A proposal for Marchenko-based target-oriented full waveform inversion

Abstract

The Hessian matrix plays an important role in correct interpretation of the multiple scattered wave fields inside the FWI frame work. Due to the high computational costs, the computation of the Hessian matrix is not feasible. Consequently, FWI produces overburden related artifacts inside the target zone model, due to the lack of the exact Hessian matrix. We have shown here that Marchenko-based target-oriented Full Waveform Inversion can compensate the need of Hessian matrix inversion by reducing the non-linearity due to overburden effects. This is achieved by exploiting Marchenko-based target replacement to remove the overburden response and its interactions with the target zone from residuals and inserting the response of the updated target zone into the response of the entire medium. We have also shown that this method is more robust with respect to prior information than the standard gradient FWI. Similarly to standard Marchenko imaging, the proposed method only requires knowledge of the direct arrival time from a focusing point to the surface and the reflection response of the medium.