Improving seismic Qp estimation using rock physics constraints

Our goal is to accurately estimate attenuation from seismic data using model regularization in the seismic inversion workflow. One way to achieve this goal is by finding an analytical relation linking Vp to Qp. We derive an approximate closed-form solution relating Vp to Qp using rock physics modeling. This relation is tested on well data from a clean clastic gas reservoir. Next we create a 2D synthetic gas reservoir section populated with Qp and Vp and generate respective synthetic seismograms. The goal now is to invert this synthetic seismic section for Qp. If we use standard seismic inversion based solely on seismic data, the inverted attenuation model has low resolution, incorrect positioning, and is distorted. However, adding our relation between velocity and attenuation, we obtain an attenuation model very close to the original section. This method is tested on a 2D field seismic dataset from Gulf of Mexico (GOM). The resulting Qp model matches the geological shape of an absorption body interpreted ...