Methods and Systems of Target-Oriented Full-Waveform Inversion

A computing system comprising:

• a memory configured to store instructions;
• and
• one or more processors coupled to the memory and configured to execute the instructions to cause the computing system to:
• identify an area of interest (AOI) in a subsurface region of Earth based on a velocity model computed based on input seismic data;
• mute at least a portion of the input seismic data based on reflection energy received from an impedance boundary in the subsurface region and apply a data mask to remaining input seismic data;
• perform a first full-waveform inversion (FWI) to update the velocity model from a depth associated with the impedance boundary using the input seismic data after muting and applying the data mask to obtain an updated velocity model;
• generate a model mask for the updated velocity model based on the AOI and the impedance boundary;
• and
• perform a second FWI to update the updated velocity model using the model mask and the input seismic data after muting and applying the data mask and smoothing the gradient to enhance a seismic image at the AOI.

A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions that are stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium and that, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing system to:

• identify an area of interest (AOI) in a subsurface region of Earth based on a velocity model computed based on input seismic data;
• mute at least a portion of the input seismic data based on reflection energy received from an impedance boundary in the subsurface region and apply a data mask to remaining input seismic data;
• perform a first full-waveform inversion (FWI) to update the velocity model from a depth associated with the impedance boundary using the input seismic data after muting and applying the data mask to obtain an updated velocity model;
• generate a model mask for the updated velocity model based on the AOI and the impedance boundary;
• and
• perform a second FWI to update the updated velocity model using the model mask and the input seismic data after muting and applying the data mask and smoothing the gradient to enhance a seismic image at the AOI.