Method for iterative first arrival picking using global path tracing

A non-transitory computer readable memory comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform:

• receiving a seismic dataset for a subterranean region of interest, wherein the seismic dataset comprises a plurality of seismic gathers and each seismic gather comprises a plurality of spatially-ordered seismic traces;
• determining a pilot for each seismic gather, wherein the pilot comprises a position on an ordinate axis for each seismic trace within the seismic gather;
• for each seismic gather, iteratively or recursively, until a stopping criterion is met:
• creating a preconditioned gather using the pilot, wherein the preconditioned gather comprises a plurality of preconditioned traces,
• determining a differential pilot, using global path tracing subject to a constraint, wherein the differential pilot comprises an increment on the ordinate axis for each preconditioned gather, and
• incrementing the pilot using the differential pilot to create a total picked first arrival;
• determining a final picked first arrival based on the total picked first arrival;
• determining a seismic velocity model from the final picked first arrival using a tomographic inversion;
• and
• creating a seismic image for the subterranean region of interest using the seismic velocity model and the seismic dataset.

A system, comprising:

• a seismic survey system configured to acquire a seismic dataset for a subterranean region of interest, wherein the seismic dataset comprises a plurality of seismic gathers and each seismic gather comprises a plurality of spatially-ordered seismic traces;
• and
• a seismic processor configured to:
• receive the seismic dataset for the subterranean region of interest from the seismic survey system,
• determine a pilot for each seismic gather, wherein the pilot comprises a position on an ordinate axis for each seismic trace within the seismic gather,
• for each seismic gather, iteratively or recursively, until a stopping criterion is met:
• create a preconditioned gather using the pilot, wherein the preconditioned gather comprises a plurality of preconditioned traces,
• determine a differential pilot, using global path tracing subject to a constraint, wherein the differential pilot comprises an increment on the ordinate axis for each preconditioned gather,
• increment the pilot using the differential pilot to create a total picked first arrival,
• determine a final picked first arrival based on the total picked first arrival;
• determine a seismic velocity model from the final picked first arrival using a tomographic inversion, and
• create a seismic image for the subterranean region of interest using the seismic velocity model and the seismic dataset;
• and
• a seismic interpretation workstation configured to identify a drilling target within the subterranean region of interest based, at least in part, on the seismic image.