SI 3.

The inverse scattering series for tasks associated with primaries: Depth imaging and
direct non-linear inversion of 1D variable velocity and density acoustic media
Haiyan Zhang and Arthur B. Weglein, University of Houston

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Summary
This paper presents the rst analysis, and direct depth
imaging and inversion algorithms for tasks associated
with primaries for a vertically varying velocity and
density acoustic medium. The method is derived from
the inverse scattering series, and, hence, assumes the
actual subsurface properties governing the propagation
of waves is neither known nor determined. The terms in
the series that correspond to tasks for imaging-only and
inversion-only are identied and separated. Tests with
analytic data indicate signicant added value, beyond
linear estimates, in terms of both the proximity to actual
properties and the increased range of angles over which
the improved estimates are valid.

Introduction
The ultimate objective of inverse problems is to determine medium and target properties from reection
data. However, that objective has never been achieved
in a straight ahead single step manner.
The only
direct multi-dimensional inversion procedure for seismic
application, is the task specic subseries of the inverse
scattering series. (Weglein et al., 2003). The order of
processing tasks is (1) free surface multiple removal;
(2) internal multiple removal; (3) imaging primaries
in space and (4) inversion. The free surface multiple
removal and internal multiple attenuation subseries have
been presented by Weglein et al. (1997). Those two
multiple removal procedures are model type independent.
Taking internal multiple algorithm from attenuation
to elimination is being studied (Ramirez and Weglein,
2005). In contrast with model type independent multiple
removal procedures, there is a full expectation that tasks
and algorithms associated with primaries will have a
closer interest in model type. For example, there is no
way to even imagine that medium property identication
can take place without reference to a specic model type.
A staged approach and isolation of tasks philosophy is
essential in this yet tougher neighborhood of primaries.
The stages within the strategy for primaries are as
follows: (1) 1D earth, with one parameter, velocity as a
function of depth, and a normal incidence wave (Shaw et
al., 2003); (2) 1D earth with one parameter subsurface
and oset data, one shot record (Shaw, 2005); (3) 2D
earth with one parameter, velocity, varying in x and z,
and a suite of shot records (Liu et al., 2005); (4) 1D
acoustic earth with two parameters varying, velocity
and density, one propagation velocity, and one shot
record of PP data, and (5) 1D elastic earth, two elastic
1 617

Science & Research Bldg 1, Houston, TX 77204-5005

SEG/Houston 2005 Annual Meeting

isotropic parameters and density, and two wave speeds,

for P and S waves, and PP, PS, SP, and SS shot records
collected (Zhang et al., 2005). This paper deals with
stage (4). The model is acoustic and a second paper in
this progression and evolution generalizes this for the
elastic case.
In this paper, the rst direct non-linear inversion method
is obtained for 1D two-parameter acoustic media and a
2D experiment. From this solution, the tasks for imagingonly and inversion-only terms are successfully separated.
Tests with analytic data indicate signicant added value,
beyond linear estimates, in terms of both the proximity to
actual value and the increased range of angles over which
the improved estimates are provided. The depth imaging
algorithm without the velocity rst decides if the input
velocity is adequate, and if adequate conventional migration is prescribed. If the data decides the verdict on the
velocity is inadequate it acts to remove the incorrect image and constructs the correct one, without knowing or
determining the velocity. Other terms in the algorithm
are identied as performing non-linear direct AVO, and
once again, allow the data self determination of overburden velocity adequacy, and acts accordingly to improve
upon linear estimates of property changes. The role of velocity is claried, as central and all-important in location,
in that only an incorrect velocity causes a depth imaging
response from the series, independent of how you parameterize the acoustic problem, or what error estimates of
other properties might suer. Benet of non-linear direct
inversion is demonstrated over linear standard procedure,
for a set of examples using analytic and numerical techniques. The common problem of linear leaking between
linear property change predictions is also addressed by the
series, and located and analyzed in this paper.
The paper has the following structure: In section 2 we
show the derivation in detail and then discuss a special
parameter followed by numerical tests. The last section
has conclusions and acknowledgements.

Derivation of 1 , 1 and 2 , 2
To illustrate task (4), target identication, we consider
a 1D acoustic two-parameter earth model (e.g. bulk
modulus and density or velocity and density). We start
with the 3D acoustic wave equations in the actual and
reference medium (Clayton and Stolt, 1981 and Weglein
et al., 1997)


1
2
+
G(r, rs ; ) = (r rs ),
K(r)
(r)

(1)

1705

SI 3.4

Direct non-linear two parameter 2D acoustic inversion


2
1
+
G0 (r, rs ; ) = (r rs ),
K0 (r)
0 (r)

(2)

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where G(r, rs ; ) and G0 (r, rs ; ) are respectively the

causal Greens operators that describe wave propagation
in the actual and reference medium. The bulk modulus,
K, is given by c2 , where c is P-wave velocity and is the
density. Then the perturbation can be written as (Weglein et al., 2003)
V =

2
+ ,
K0
0

(3)

K0
K

where = 1
and = 1
are the two parameters
we choose to perform the following non-linear inversion.
Assuming both 0 and c0 are constants, and for a 1-D
acoustic medium, we expand V (z, ), (z) and (z) in
the same way as (Weglein et al., 1997)
V = V1 + V2 + ,

(4)

we have
V1 (z, ) =

2 1 (z)
1
2
1

+ 1 (z) 2 +
1 (z) , (5)
K0
0
x
0 z
z

V2 (z, ) =

2 2 (z)
1
2
1

+ 2 (z) 2 +
2 (z) , (6)
K0
0
x
0 z
z
..
.,

where the subscript i in Vi , i and i denote the portion

of those quantities i-th order in the data. Substituting
(5) into the rst equation of the inverse scattering series
(Weglein et al., 2003) D = [G0 V1 G0 ]ms , we can obtain
the linear solution for 1 and 1 in the frequency domain
 g , , zg , zs ) = 0 eiqg (zs +zg )
D(q
4



1
2
1 (2qg ) ,

(2q
)
+
(1

tan
)


1
g
cos2

(7)

where the subscripts s and g denote source and receiver

quantities respectively, and qg , and k = /c0 shown
in Figure 1, have the following relations (Matson, 1997):
qg = qs = k cos , kg = ks = k sin . Similarly, substitut-

kg
qg

c0 , r 0 , K 0

c, r , K
z

Fig. 1: The relationship between qg , kg and .

ing (6) into the second equation of the inverse scattering

SEG/Houston 2005 Annual Meeting

series [G0 V2 G0 ]ms = [G0 V1 G0 V1 G0 ]ms (Weglein et al.,

2003), we derive the solution for 2 (z) and 2 (z) as a
function of 1 (z) and 1 (z)
1
2 (z) + (1 tan2 )2 (z)
cos2
1
1
tan2
=
12 (z) (1 + tan4 )12 (z) +
1 (z)1 (z)
4
2 cos
2
cos2
z

1

dz
[1 (z
) 1 (z
)]
(z)

1
2 cos4
0

1
+ (tan4 1)1
(z)
2

z

dz
[1 (z
) 1 (z
)],

(8)

where 1
(z) =

d1 (z)
,
dz

1
(z) =

d1 (z)
.
dz

We have obtained in equation (8) the rst two parameter

direct non-linear inversion of 1D acoustic media for a 2D
experiment. Equations (7) and (8) imply that two dierent angles , can determine 1 , 1 and then 2 , 2 . For
a single-interface example, we can also show that only
the rst three terms on the right hand side contribute
to amplitude correction, while the last two terms perform imaging in depth. Therefore, in this way, the tasks
for imaging-only and inversion-only terms are identied
and examined. If another choice of free parameter other
than (e.g., or kh ) was selected, then the functional
form between the data and the rst order perturbation
changes. Furthermore, the relationship between the rst
and second order perturbation is then also dierent, and
new analysis would be required for the purpose of identifying specic task separated terms. In our experience,
the choice of as free parameter (for a 1D medium) is
particularly well suited for allowing a task separated identication of terms in the inverse series. Details about the
signicance of this solution will be presented in the following sections.

Special parameter for linear inversion

As we mentioned above, since the relationship between
data and target property changes is non-linear, linear
inversion will produce errors in target property prediction. When an actual property change is zero, the
linear prediction of the change can be non-zero. Also,
when the actual change is positive, the predicted linear
approximation can be negative. There is a special
parameter for linear inversion of acoustic media, that
never suers the latter problem the P-wave velocity.
From the one interface case, we can show that when c0 =
c1 , i.e., when c = 0, (c)1 = 0. This generalizes to
when c > 0, then (c)1 > 0, or when c < 0, then
(c)1 < 0, as well.
Therefore, we can rst obtain the right sign of relative
change in P-wave velocity from the linear inversion (c)1 ,
then, we can obtain a more accurate amplitude when we
include non-linear terms.
approximation to
 The linear
the change in velocity, c
, is 12 (1 1 ).
c 1

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SI 3.4

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Direct non-linear two parameter 2D acoustic inversion

We also note that when the velocity doesnt change across
an interface, i.e., c0 = c1 , looking at the integrand of
imaging terms 1 1 (see (8)), the image doesnt move
because 1 1 = 0 in this situation. We can see this
more explicitly when we change the two parameters and
and , and we can rewrite (8) as
to c
c


c
1
(z) + 2 (z)
cos2
c 2

2
cos2 2 c
1
=
(z) 12 (z)
2 cos4
c 1
2





z
c
c
1

(z) dz
cos4
c 1
c 1
1

1
(z)
cos2

z
dz

c
c

(9)

This equation makes two key points. One is that there is

no leakage correction at all in this expression. (Leakage is
a two parameter eect and its removal is associated with
a cross term, like the 1 1 term in equation (8)). The
absence of a cross term in equation (9) is an indication
of the special leakage resistant properties of the P-wave
velocity.
The
 c second point is that, when we look at the integrand
of the imaging terms, it indicates that if we have
c 1
the right velocity, the imaging terms will automatically
be zero and no integration is performed. On the other
hand, if we didnt have the right velocity, these imaging
terms would move the interface from the wrong location
closer to the right location. The conclusion is that the
depth imaging terms depend only on the velocity errors.

(11)

and substituting (11) into (7), after Fourier transformation over 2qg , for z > a and xed , we obtain
1
1 (z) + (1 tan2 )1 (z) = 4R()H(z a). (12)
cos2
In this case of a single reector, the non-linear equation
(8) reduce to
1
2 (z) + (1 tan2 )2 (z)
cos2
1
1
=
12 (z) (1 + tan4 )12 (z)
2 cos4
2
tan2
+
1 (z)1 (z),
cos2

(13)

From equations (12) and (13) we choose two dierent angles to solve for 1 and 1 , and then 2 and 2 .
For a specic model, 0 = 1.0g/cm3 , 1 = 1.1g/cm3 , c0 =
1500m/s and c1 = 1700m/s. In the following gures, we
present the results for the relative 
changes in
 the P-wave



K
bulk modulus = K , density = , impedance
 
 I 
and velocity c
corresponding to dierent pairs
I
c
of 1 and 2 .

c0 , r 0 , K 0

c1 , r1 , K1

Conclusion

Consider the one interface example (in Figure 2), and

2iqg a

 g , ) = 0 R() e
D(q
,
4iqg

From Figure 3, we notice that when we add 2 to 1 , the

result is much closer to the exact value of . Furthermore,
the result is better behaved, i.e., the plot surface becomes
atter, over a larger range of precritical angles. Similarly,
from Figure 4, we can also see the results of 1 + 2 are
much better than those of 1 . In addition, we observe that
the sign of the linear approximation to the relative change
in density, 1 , is wrong at some angles, while, the results
for 1 + 2 always have the right sign. After including
2 , we correct the sign of the density change, which is
very important in the generalization to identication of
an elastic earth.

Numerical tests

for the reference medium and actual medium respectively.

Then using perfect data (Clayton and Stolt, 1981 and
Weglein et al., 1986)

Fig. 2: 1D one interface acoustic model.

assume the interface surface is at z = a, and suppose

zs = zg = 0. The reection coecient has the following
form (Keys, 1989)

(1 /0 )(c1 /c0 ) 1 sin2 1 (c21 /c20 ) sin2

,
R() =

(1 /0 )(c1 /c0 ) 1 sin2 + 1 (c21 /c20 ) sin2

(10)
where , the angle of P-wave incidence, is same as that
in equation (7) and (8), and 0 and 1 denote the density

SEG/Houston 2005 Annual Meeting

Including terms beyond linear in the earth property identication subseries provides added value. Although the
model we used in the numerical test is simple, equations
(7) and (8) are also generalizable for multidimensional
media and complex targets. The inverse scattering
series is a direct inversion procedure which inverts data
independent of the properties of the target, without
assumptions such as smooth geometry or small contrast.
This work is a major step towards the realism for target
identication. The numerical results are encouraging
and this work will be extended to study the elastic case
using three parameters (see, e.g., Boyse, 1986 and Boyse
and Keller, 1986).

1707

SI 3.4
Direct non-linear two parameter 2D acoustic inversion

Liu F, Weglein A B, Innanen K A and Nita B G 2005

Inverse scattering series for vertically and laterally
varying modia: application to velocity independent
depth imaging M-OSRP Annual Report 2004 176-263
preparing for publication
Matson K H 1997 An inverse scattering series method
for attenuating elastic multiples from multicomponent land and ocean bottom seismic data Ph.D. thesis University of British Columbia p 18
Ramirez A C and Weglein A B 2005 An inverse scattering
internal multiple elimination method: Beyond attenuation, a new algorithm and initial tests M-OSRP
Annual Report 2004 138-157 preparing for publication

10

20

theta 30
1

10
40

50

50
40
30
20

10

20

20

theta 30
1

40

10
50

50
40
30

th
et
a2

Keys R G 1989 Polarity reversals in reections from layered media Geophysics 54 900905

0.42
0.40
0.38
0.36
0.34
0.32
0.30
0.28
0.26
0.24
0.22
0.20
0.18
0.16
0

Fig. 3: 1 (left) and 1 + 2 (right) displayed as a function

of two dierent angles. The red line in the gures present the
exact value of . In this example, the exact value of is 0.292.

0.16
0.15
0.14
0.13
0.12
0.11
0.10
0.09
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.00
-0.01
-0.02
0

0.16
0.15
0.14
0.13
0.12
0.11
0.10
0.09
0.08
0.07
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.00
-0.01
-0.02
0

10

20

20

theta 30
1

40

10
50

50
40
30

10

20

20

theta 30
1

40

10

50
40
30

th
eta
2

Innanen K A 2003 Methods for the Treatment of Acoustic and Absorptive/Dispersive Wave Field Measurements Ph.D. thesis University of British Columbia

0.42
0.40
0.38
0.36
0.34
0.32
0.30
0.28
0.26
0.24
0.22
0.20
0.18
0.16 0

a1+ a2

Clayton R W and Stolt R H 1981 A Born-WKBJ inversion

method for acoustic reection data for attenuating
multiples in seismic reection data Geophysics 46
15591567

b1+b2

Boyse W E and Keller J B 1986 Inverse elastic scattering

in three dimensions J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 79 215218

Zhang H, Weglein A B and Keys R G 2005 Velocity independent depth imaging and non-linear direct target identication for 1D elastic media: testing and
evaluation for application to non-linear AVO, using
only PP data M-OSRP Annual Report 2004 312-338
preparing for publication

th
eta
2

Boyse W E 1986 Wave propagation and inversion in

slightly inhomogeneous media p 40

Weglein A B, Ara
ujo F V, Carvalho P M, Stolt R H,
Matson K H, Coates R, Corrigan D, Foster D J, Shaw
S A and Zhang H 2003 Inverse scattering series and
seismic exploration Inverse Problem 19 R27R83

th
et
a2

References

Weglein A B, Gasparotto F A, Carvalho P M and Stolt R

H 1997 An inverse-scattering series method for attenuating multiples in seismic reection data Geophysics
62 19751989

a1

We would like to thank R. Keys, D. Foster, R. Stolt, B.

Nita, S. Shaw and K. Innanen for valuable discussions
and useful suggestions. The support of the sponsors
of M-OSRP and the support from NSF-CMG award
number DMS-0327778 are gratefully acknowledged.

b1

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Acknowledgements

Weglein A B, Violette P B and Keho T H 1986 Using

multiparameter Born theory to obtain certain exact
multiparameter inversion goals Geophysics 51 1069
1074

50 0

Fig. 4: 1 (left) and 1 + 2 (right). In this example, the exact

value of is 0.09.

Shaw S A, Weglein A B, Foster D J, Matson K H and Keys

R G 2003 Isolation of a leading order depth imaging series and analysis of its convergence properties,
M-OSRP Annual Report 2002 157-195 preparing for
publication
Shaw S A 2005 An inverse scattering series algorithm
for depth imaging of reection data from a layered
acoustic medium with an unknown velocity model
Ph.D. thesis University of Houston

SEG/Houston 2005 Annual Meeting

1708

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EDITED REFERENCES
Note: This reference list is a copy-edited version of the reference list submitted by the
author. Reference lists for the 2005 SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts have
been copy edited so that references provided with the online metadata for each paper will
achieve a high degree of linking to cited sources that appear on the Web.
The inverse scattering series for tasks associated with primaries: Depth imaging and
direct non-linear inversion of 1D variable velocity and density acoustic media
References
Boyse, W. E., 1986, Wave propagation and inversion in slightly inhomogeneous media:
40.
Boyse, W. E., and J. B. Keller, 1986, Inverse elastic scattering in three dimensions:
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 79 215218.
Clayton, R. W. and R. H. Stolt, 1981, A born-WKBJ inversion method for acoustic
reflection data for attenuating multiples in seismic reflection data: Geophysics, 46
15591567.
Innanen, K. A., 2003, Methods for the treatment of acoustic and absorptive/dispersive
wave field measurements: Ph.D. thesis, University of British Columbia.
Keys, R. G., 1989, Polarity reversals in reflections from layered media: Geophysics, 54
900905.
Liu, F., A. B. Weglein, K. A. Innanen, and B. G. Nita, 2005, Inverse scattering series for
vertically and laterally varying media: Application to velocity independent depth
imaging: Mission-Oriented Seismic Research Program Annual Report, 176263.
Matson, K. H., 1997, An inverse scattering series method for attenuating elastic multiples
from multicomponent land and ocean bottom seismic data: Ph.D. thesis,
University of British Columbia.
Ramirez, A. C., and A. B. Weglein, 2005, An inverse scattering internal multiple
elimination method: Beyond attenuation, a new algorithm and initial tests:
Mission-Oriented Seismic Research Program Annual Report, 138157.
Shaw, S. A., 2005, An inverse scattering series algorithm for depth imaging of reflection
data from a layered acoustic medium with an unknown velocity model: Ph.D.
thesis, University of Houston.
Shaw, S. A., A. B. Weglein, D. J. Foster, K. H. Matson, and R. G. Keys, 2003, Isolation
of a leading order depth imaging series and analysis of its convergence properties:
Mission-Oriented Seismic Research Program Annual Report, 157195.
Weglein, A. B., F. A. Arajo Gasparotto, P. M. Carvalho, and R. H. Stolt, 1997, An
inverse-scattering series method for attenuating multiples in seismic reflection
data: Geophysics 62, 19751989.
Weglein, A. B., F. V. Arajo Gasparotto, P. M. Carvalho, R. H. Stolt, K. H. Matson, R.
Coates, D. Corrigan, D. J. Foster, S. A. Shaw, and H. Zhang, 2003, Inverse
scattering series and seismic exploration: Inverse Problems, 19, R27R83.
Weglein, A. B., P. B. Violette, and T. H. Keho, 1986, Using multiparameter Born theory
to obtain certain exact multiparameter inversion goals: Geophysics, 51 10691074
Zhang, H., A. B. Weglein, and R. G. Keys, 2005, Velocity independent depth imaging
and non-linear direct target identification for 1D elastic media: testing and

Downloaded 03/20/15 to 129.7.0.94. Redistribution subject to SEG license or copyright; see Terms of Use at http://library.seg.org/

evaluation for application to non-linear AVO, using only PP data: MissionOriented Seismic Research Program Annual Report, 312338.