Reflection tomography without picking

Abstract

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Reflection tomography can be implemented as an algorithm that does not required manual traveltime picking and leads to reliable interval velocity models. Traveltime information can be automatically picked for any locally coherent reflection event, without the need for explicitly defined reflectors. Entropy constraints and staged smoothing help to reduce spurious velocity anomalies and to avoid local minima. A field data example shows that this algorithm can significantly improve an initial interval velocity model without any manual picking or interpretation. The velocity model obtained from this reflection tomography algorithm resulted in a much improved prestack depth migration.