ABSTRACTIterative migration velocity analysis is computationally expensive, where most of the computation time is used for generating prestack depth images. By using a reduced form of Kirchhoff migration, denoted as wave path migration, we can significantly speed up the depth imaging process and reduce the entire velocity analysis expense accordingly. Our results with 2D synthetic and field data show that wave path migration velocity analysis can efficiently improve the velocity model and the wave path migration velocity analysis updated velocity correlates well with that from the Kirchhoff migration velocity analysis. The central processing unit comparison shows that, for a 2D synthetic and field data set, wave path migration velocity analysis is six times faster than Kirchhoff migration velocity analysis. This efficiency should be even greater for 3D data.