Patent ID: 7555389

Claim:
A method executed by a computer, comprising: receiving estimated values of an effective absorption parameter, wherein the estimated effective absorption parameter values represent absorption encountered by a seismic wave in a subterranean structure; based on the estimated effective absorption parameter values, generating an absorption parameter model that varies absorption parameter values along at least one dimension of the subterranean structure, wherein generating the absorption parameter model uses a technique that decomposes a term representing an absorption effect of the subterranean structure into discrete absorption factors along a ray path of the seismic wave, wherein the absorption parameter model contains the discrete absorption factors; and computing values for the discrete absorption factors, wherein the discrete absorption factors are for corresponding cells crossed by the ray path, wherein computing the values for the discrete absorption factors for corresponding cells crossed by the ray path comprises computing the values for the discrete absorption factors for corresponding intervals stacked in a depth direction, wherein the computed values for the discrete absorption factors are interval-Q values.