Simultaneous joint inversion of 3D seismic and magnetotelluric data from the Walker Ridge

摘要

Several deepwater areas of the Gulf of Mexico represent difficult geological imaging environments due to diverse and repeated salt tectonic episodes that have resulted in the formation of complex allochthonous salt bodies. Building reliable earth models is essential for properly assessing exploration potential, and in such areas this must include accurate characterization of the salt bodies. However, seismic methods alone cannot always properly image subsalt reflectors, in part due to inherent issues of ray-path divergence at salt boundaries, and limitations in achieving feasible and cost-effective acquisition geometries that will properly illuminate these boundaries.