An Exact Zoeppritz Based Prestack Inversion Using Whale Optimization Particle Filter Algorithm Under Bayesian Framework

Conventional amplitude versus offset (AVO) inversion methods are mainly based on various Zoeppritz approximations. The assumptions of small contrast and linear relationship lead to the most inversion methods being difficult to have high inversion accuracy. In this article, the exact Zoeppritz equation is used to establish the prestack inversion method under the Bayesian framework. It integrates multisource information to generate posterior distributions of P-, S-wave velocity and density. In the Bayesian theory, the prior model works as the regularization term which has a strong effect on the inversion results. The strategy to obtain a relatively accurate prior model can improve the inversion accuracy. Therefore, an exact Zoeppritz equation based nonlinear AVO inversion algorithm combing whale optimization particle filtering (WOPF) is proposed. The WOPF method can generate a relatively stable and accurate initial model for the Bayesian prestack inversion. We validate the new method through two synthetic models and field data. Comparisons are made with the conventional linear and nonlinear AVO inversion methods. The results show that the proposed method can provide much more accurate inverted elastic parameters in different geological conditions.

Automated summary

In this article, a prestack inversion method based on the exact Zoeppritz equation under the Bayesian framework is proposed to improve the inversion accuracy. The method integrates multisource information to generate posterior distributions of elastic parameters. Additionally, a whale optimization particle filtering (WOPF) method is used to obtain a relatively stable and accurate initial model.