Patent ID: 7791981

Claim:
A method for generating a useful velocity model for a subsurface region that includes reflective interfaces, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing a set of data comprising signals transmitted by at least one transmitter and collected by at least one receiver in the borehole, wherein the data include at least one primary signal that has been reflected off of one of the reflective interfaces and at least one multiply-reflected signal that has been reflected off at least two reflective interfaces; b) providing a velocity model for the subsurface region; c) using the velocity model and the primary signal to construct a first image of the subsurface region; d) using the velocity model and the multiply-reflected signal to construct a second image of the subsurface region; e) determining a measure of match between the first and second images; f) adjusting the velocity model based on the measure determined in step e); g) repeating steps c) through e) on a processor until the measure of match attains a desired level; and h) outputting the adjusted velocity model.