SlideShare a Scribd company logo
70th
EAGE Conference & Exhibition — Rome, Italy, 9 - 12 June 2008
P175
An Extension of Linear Inverse Scattering
Methods for Absorptive Media to the Case of an
Absorptive Reference
K.A. Innanen* (University of Houston), J.E. Lira (University of Houston) & A.
B. Weglein (University of Houston)
SUMMARY
We cast and present inverse scattering quantities appropriate for the description of a two-parameter (P-
wave velocity and Q) absorptive medium given an absorptive reference, and present a tentative procedure
for carrying them out on measured seismic primary data. We note particularly that (1) this procedure
involves a Q compensation component, and therefore must be expected to require regularization in the
presence of noise, and (2) the formalism does not tend to our earlier non-absorptive reference procedure as
reference Q goes to infinity; the absorptive, or the non-absorptive reference case must be chosen at the
outset. These linear inverse results form part of a developing framework for direct non-linear Q
compensation, or data-driven enhancement of resolution lost due to absorptive processes.
Introduction
There exists a wide range of techniques for determining, and compensating for, Q from and
within reflection and transmission seismic data (Tonn, 1991). Most estimation techniques obtain
“Q information” from seismic data sets by observing the evolution of the spectra of echoes (or
direct waves) over an interval in time or space, whether directly (e.g., Rickett, 2007), or within
regularized inversion settings (Zhang and Ulrych, 2002).
The inverse scattering series (Weglein et al. , 2003), which admits a broad class of wave
models, including those associated with absorptive media, is being investigated as a means
to derive direct non-linear Q estimation and compensation algorithms (Innanen and Weglein,
2005). As a product of this investigation, a linear inverse scattering procedure for determining
(to first order) arbitrary multidimensional variations in P-wave velocity and Q from reflected
primary waves has recently been presented (Innanen and Weglein, 2007). In particular we noted
the distinct way in which these equations of inverse scattering demand that “Q information” be
detected in the data — through the variability of the reflection coefficient with frequency and/or
plane wave incidence angle. We also pointed out that in a recent description and parametrization
of absorptive-dispersive reflections of essentially the kind we must use, de Hoop et al. (2005)
have specifically advocated using these types of variations to drive inverse procedures.
The output of the above linear procedures may be used in either of two ways. First, if the
perturbations are small, and we are identifying a single interface below a well-characterized
overburden, it may be used as a means of direct Q estimation, i.e., absorptive medium identifi-
cation. Second, if the perturbations are large and sustained, the linear inverse output becomes
the input to higher order, non-linear algorithms, in which the data is used to directly construct
operators for Q-compensation. The latter can be accomplished in the form of full Q compensa-
tion, or a correction of dispersion only, which removes much of the sensitivity of the processing
to noise. Therefore it is correct to think of these procedures as first stages in a framework for
non-linear, direct recovery of the resolution lost through processes of absorption.
To date, these inverse scattering methods have involved reference media that are non ab-
sorptive, thereafter perturbing them such that the actual medium is properly absorptive. Since
the reference medium is assumed to be in agreement with the actual medium at and above
the source and measurement surfaces, this choice disallows at the outset any environment in
which the sources and receivers are embedded in an absorptive material. To complement, then,
the existing procedures, appropriate when the actual medium near the sources/receivers is non-
absorptive, we present a linear inverse procedure using an absorptive reference, appropriate
when the actual medium near the sources/receivers is absorptive.
Scattering quantities
The linear data equations will require forms for the absorptive reference Green’s functions and
an appropriate scattering potential. We use
G0(xg, zg, x , z , ω) =
1
2π
dkgeikg(xg−x ) eiqg|zg−z |
i2qg
,
G0(x , z , ks, zs, ω) = eiksxs
eiqs|z−zs|
i2qs
,
(1)
where q2
g = K2 − k2
g, etc., and K = ω
c0
1 + i
2Q0
− 1
πQ0
log ω
ωr
as per Aki and Richards
(2002). The scattering potential V is defined as the difference between reference and actual
absorptive differential operators. Defining F(ω) = i/2 − 1/π log ω
ωr
, we have
V =
ω2
c2
0
1 +
F(ω)
Q0
2
−
ω2
c2(x)
1 +
F(ω)
Q(x)
2
. (2)
We next require a suitable way of expressing the two medium variables, c and Q, in a perturba-
tional form. Defining
α(z) = 1 −
c2
0
c2(x)
β(z) = 1 −
Q0
Q(x)
,
(3)
and, noting (1) that even if the reference medium is highly attenuative, e.g., Q0 = 10, the terms
in 1/Q2
0 will be an order of magnitude smaller than those in 1/Q0, and (2) that terms in the
product αβ are generally small also, neglecting smaller terms, we have, upon substitution,
V ≈
ω2
c2
0
1 + 2
F(ω)
Q0
α(x) + 2
ω2
c2
0
F(ω)
Q0
β(x). (4)
In this form the component of V that is linear in the data, V1, is straightforwardly expressed in
terms of the components of α and β that are themselves also linear in the data, α1 and β1, as
V1 =
ω2
c2
0
1 + 2
F(ω)
Q0
α1(x) + 2
ω2
c2
0
F(ω)
Q0
β1(x). (5)
The quantities in equations (1) and (5) are next used to construct the linear data equations.
A procedure for linear inversion over a depth-varying perturbation
We proceed similarly to Clayton and Stolt (1981). We assume for present convenience (1) that
the linear component of the scattering potential is a function of depth z only, and (2) we have line
sources occupying the entire plane zs, and a single line receiver at (xg, zg). Upon substitution
of equations (1) and (5) into the first equation of the inverse scattering series, viz.
D (xg, zg, ks, zs, ω) = S(ω) dx dz G0(xg, zg, x , z , ω)V1(z )G0(x , z , ks, zs, ω), (6)
where S is the (known) source wavelet, we have
D(ks, ω) = α1(−2qs) + W(ω)β1(−2qs), (7)
where W(ω) = 2F(ω)
Q0
1 + 2F(ω)
Q0
−1
, and D is related to D by
D(ks, ω) = −4S−1
(ω) 1 +
2F(ω)
Q0
−1
q2
s c2
0
ω2
e−iksxg
eiqs(zg+zs)
D (xg, zg, ks, zs, ω). (8)
D should be thought of as the measured data, pre-processed as above to produce D. Equations
(7) are the heart of the inversion, and, c.f. Innanen and Weglein (2007), the variability of W
with temporal frequency for any given spectral component of the model parameters α1 and β1
determines the conditioning of the problem. Defining the depth wavenumber over which our
perturbations are to be solved to be kz = −2qs, the equations become
D(ks, ω) = α1(kz) + W(ω)β1(kz). (9)
At this stage we have several options. Ideally, we would subdivide the data into components
D(kz, θ) and solve the linear problem with sets of angles. However, the (kz, θ) parametrization
turns out to be inconvenient here, as there is no straightforward way of solving for ω(kz, θ). A
more convenient choice, since the data equations are independent directly in terms of ω already,
is to change variables from D(ks, ω) to D(kz, ω), and solve at each kz using a set of N >
2 frequencies. To proceed in this way, we need to know what ks value is associated with a
particular pair kz, ω. From the plane wave geometry we have
k2
s + q2
s =
ω2
c2
0
1 +
F(ω)
Q0
2
, (10)
hence
ks(kz, ω) =
ω2
c2
0
1 +
F(ω)
Q0
2
−
k2
z
4
. (11)
We then have the following prescription for performing the linear inversion:
1. From experimental values and from its definition, determine a suitable (complex) wavenum-
ber vector kz.
2. Find in the data D (kz, ω) = dtdxse−iωte
−i
r
ω2
c2
0
h
1+
F (ω)
Q0
i2
−
k2
z
4
xs
D (xs, t).
3. Process from D → D using reference medium quantities.
4. Now D(kz, ω) = α1(kz) + W(ω)β1(kz) holds; solve for α1 and β1 for each kz using
pairs (or larger sets) of frequencies ω1 and ω2.
5. Invert for α1(z|ω1, ω2) = 1
2π dkzeikzzα1(kz|ω1, ω2) and β1(z|ω1, ω2)
= 1
2π dkzeikzzβ1(kz|ω1, ω2). This is expected to be an unstable process, and the re-
quirement of some dampening of large kz values should be anticipated, especially in the
presence of noise.
Conclusions
We present an extension of some recent linear inverse scattering methods for absorptive media;
here the reference medium too is considered absorptive. This procedure complements the earlier
linear inverse procedure for non-absorptive reference media. We see, importantly, that one or
other of these must be chosen at the outset; the current method does not tend to the previous
method as Q0 → ∞. In fact, if the actual Q values remain finite, the current theory does
not respond at all well in this limit, so, should a non-absorptive reference medium be deemed
necessary, the (entirely different) definition of the Q perturbation of Innanen and Weglein (2007)
must be invoked. The choice of one or the other reference medium will be determined by
the known nature of the material in which the sources and receivers are embedded; this is an
important choice, since we typically assume the reference medium and the actual medium to be
in agreement at the source and receiver depths. We further note that this current form of linear
inversion involves an amount of Q compensation, as evidenced in the inverse transformation
from the kz domain to the z domain. This sets it apart from its non-absorptive counterpart
method. However, in many ways the two remain of a kind. Both interrogate the data via the
frequency or angle dependence of the reflection strengths. And both represent frameworks,
and first steps, from within which to develop non-linear inverse algorithms with the capacity to
enhance resolution through direct, data driven operations.
Acknowledgments
We wish to thank the sponsors and personnel of M-OSRP. J. Lira was supported by Petrobras; K.
Innanen and A. Weglein were supported by U.S. D.O.E. Grant No. DOE-De-FG02-05ER15697;
A. Weglein was supported by NSF-CMG award DMS-0327778.
References
Aki, K., and Richards, P. G. [2002] Quantitative seismology. 2nd edn. University Science
Books.
Clayton, R. W., and Stolt, R. H. [1981] A Born-WKBJ inversion method for acoustic reflection
data. Geophysics 46(11), 1559–1567.
de Hoop, A. T., Lam, C. H., and Kooij, B. J. [2005] Parametrization of acoustic boundary
absorption and dispersion properties in time domain source/receiver reflection measurement.
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 118, 654–660.
Innanen, K. A., and Weglein, A. B. [2005] Towards non-linear construction of a q-compensation
operator directly from reflection seismic data. In: SEG, Houston, TX.
Innanen, K. A., and Weglein, A. B. [2007] On the construction of an absorptive-dispersive
medium model via direct linear inversion of reflected seismic primaries. Inverse Problems
2289–2310.
Rickett, J. [2007] Estimating attenuation and the relative information content of amplitude and
phase spectra. Geophysics 72, R19.
Tonn, R. [1991] The determination of the seismic quality factor Q from VSP data: a comparison
of different computational methods. Geophysical Prospecting 39, 1–27.
Weglein, A. B., Araújo, F. V., Carvalho, P. M., Stolt, R. H., Matson, K. H., Coates, R. T.,
Corrigan, D., Foster, D. J., Shaw, S. A., and Zhang, H. [2003] Inverse scattering series and
seismic exploration. Inverse Problems R27–R83.
Zhang, C., and Ulrych, T. J. [2002] Estimation of quality factors from CMP records. Geophysics
67, 1542.

More Related Content

PDF
0504006v1
PDF
Linear inversion of absorptive/dispersive wave field measurements: theory and...
PDF
Obtaining three-dimensional velocity information directly from reflection sei...
PDF
A Novel Space-time Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Solving of One-dimension...
DOCX
Outgoing ingoingkleingordon spvmforminit1 - copy - copy
PDF
VitevPaper
PDF
Seismic 13- Professor. Arthur B Weglein
0504006v1
Linear inversion of absorptive/dispersive wave field measurements: theory and...
Obtaining three-dimensional velocity information directly from reflection sei...
A Novel Space-time Discontinuous Galerkin Method for Solving of One-dimension...
Outgoing ingoingkleingordon spvmforminit1 - copy - copy
VitevPaper
Seismic 13- Professor. Arthur B Weglein

What's hot (20)

PDF
Accuracy of the internal multiple prediction when a time-saving method based ...
PDF
Serie de dyson
PDF
BNL_Research_Poster
PDF
N. Bilic - "Hamiltonian Method in the Braneworld" 1/3
PDF
D. Mladenov - On Integrable Systems in Cosmology
PDF
Caldwellcolloquium
PDF
N. Bilic - "Hamiltonian Method in the Braneworld" 3/3
PDF
Öncel Akademi: İstatistiksel Sismoloji
PDF
NITheP WITS node seminar: Prof Jacob Sonnenschein (Tel Aviv University) TITLE...
PDF
Paolo Creminelli "Dark Energy after GW170817"
PDF
Gravitational Waves and Binary Systems (2) - Thibault Damour
PDF
The inverse scattering series for tasks associated with primaries: direct non...
PDF
I. Cotaescu - "Canonical quantization of the covariant fields: the Dirac fiel...
PDF
Gravitational Waves and Binary Systems (3) - Thibault Damour
PDF
The Analytical/Numerical Relativity Interface behind Gravitational Waves: Lec...
PDF
Alexei Starobinsky - Inflation: the present status
PDF
Starobinsky astana 2017
PDF
BNL_Research_Report
PDF
The Analytical/Numerical Relativity Interface behind Gravitational Waves: Lec...
Accuracy of the internal multiple prediction when a time-saving method based ...
Serie de dyson
BNL_Research_Poster
N. Bilic - "Hamiltonian Method in the Braneworld" 1/3
D. Mladenov - On Integrable Systems in Cosmology
Caldwellcolloquium
N. Bilic - "Hamiltonian Method in the Braneworld" 3/3
Öncel Akademi: İstatistiksel Sismoloji
NITheP WITS node seminar: Prof Jacob Sonnenschein (Tel Aviv University) TITLE...
Paolo Creminelli "Dark Energy after GW170817"
Gravitational Waves and Binary Systems (2) - Thibault Damour
The inverse scattering series for tasks associated with primaries: direct non...
I. Cotaescu - "Canonical quantization of the covariant fields: the Dirac fiel...
Gravitational Waves and Binary Systems (3) - Thibault Damour
The Analytical/Numerical Relativity Interface behind Gravitational Waves: Lec...
Alexei Starobinsky - Inflation: the present status
Starobinsky astana 2017
BNL_Research_Report
The Analytical/Numerical Relativity Interface behind Gravitational Waves: Lec...
Ad

Viewers also liked (6)

PDF
Lesson 15: Inverse Functions And Logarithms
PPT
Factor theorem solving cubic equations
PPTX
Factor Theorem and Remainder Theorem
PPTX
The remainder theorem powerpoint
PPTX
Long division, synthetic division, remainder theorem and factor theorem
PPT
Algebraic expressions
Lesson 15: Inverse Functions And Logarithms
Factor theorem solving cubic equations
Factor Theorem and Remainder Theorem
The remainder theorem powerpoint
Long division, synthetic division, remainder theorem and factor theorem
Algebraic expressions
Ad

Similar to An Extension of Linear Inverse Scattering Methods for Absorptive Media to the Case of an Absorptive Reference (20)

PDF
Nonlinear inversion of absorptive/dispersive wave field measurements: prelimi...
PDF
Araujo etal-1994b
PDF
Direct non-linear inversion of multi-parameter 1D elastic media using the inv...
PDF
Examples of a Nonlinear Inversion Method Based on the T Matrix of ScatteringT...
PDF
Zhang weglein-2008
PDF
Inverse scattering internal multiple attenuation algorithm in complex multi-D...
PDF
Ayadi weglein-2013
PDF
Inverse scattering series for multiple attenuation: An example with surface a...
PDF
Inverse scattering series for multiple attenuation: An example with surface a...
PDF
My Prize Winning Physics Poster from 2006
PDF
Reference velocity sensitivity for the marine internal multiple attenuation a...
PDF
article_mdimagh_haddar_2012
PDF
Timeseries Analysis And Inverse Theory For Geophysicists D Gibbons
PPTX
Linear Inversion of Seismic Data - Arthur Weglein Research Paper, M-OSR
PPTX
Linear inversion of seismic data - Arthur Weglein's research paper, M-OSRP
PDF
EAGE Amsterdam 2014
PDF
Inverse Scattering Series & Seismic Exploration - Topical Review by Arthur We...
PPTX
inverse theory and inversion of seismic
PPTX
Final Seminar
PPTX
Final Seminar
Nonlinear inversion of absorptive/dispersive wave field measurements: prelimi...
Araujo etal-1994b
Direct non-linear inversion of multi-parameter 1D elastic media using the inv...
Examples of a Nonlinear Inversion Method Based on the T Matrix of ScatteringT...
Zhang weglein-2008
Inverse scattering internal multiple attenuation algorithm in complex multi-D...
Ayadi weglein-2013
Inverse scattering series for multiple attenuation: An example with surface a...
Inverse scattering series for multiple attenuation: An example with surface a...
My Prize Winning Physics Poster from 2006
Reference velocity sensitivity for the marine internal multiple attenuation a...
article_mdimagh_haddar_2012
Timeseries Analysis And Inverse Theory For Geophysicists D Gibbons
Linear Inversion of Seismic Data - Arthur Weglein Research Paper, M-OSR
Linear inversion of seismic data - Arthur Weglein's research paper, M-OSRP
EAGE Amsterdam 2014
Inverse Scattering Series & Seismic Exploration - Topical Review by Arthur We...
inverse theory and inversion of seismic
Final Seminar
Final Seminar

More from Arthur Weglein (19)

DOCX
A new OSRP business model
PPTX
Arthur weglein
PDF
Wavelet estimation for a multidimensional acoustic or elastic earth
PDF
Coates weglein-1996
PDF
Fu etal-2010
PDF
Antidote final tle32101192%2 e1
PDF
Verschuur etal-1999
PDF
Internal multiple attenuation using inverse scattering: Results from prestack...
PDF
Wavelet estimation for a multidimensional acoustic or elastic earth- Arthur W...
PDF
Hsu etal-2009
PDF
Robustnesosf a New Source-Signature Estimation Method Under Realistic Data Co...
PDF
Chang etal 2012a
PDF
Reverse Time Migration and Green's Theorem- Professor. Arthur B. Weglein
PDF
Green's Theorem Deghostin Algorthm- Dr. Arthur B. Weglein
PDF
New Green's Theorem- Dr. Arthur Weglein
PDF
The Inverse Source Problem in The Presence of External Sources- Dr. Arthur B....
PDF
Errata- Professor Arthur B. Weglein
PDF
Initial study and implementation of the convolutional Perfectly Matched Layer...
PDF
The internal-multiple elimination algorithm for all first-order internal mult...
A new OSRP business model
Arthur weglein
Wavelet estimation for a multidimensional acoustic or elastic earth
Coates weglein-1996
Fu etal-2010
Antidote final tle32101192%2 e1
Verschuur etal-1999
Internal multiple attenuation using inverse scattering: Results from prestack...
Wavelet estimation for a multidimensional acoustic or elastic earth- Arthur W...
Hsu etal-2009
Robustnesosf a New Source-Signature Estimation Method Under Realistic Data Co...
Chang etal 2012a
Reverse Time Migration and Green's Theorem- Professor. Arthur B. Weglein
Green's Theorem Deghostin Algorthm- Dr. Arthur B. Weglein
New Green's Theorem- Dr. Arthur Weglein
The Inverse Source Problem in The Presence of External Sources- Dr. Arthur B....
Errata- Professor Arthur B. Weglein
Initial study and implementation of the convolutional Perfectly Matched Layer...
The internal-multiple elimination algorithm for all first-order internal mult...

Recently uploaded (20)

PDF
SEHH2274 Organic Chemistry Notes 1 Structure and Bonding.pdf
PDF
Unveiling a 36 billion solar mass black hole at the centre of the Cosmic Hors...
PPTX
2. Earth - The Living Planet earth and life
PPT
POSITIONING IN OPERATION THEATRE ROOM.ppt
PPTX
Taita Taveta Laboratory Technician Workshop Presentation.pptx
PPTX
7. General Toxicologyfor clinical phrmacy.pptx
PPTX
Introduction to Cardiovascular system_structure and functions-1
PDF
Placing the Near-Earth Object Impact Probability in Context
PDF
Mastering Bioreactors and Media Sterilization: A Complete Guide to Sterile Fe...
PPT
protein biochemistry.ppt for university classes
DOCX
Q1_LE_Mathematics 8_Lesson 5_Week 5.docx
PPTX
INTRODUCTION TO EVS | Concept of sustainability
PPTX
ECG_Course_Presentation د.محمد صقران ppt
PPTX
ANEMIA WITH LEUKOPENIA MDS 07_25.pptx htggtftgt fredrctvg
PDF
Biophysics 2.pdffffffffffffffffffffffffff
PDF
Sciences of Europe No 170 (2025)
PDF
An interstellar mission to test astrophysical black holes
PPTX
The KM-GBF monitoring framework – status & key messages.pptx
PPTX
EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY.pptx
PPTX
Microbiology with diagram medical studies .pptx
SEHH2274 Organic Chemistry Notes 1 Structure and Bonding.pdf
Unveiling a 36 billion solar mass black hole at the centre of the Cosmic Hors...
2. Earth - The Living Planet earth and life
POSITIONING IN OPERATION THEATRE ROOM.ppt
Taita Taveta Laboratory Technician Workshop Presentation.pptx
7. General Toxicologyfor clinical phrmacy.pptx
Introduction to Cardiovascular system_structure and functions-1
Placing the Near-Earth Object Impact Probability in Context
Mastering Bioreactors and Media Sterilization: A Complete Guide to Sterile Fe...
protein biochemistry.ppt for university classes
Q1_LE_Mathematics 8_Lesson 5_Week 5.docx
INTRODUCTION TO EVS | Concept of sustainability
ECG_Course_Presentation د.محمد صقران ppt
ANEMIA WITH LEUKOPENIA MDS 07_25.pptx htggtftgt fredrctvg
Biophysics 2.pdffffffffffffffffffffffffff
Sciences of Europe No 170 (2025)
An interstellar mission to test astrophysical black holes
The KM-GBF monitoring framework – status & key messages.pptx
EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY.pptx
Microbiology with diagram medical studies .pptx

An Extension of Linear Inverse Scattering Methods for Absorptive Media to the Case of an Absorptive Reference

  • 1. 70th EAGE Conference & Exhibition — Rome, Italy, 9 - 12 June 2008 P175 An Extension of Linear Inverse Scattering Methods for Absorptive Media to the Case of an Absorptive Reference K.A. Innanen* (University of Houston), J.E. Lira (University of Houston) & A. B. Weglein (University of Houston) SUMMARY We cast and present inverse scattering quantities appropriate for the description of a two-parameter (P- wave velocity and Q) absorptive medium given an absorptive reference, and present a tentative procedure for carrying them out on measured seismic primary data. We note particularly that (1) this procedure involves a Q compensation component, and therefore must be expected to require regularization in the presence of noise, and (2) the formalism does not tend to our earlier non-absorptive reference procedure as reference Q goes to infinity; the absorptive, or the non-absorptive reference case must be chosen at the outset. These linear inverse results form part of a developing framework for direct non-linear Q compensation, or data-driven enhancement of resolution lost due to absorptive processes.
  • 2. Introduction There exists a wide range of techniques for determining, and compensating for, Q from and within reflection and transmission seismic data (Tonn, 1991). Most estimation techniques obtain “Q information” from seismic data sets by observing the evolution of the spectra of echoes (or direct waves) over an interval in time or space, whether directly (e.g., Rickett, 2007), or within regularized inversion settings (Zhang and Ulrych, 2002). The inverse scattering series (Weglein et al. , 2003), which admits a broad class of wave models, including those associated with absorptive media, is being investigated as a means to derive direct non-linear Q estimation and compensation algorithms (Innanen and Weglein, 2005). As a product of this investigation, a linear inverse scattering procedure for determining (to first order) arbitrary multidimensional variations in P-wave velocity and Q from reflected primary waves has recently been presented (Innanen and Weglein, 2007). In particular we noted the distinct way in which these equations of inverse scattering demand that “Q information” be detected in the data — through the variability of the reflection coefficient with frequency and/or plane wave incidence angle. We also pointed out that in a recent description and parametrization of absorptive-dispersive reflections of essentially the kind we must use, de Hoop et al. (2005) have specifically advocated using these types of variations to drive inverse procedures. The output of the above linear procedures may be used in either of two ways. First, if the perturbations are small, and we are identifying a single interface below a well-characterized overburden, it may be used as a means of direct Q estimation, i.e., absorptive medium identifi- cation. Second, if the perturbations are large and sustained, the linear inverse output becomes the input to higher order, non-linear algorithms, in which the data is used to directly construct operators for Q-compensation. The latter can be accomplished in the form of full Q compensa- tion, or a correction of dispersion only, which removes much of the sensitivity of the processing to noise. Therefore it is correct to think of these procedures as first stages in a framework for non-linear, direct recovery of the resolution lost through processes of absorption. To date, these inverse scattering methods have involved reference media that are non ab- sorptive, thereafter perturbing them such that the actual medium is properly absorptive. Since the reference medium is assumed to be in agreement with the actual medium at and above the source and measurement surfaces, this choice disallows at the outset any environment in which the sources and receivers are embedded in an absorptive material. To complement, then, the existing procedures, appropriate when the actual medium near the sources/receivers is non- absorptive, we present a linear inverse procedure using an absorptive reference, appropriate when the actual medium near the sources/receivers is absorptive. Scattering quantities The linear data equations will require forms for the absorptive reference Green’s functions and an appropriate scattering potential. We use G0(xg, zg, x , z , ω) = 1 2π dkgeikg(xg−x ) eiqg|zg−z | i2qg , G0(x , z , ks, zs, ω) = eiksxs eiqs|z−zs| i2qs , (1) where q2 g = K2 − k2 g, etc., and K = ω c0 1 + i 2Q0 − 1 πQ0 log ω ωr as per Aki and Richards (2002). The scattering potential V is defined as the difference between reference and actual absorptive differential operators. Defining F(ω) = i/2 − 1/π log ω ωr , we have V = ω2 c2 0 1 + F(ω) Q0 2 − ω2 c2(x) 1 + F(ω) Q(x) 2 . (2)
  • 3. We next require a suitable way of expressing the two medium variables, c and Q, in a perturba- tional form. Defining α(z) = 1 − c2 0 c2(x) β(z) = 1 − Q0 Q(x) , (3) and, noting (1) that even if the reference medium is highly attenuative, e.g., Q0 = 10, the terms in 1/Q2 0 will be an order of magnitude smaller than those in 1/Q0, and (2) that terms in the product αβ are generally small also, neglecting smaller terms, we have, upon substitution, V ≈ ω2 c2 0 1 + 2 F(ω) Q0 α(x) + 2 ω2 c2 0 F(ω) Q0 β(x). (4) In this form the component of V that is linear in the data, V1, is straightforwardly expressed in terms of the components of α and β that are themselves also linear in the data, α1 and β1, as V1 = ω2 c2 0 1 + 2 F(ω) Q0 α1(x) + 2 ω2 c2 0 F(ω) Q0 β1(x). (5) The quantities in equations (1) and (5) are next used to construct the linear data equations. A procedure for linear inversion over a depth-varying perturbation We proceed similarly to Clayton and Stolt (1981). We assume for present convenience (1) that the linear component of the scattering potential is a function of depth z only, and (2) we have line sources occupying the entire plane zs, and a single line receiver at (xg, zg). Upon substitution of equations (1) and (5) into the first equation of the inverse scattering series, viz. D (xg, zg, ks, zs, ω) = S(ω) dx dz G0(xg, zg, x , z , ω)V1(z )G0(x , z , ks, zs, ω), (6) where S is the (known) source wavelet, we have D(ks, ω) = α1(−2qs) + W(ω)β1(−2qs), (7) where W(ω) = 2F(ω) Q0 1 + 2F(ω) Q0 −1 , and D is related to D by D(ks, ω) = −4S−1 (ω) 1 + 2F(ω) Q0 −1 q2 s c2 0 ω2 e−iksxg eiqs(zg+zs) D (xg, zg, ks, zs, ω). (8) D should be thought of as the measured data, pre-processed as above to produce D. Equations (7) are the heart of the inversion, and, c.f. Innanen and Weglein (2007), the variability of W with temporal frequency for any given spectral component of the model parameters α1 and β1 determines the conditioning of the problem. Defining the depth wavenumber over which our perturbations are to be solved to be kz = −2qs, the equations become D(ks, ω) = α1(kz) + W(ω)β1(kz). (9) At this stage we have several options. Ideally, we would subdivide the data into components D(kz, θ) and solve the linear problem with sets of angles. However, the (kz, θ) parametrization turns out to be inconvenient here, as there is no straightforward way of solving for ω(kz, θ). A more convenient choice, since the data equations are independent directly in terms of ω already, is to change variables from D(ks, ω) to D(kz, ω), and solve at each kz using a set of N >
  • 4. 2 frequencies. To proceed in this way, we need to know what ks value is associated with a particular pair kz, ω. From the plane wave geometry we have k2 s + q2 s = ω2 c2 0 1 + F(ω) Q0 2 , (10) hence ks(kz, ω) = ω2 c2 0 1 + F(ω) Q0 2 − k2 z 4 . (11) We then have the following prescription for performing the linear inversion: 1. From experimental values and from its definition, determine a suitable (complex) wavenum- ber vector kz. 2. Find in the data D (kz, ω) = dtdxse−iωte −i r ω2 c2 0 h 1+ F (ω) Q0 i2 − k2 z 4 xs D (xs, t). 3. Process from D → D using reference medium quantities. 4. Now D(kz, ω) = α1(kz) + W(ω)β1(kz) holds; solve for α1 and β1 for each kz using pairs (or larger sets) of frequencies ω1 and ω2. 5. Invert for α1(z|ω1, ω2) = 1 2π dkzeikzzα1(kz|ω1, ω2) and β1(z|ω1, ω2) = 1 2π dkzeikzzβ1(kz|ω1, ω2). This is expected to be an unstable process, and the re- quirement of some dampening of large kz values should be anticipated, especially in the presence of noise. Conclusions We present an extension of some recent linear inverse scattering methods for absorptive media; here the reference medium too is considered absorptive. This procedure complements the earlier linear inverse procedure for non-absorptive reference media. We see, importantly, that one or other of these must be chosen at the outset; the current method does not tend to the previous method as Q0 → ∞. In fact, if the actual Q values remain finite, the current theory does not respond at all well in this limit, so, should a non-absorptive reference medium be deemed necessary, the (entirely different) definition of the Q perturbation of Innanen and Weglein (2007) must be invoked. The choice of one or the other reference medium will be determined by the known nature of the material in which the sources and receivers are embedded; this is an important choice, since we typically assume the reference medium and the actual medium to be in agreement at the source and receiver depths. We further note that this current form of linear inversion involves an amount of Q compensation, as evidenced in the inverse transformation from the kz domain to the z domain. This sets it apart from its non-absorptive counterpart method. However, in many ways the two remain of a kind. Both interrogate the data via the frequency or angle dependence of the reflection strengths. And both represent frameworks, and first steps, from within which to develop non-linear inverse algorithms with the capacity to enhance resolution through direct, data driven operations. Acknowledgments We wish to thank the sponsors and personnel of M-OSRP. J. Lira was supported by Petrobras; K. Innanen and A. Weglein were supported by U.S. D.O.E. Grant No. DOE-De-FG02-05ER15697; A. Weglein was supported by NSF-CMG award DMS-0327778.
  • 5. References Aki, K., and Richards, P. G. [2002] Quantitative seismology. 2nd edn. University Science Books. Clayton, R. W., and Stolt, R. H. [1981] A Born-WKBJ inversion method for acoustic reflection data. Geophysics 46(11), 1559–1567. de Hoop, A. T., Lam, C. H., and Kooij, B. J. [2005] Parametrization of acoustic boundary absorption and dispersion properties in time domain source/receiver reflection measurement. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 118, 654–660. Innanen, K. A., and Weglein, A. B. [2005] Towards non-linear construction of a q-compensation operator directly from reflection seismic data. In: SEG, Houston, TX. Innanen, K. A., and Weglein, A. B. [2007] On the construction of an absorptive-dispersive medium model via direct linear inversion of reflected seismic primaries. Inverse Problems 2289–2310. Rickett, J. [2007] Estimating attenuation and the relative information content of amplitude and phase spectra. Geophysics 72, R19. Tonn, R. [1991] The determination of the seismic quality factor Q from VSP data: a comparison of different computational methods. Geophysical Prospecting 39, 1–27. Weglein, A. B., Araújo, F. V., Carvalho, P. M., Stolt, R. H., Matson, K. H., Coates, R. T., Corrigan, D., Foster, D. J., Shaw, S. A., and Zhang, H. [2003] Inverse scattering series and seismic exploration. Inverse Problems R27–R83. Zhang, C., and Ulrych, T. J. [2002] Estimation of quality factors from CMP records. Geophysics 67, 1542.