Paper submitted to EAGE Annual 2026
Summary
The performance of full-waveform inversion (FWI) is fundamentally shaped by acquisition design. The configuration of survey geometry, azimuth and offset distribution, and frequency content all influence wavefield sampling and impact the stability and resolution of inversion results. Ocean-bottom node (OBN) acquisition has become the benchmark for high-quality FWI input, delivering full-azimuth, long-offset, and low-frequency-rich data that can drive model updates deep into complex geological settings. However, economic limitations can make OBN acquisition unfeasible, especially during the early phases of prospect development. At the same time, many basins remain densely covered by legacy towed-streamer data, which—despite some notable limitations—represents a valuable imaging resource. This paper explores how combining sparse OBN acquisition with legacy streamer datasets enables a flexible, cost-effective approach to FWI-based imaging, balancing short-term efficiency with long-term scalability across for exploration and reservoir development.