Robust Stochastic Seismic Inversion with New Error Term Specification

A tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable media, comprising instructions configured to cause a processor to:

• receive observed seismic data;
• determine an envelope or magnitude of the observed seismic data as a first observed value;
• generate a variable noise term based in part upon the first observed value;
• utilize the variable noise term to determine a likelihood function of a stochastic inversion operation;
• utilize the likelihood function to generate a posterior probability distribution in conjunction with the stochastic inversion operation;
• and
• apply the posterior probability distribution to characterize a subsurface region of Earth.

A method, comprising:

• receiving observed seismic data;
• determining an envelope of the observed seismic data;
• generating a variable noise term based in part upon the envelope of the observed seismic data;
• determining whether a value of the variable noise term is above a threshold value;
• utilizing the variable noise term to determine a likelihood function of a stochastic inversion operation when the value of the variable noise term is determined to be above the threshold value;
• utilizing the likelihood function to generate a posterior probability distribution in conjunction with the stochastic inversion operation;
• and
• applying the posterior probability distribution to characterize a subsurface region of Earth.