High fidelity full azimuth TTI velocity model building: A Gulf of Mexico case study

We demonstrate a novel workflow for high fidelity full azimuth tilted transverse isotropy (TTI) velocity model building in an area of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) with complex salt geometries. The workflow combines wavelet shift tomography for building a detailed overburden model, angle tomography driven by azimuth sectored reverse time migration (RTM) angle gathers for updating the sediment model in complex mini basins, underneath overhangs, and subsalt, and finally full waveform inversion (FWI) to resolve fine scale features in the overburden model. A full azimuth, long offset dual sensor acquisition provides the illumination needed in this notoriously difficult imaging area, as well the low frequencies and long offsets required for an optimal FWI solution.