Studies in elastic wave processing and inversion

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Reflection seismology aims at estimating a detailed 3D picture of the Earth's interior from seismic data. It is well known that raw data gathered via seismic experiments only provide rudimentary information about the subsurface. Seismic data must be processed to improve their quality in order to obtain accurate and high-resolution images of the subsurface. These processed data are entered to imaging and inversion algorithms that are designed to create images that correctly describe the subsurface. These images are used in the exploration of fossil resources and the understanding of geological processes that occur in the crust. Seismic images are also utilized to monitor and develop reservoirs of hydrocarbons and, nowadays, they also have become an essential component for monitoring geological sequestration of greenhouse gases.***In the next 5 years, my research program will focus on the development of numerical algorithms to image the Earth's interior at exploration scales. The program will solve problems encountered in seismic data preconditioning, seismic imaging and seismic inversion. By seismic data preconditioning one understands a broad group of methodologies to assimilate high quality seismic data that are ready for imaging the subsurface. Topics to study include the development of multilinear algebra methodologies to reconstruct and enhance multicomponent seismic data, the development of least squares wave equation migration methods for multicomponent data, registration methods to improve the interpretability of PP and PS seismic images and multiparameter elastic full waveform inversion. The ubiquitous interplay between acquisition, optimal data preconditioning and imaging/inversion will also be studied. In particular, I am interested in understanding how proper data preconditioning of multicomponent data can improve the reliability of subsurface images obtained via linearized elastic inversion and multiparameter full waveform inversion. ***I will be training 3 M.Sc. and 3 Ph.D. students as well as several undergraduate research assistants. Research projects will be independent yet connected. The focus of my research program is to develop advanced processing and imaging techniques in exploration seismology. Overall, this research program will increase scientific knowledge in exploration seismology and contribute to the discovery and management of fossil resources in Canada. The program will support the training of geoscientists specialized in core aspects of quantitative geophysics. Students that were trained through my previous NSERC Discovery Grants are highly sought by industry. Likewise, I expect students trained via the proposed research program will pursue promising professional careers in either industry or academia.**