Seismic Waveform Template Matching to Mitigate FWI Cycle Skipping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) in complex geology is challenged by cycle-skipping issues, particularly when cycle-skipping occurs, and existing objective functions like least-squares and traveltime-based methods are limited by the need for reliable event measurements and require numerous iterations to converge.

Innovation Solution

Employing an enhanced template-matching objective function that uses moving windows to compare measured and synthetic seismic data, incorporating both time-space-shift and least-squares misfit to improve model updates, even in regions with missing events.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If least-squares objective function is used for FWI, then the inversion can be performed with standard algorithms, but the objective function breaks down when cycle-skipping occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of inversion computationVSAvoidreliability of objective function

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter used for misfit calculation from amplitude-based least-squares to time-shift-based correlation. By using cross-correlation to measure time shifts between observed and simulated waveforms, the objective function becomes robust to cycle-skipping because it measures temporal alignment rather than amplitude matching, allowing reliable inversion even when phases differ by more than half a cycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If traveltime-based objective function is used to mitigate cycle skipping, then the impact of amplitude complexity is reduced, but the approach relies on the existence of similar events in both simulated data and observed data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverobustness to amplitude complexityVSAvoidapplicability to diverse seismic events

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the seismic data into multiple event types and uses template matching to identify and compare specific event patterns. By dividing the complex seismic waveform into identifiable event segments (such as primary reflections, multiples, and converted waves) and matching templates for each segment type, the method can handle diverse seismic events without requiring all events to be similar, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining robustness to amplitude variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If optimal transport method is used to overcome cycle-skipping, then the convex property may resolve cycle-skipping problem, but the method requires hundreds or thousands of iterations to converge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to overcome cycle-skippingVSAvoidconvergence speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex optimal transport mechanism with a simplified cross-correlation-based time-shift measurement system. Instead of using iterative optimal transport algorithms that require hundreds or thousands of iterations, the method uses direct cross-correlation to measure time shifts between observed and simulated waveforms, computing the misfit objective function directly without complex iterative optimization, thereby dramatically improving computational efficiency while maintaining the ability to handle cycle-skipping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If template matching with moving windows is applied to compare seismic data, then cycle-skipping is mitigated and model updates are improved, but the process requires processing of large time-space panels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of misfit measurementVSAvoidcomplexity of data processing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies template matching with moving windows that segment the time-space panel into smaller, manageable windows. Each window contains a specific time interval and spatial range, allowing the method to compare local waveform segments rather than processing the entire large panel at once. This segmentation reduces the computational complexity of each individual comparison while maintaining overall accuracy through systematic coverage of the entire dataset.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different processing strategies to different regions of the time-space panel based on local characteristics. By identifying regions with similar events, multiples, or converted waves and applying appropriate template matching parameters to each region, the method optimizes the balance between processing complexity and misfit measurement accuracy for each local area, improving overall reliability without uniformly increasing computational burden across the entire dataset.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4111239B1Full-waveform inversion using template matching

Publication Date: 2026.02.18 SERVICES PETROLIERS SCHLUMBERGER SA

Figure 1A~1D
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Figure 3A

AI summary

A method for seismic processing includes receiving measured seismic data collected by recording seismic waves that propagate through a subterranean domain, simulating synthetic seismic data using a model of the subterranean domain, generating a first time-space panel including the measured seismic data and a second time-space panel including the synthetic seismic data, applying a first moving window to the first time-space panel and a second moving window to the second time-space panel, determining a misfit by comparing the measured seismic data in the first moving window with the synthetic seismic data in the second moving window, and adjusting the model based on the misfit.