Full-Waveform Inversion

Generate detailed, data-driven subsurface models with full-waveform inversion (FWI)

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) accurately computes highly detailed, data-driven models of subsurface velocity, absorption (Q) and reflectivity, for use in seismic imaging and interpretation, by minimizing the difference between observed and modeled seismic waveforms. Our pioneering technology goes beyond refraction and reflection tomography techniques, which use only the travel time kinematics of the seismic data, by using additional information provided by the amplitude and phase of the seismic waveform.

Time-lag FWI (TLFWI) is a proprietary CGG technology that has delivered dramatic improvements in seismic imaging. It is a robust approach that minimizes classic FWI cycle-skipping issues related to inaccurate starting models, amplitude mismatches and poor signal-to-noise ratio. TLFWI is proving highly successful for salt and near-salt velocity updates in challenging geological environments such as deepwater Gulf of Mexico, for ocean bottom node (OBN) data sets, and as a way to rejuvenate legacy seismic data.