Velocity Models for Subsalt Imaging Using Wide Azimuth Data

The past couple of years have seen a tremendous increase in the acquisition of wide azimuth (WAZ) surveys that provide improved subsalt imaging. We have seen a step change improvement in image quality compared to conventional narrow azimuth (NAZ) surveys, even when using minimal processing and existing, conventional survey velocity models. The improvement in image quality is taken to the next level when the wide azimuth data are combined with other seismic and non-seismic measurements to build ever more highly constrained models, and then more accurately migrated with two-way wave-equation methods. In this presentation we will describe our current methodology for building velocity models on wide azimuth data sets, utilizing anisotropy and multi measurement constrained imaging (MMCI). We will also discuss development of our next generation of velocity model building tools and techniques such as full waveform inversion (FWI).