Subsurface characterisation using full waveform inversion of vertical seismic profile data: Example from the Curtin GeoLab well

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) uses the complete, seismic wavefield (transmitted, reflected and converted, waves) to build the models of subsurface physical, properties. We conducted a feasibility study of a 2D, elastic FWI applied to the synthetic and field single offset, vertical seismic profile (VSP) datasets. A good, correlation is demonstrated between VSP migration, image, FWI results, gamma-ray log and stratigraphy even, though the ray coverage is limited for a single offset VSP, and numerous artefacts are observed in the images built, by using FWI. The described approach allowed imaging, of a subsurface, identification of geological contacts and, their shapes.