Using a fine-tuned interval velocity model for improving the quality of time-to-depth conversion

Abstract

Building a velocity model is a requirement for converting interpretation and seismic features from time to depth. The quality of all results obtained in downstream workflows depends on the quality of the velocity model, and, eventually, the quality of the velocity model might even affect directly the volume of produced hydrocarbons. Velocity modeling should therefore be treated with the utmost care to represent as faithfully as possible all lateral and vertical velocity variations found in the subsurface geology. But building such a velocity model could be a very challenging business indeed, since available data might be scarce and/or of poor quality, and geologic complexity might be very high.