Image-domain velocity inversion and event location for microseismic monitoring

ABSTRACTMicroseismic event locations obtained from seismic monitoring data sets are often a primary means of determining the success of fluid-injection programs, such as hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas extraction, geothermal projects, and wastewater injection. Event locations help the decision makers to evaluate whether operations conform to expectations or parameters need to be changed and may be used to help assess and reduce the risk of induced seismicity. However, obtaining accurate event location estimates requires an accurate velocity model, which is not available at most injection sites. Common velocity updating techniques require picking arrivals on individual seismograms. This can be problematic in microseismic monitoring, particularly for surface acquisition, due to the low signal-to-noise ratio of the arrivals. We have developed a full-wavefield adjoint-state method for locating seismic events while inverting for P- and S-wave velocity models that optimally focus multiple complementary ima...