Generating a velocity model for a subsurface structure using refraction travel time tomography

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed, cause a computer to perform operations comprising:

• generating, by at least one hardware processor, a first velocity model for a subsurface structure by performing a refraction traveltime tomography procedure based on an initial velocity model;
• generating, by the at least one hardware processor, a first refined velocity model based on the first velocity model and a time-domain structure skeleton model, wherein the time-domain structure skeleton model is determined based on reflection seismic data of the subsurface structure, and wherein the generating first refined velocity model based on the first velocity model and the time-domain structure skeleton model comprises
• dividing the subsurface structure into a plurality of regions based on the time-domain structure skeleton model;
• and
• for each region that is divided based on the time-domain structure skeleton model, replacing velocity values in the first velocity model with an average velocity value of a respective region;
• and
• generating an image of the subsurface structure based on the first refined velocity model.

A device, comprising:

• at least one hardware processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium coupled to the at least one hardware processor and storing programming instructions for execution by the at least one hardware processor, wherein the programming instructions, when executed, cause the at least one hardware processor to perform operations comprising:
• generating a first velocity model for a subsurface structure by performing a refraction traveltime tomography procedure based on an initial velocity model;
• generating a first refined velocity model based on the first velocity model and a time-domain structure skeleton model, wherein the time-domain structure skeleton model is determined based on reflection seismic data of the subsurface structure, and wherein the generating first refined velocity model based on the first velocity model and the time-domain structure skeleton model comprises:
• dividing the subsurface structure into a plurality of regions based on the time-domain structure skeleton model;
• and
• for each region that is divided based on the time-domain structure skeleton model, replacing velocity values in the first velocity model with an average velocity value of a respective region;
• and
• generating an image of the subsurface structure based on the first refined velocity model.