Background resistivity model from seismic velocities

• DOI: 10.1190/segam2012-0696.1
• Publication Date: 2013-04-15T23:47:27Z
• Authors: Dieter Werthmüller; Anton M. Ziolkowski; David A. Wright
• Keywords: resistivity; electromagnetics; P-wave; rock physics; 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

We developed a methodology to estimate resistivities from seismic velocities. We applied known methods, including rock physics, depth trends, structural information, and uncertainty analysis. The result is the range of background resistivity models that is consistent with the known seismic velocities. We successfully tested the methodology with real data from the North Sea. These 2D or 3D background resistivity models yield a detailed insight into the background resistivity, and they are a powerful tool for feasibility studies. They could also serve as starting models or constraints in (iterative) forward modeling of electromagnetic data for the determination of subsurface resistivities.