Simulated annealing velocity analysis: Automating the picking process

We have developed an automated method for velocity picking that allows us to estimate appropriate velocity functions for the normal moveout correction of common-depth-point (CDP) gathers, valid for either hyperbolic or nonhyperbolic trajectories. In the hyperbolic velocity analysis case, the process involves the simultaneous search (picking) of a certain number of time-velocity pairs in which the semblance, or any other coherence measure, is high. In the nonhyperbolic velocity analysis case, a third parameter, usually associated with the layering and/or the anisotropy, is added to the searching process. Our technique relies on a simple but effective search of a piecewise linear curve defined by a certain number of nodes in a 2D or 3D space that follows the semblance maxima. The search is carried out efficiently using a constrained very fast simulated annealing algorithm. The constraints consist of static and dynamic bounding restrictions, which are viewed as a means to incorporate prior information about the picking process. This allows us to avoid those maxima that correspond to multiples, spurious events, and other meaningless events. Results using synthetic and field data indicate that our technique permits automatically obtaining accurate and consistent velocity picks that lead to flattened events, in agreement with the manual picks. As an algorithm, the method is very flexible for accommodating additional constraints (e.g., preselected events) and depends on a limited number of parameters. These parameters are easily tuned according to data requirements, available prior information, and the user’s needs. The computational costs are relatively low, ranging from a fraction of a second to, at most, 1–2 s per CDP gather, using a standard PC with a single processor.