FWI velocity models for quantitative interpretation of a deep water GOM dataset

Full waveform inversion (FWI) has become the method of choice for deriving shallow velocity models that potentially improve interpretation of images in complex geologically settings. Recently, a combination of diving waves and reflections is being used resulting in an increase of depth range for updating the model. In this work, we evaluate the potential for utilizing velocities from FWI as a background model for quantitative interpretation. Our results show that using a velocity model as a low frequency model (LFM) with a higher vertical and lateral resolution obtained from the FWI process results in a higher quality post-stack inversion compared to the traditional approach that uses sparse well velocities extrapolated within a structural framework as a LFM.