时层析反演中高效高精度的正演算法,有很好的应用价值.