Linearized waveform inversion for vertical transversely isotropic elastic media:Methodology and multi-parameter crosstalk analysis

Seismic migration and inversion are closely related techniques to portray subsurface images and identify hydrocarbon reservoirs.Seismic migration aims at obtaining structural images of subsurface geologic discontinuities.More specifically,seismic migration estimates the reflectivity function(stacked average reflectivity or pre-stack angle-dependent reflectivity)from seismic reflection data.On the other hand,seismic inversion quantitatively estimates the intrinsic rock properties of subsurface formulations.Such seismic inversion methods are applicable to detect hydrocarbon reservoirs that may exhibit lateral variations in the inverted parameters.Although there exist many differences,pre-stack seismic migration is similar with the first iteration of the general linearized seismic inversion.Usually,seismic migration and inversion techniques assume an acoustic or isotropic elastic medium.Unconventional reservoirs such as shale and tight sand formation have notable anisotropic property.We present a linearized waveform inversion(LWI)scheme for weakly anisotropic elastic media with vertical transversely isotropic(VTI)symmetry.It is based on two-way anisotropic elastic wave equation and simultaneously inverts for the localized perturbations(ΔVp_(0)/Vp_(0)/Vs_(0)/Vs_(0)/,Δ∈,Δδ)from the long-wavelength reference model.Our proposed VTI-elastic LWI is an iterative method that requires a forward and an adjoint operator acting on vectors in each iteration.We derive the forward Born approximation operator by perturbation theory and adjoint operator via adjoint-state method.The inversion has improved the quality of the images and reduces the multi-parameter crosstalk comparing with the adjoint-based images.We have observed that the multi-parameter crosstalk problem is more prominent in the inversion images for Thomsen anisotropy parameters.Especially,the Thomsen parameter is the most difficult to resolve.We also analyze the multi-parameter crosstalk using scattering radiation patterns.The linearized waveform inversion for VTI-elastic media presented in this article provides quantitative information of the rock properties that has the potential to help identify hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Stochastic seismic inversion and Bayesian facies classification applied to porosity modeling and igneous rock identification

We apply stochastic seismic inversion and Bayesian facies classification for porosity modeling and igneous rock identification in the presalt interval of the Santos Basin. This integration of seismic and well-derived information enhances reservoir characterization. Stochastic inversion and Bayesian classification are powerful tools because they permit addressing the uncertainties in the model. We used the ES-MDA algorithm to achieve the realizations equivalent to the percentiles P10, P50, and P90 of acoustic impedance, a novel method for acoustic inversion in presalt. The facies were divided into five: reservoir 1,reservoir 2, tight carbonates, clayey rocks, and igneous rocks. To deal with the overlaps in acoustic impedance values of facies, we included geological information using a priori probability, indicating that structural highs are reservoir-dominated. To illustrate our approach, we conducted porosity modeling using facies-related rock-physics models for rock-physics inversion in an area with a well drilled in a coquina bank and evaluated the thickness and extension of an igneous intrusion near the carbonate-salt interface. The modeled porosity and the classified seismic facies are in good agreement with the ones observed in the wells. Notably, the coquinas bank presents an improvement in the porosity towards the top. The a priori probability model was crucial for limiting the clayey rocks to the structural lows. In Well B, the hit rate of the igneous rock in the three scenarios is higher than 60%, showing an excellent thickness-prediction capability.

Inversion method of deflection of the vertical based on SWOT wide-swath altimeter data

The deflection of the vertical(DOV)is the key information in the study of ocean gravity field.However,in most areas,the precision of the prime component of DoV is significantly lower than that of the meridian component.To obtain higher accuracy and resolution of ocean gravity information,researchers have proposed a novel altimeter called the wide-swath altimeter.This altimeter allows for the simultaneous acquisition of high-precision and high-resolution two-dimensional measurements of sea surface height(SSH).In this paper,the Surface Water and Ocean Topography(SWOT)mission with a wide-swath altimeter on board is selected for research.One cycle of swoT sea surface height data is simulated to inverse the DOV in the Arabian Sea(45°E—80°E,0°-30°N),and the inversion results are compared with those of conventional altimeter data.The results demonstrate that the difference between the meridian and prime components derived from the inversion of swoT wide-swath data is minimal,significantly outperforming the inversion results of conventional nadir altimeter data.The advantage of swoT wide-swath altimeter lies in its ability to use the multi-directional geoid slope at any sea surface measurement point to invert the components in the meridian and prime directions.To investigate the impact of this advantage on inversion precision,this paper employs a method to calculate the gradient of the geoid in multiple directions to invert DoV components.The improvement effect of calculating the gradient of the geoid in multiple directions on the precision of DoV component is analyzed.It is found that the accuracy of DoV inversion has significantly improved with the increase of geodetic gradient calculation direction.In addition,the effects of various errors and grid spacing in SwoT wide sea surface height data on the precision of Dov inversion are also analyzed.

Multi-scale data joint inversion of minerals and porosity in altered igneous reservoirs—A case study in the South China Sea

There are abundant igneous gas reservoirs in the South China Sea with significant value of research,and lithology classification,mineral analysis and porosity inversion are important links in reservoir evaluation.However,affected by the diverse lithology,complicated mineral and widespread alteration,conventional logging lithology classification and mineral inversion become considerably difficult.At the same time,owing to the limitation of the wireline log response equation,the quantity and accuracy of minerals can hardly meet the exploration requirements of igneous formations.To overcome those issues,this study takes the South China Sea as an example,and combines multi-scale data such as micro rock slices,petrophysical experiments,wireline log and element cutting log to establish a set of joint inversion methods for minerals and porosity of altered igneous rocks.Specifically,we define the lithology and mineral characteristics through core slices and mineral data,and establish an igneous multi-mineral volumetric model.Then we determine element cutting log correction method based on core element data,and combine wireline log and corrected element cutting log to perform the lithology classification and joint inversion of minerals and porosity.However,it is always difficult to determine the elemental eigenvalues of different minerals in inversion.This paper uses multiple linear regression methods to solve this problem.Finally,an integrated inversion technique for altered igneous formations was developed.The results show that the corrected element cutting log are in good agreement with the core element data,and the mineral and porosity results obtained from the joint inversion based on the wireline log and corrected element cutting log are also in good agreement with the core data from X-ray diffraction.The results demonstrate that the inversion technique is applicable and this study provides a new direction for the mineral inversion research of altered igneous formations.

Surface wave inversion with unknown number of soil layers based on a hybrid learning procedure of deep learning and genetic algorithm

Surface wave inversion is a key step in the application of surface waves to soil velocity profiling.Currently,a common practice for the process of inversion is that the number of soil layers is assumed to be known before using heuristic search algorithms to compute the shear wave velocity profile or the number of soil layers is considered as an optimization variable.However,an improper selection of the number of layers may lead to an incorrect shear wave velocity profile.In this study,a deep learning and genetic algorithm hybrid learning procedure is proposed to perform the surface wave inversion without the need to assume the number of soil layers.First,a deep neural network is adapted to learn from a large number of synthetic dispersion curves for inferring the layer number.Then,the shear-wave velocity profile is determined by a genetic algorithm with the known layer number.By applying this procedure to both simulated and real-world cases,the results indicate that the proposed method is reliable and efficient for surface wave inversion.

A novel efficient energy absorber with free inversion of a metal foam-filled circular tube

In this paper, a novel efficient energy absorber with free inversion of a metal foam-filled circular tube(MFFCT) is designed, and the axial compressive behavior of the MFFCT under free inversion is studied analytically and numerically. The theoretical analysis reveals that the energy is mainly dissipated through the radial bending of the metal circular tube, the circumferential expansion of the metal circular tube, and the metal filled-foam compression. The principle of energy conservation is used to derive the theoretical formula for the minimum compressive force of the MFFCT over free inversion under axial loading. Furthermore, the free inversion deformation characteristics of the MFFCT are analyzed numerically. The theoretical steady values are found to be in good agreement with the results of the finite element(FE) analysis. The effects of the average diameter of the metal tube, the wall thickness of the metal tube, and the filled-foam strength on the free inversion deformation of the MFFCT are considered. It is observed that in the steady deformation stage, the load-carrying and energy-absorbing capacities of the MFFCT increase with the increase in the average diameter of the metal tube, the wall thickness of the metal tube, or the filled-foam strength. The specific energy absorption(SEA) of free inversion of the MFFCT is significantly higher than that of the metal tube alone.

Layer-Valley Hall Effect under Inversion and Time-Reversal Symmetries

Hall effects have been the central paradigms in modern physics,materials science and practical applications,and have led to many exciting breakthroughs,including the discovery of topological Chern invariants and the revolution of metrological resistance standard.To date,the Hall effects have mainly focused on a single degree of freedom(Do F),and most of them require the breaking of spatial-inversion and/or time-reversal symmetries.Here we demonstrate a new type of Hall effect,i.e.,layer-valley Hall effect,based on a combined layer-valley Do F characterized by the product of layer and valley indices.The layer-valley Hall effect has a quantum origin arising from the layer-valley contrasting Berry curvature,and can occur in nonmagnetic centrosymmetric crystals with both spatial-inversion and time-reversal symmetries,transcending the symmetry constraints of single Do F Hall effect based on the constituent layer or valley index.Moreover,the layer-valley Hall effect is highly tunable and shows a W-shaped pattern in response to the out-of-plane electric fields.Additionally,we discuss the potential detection approaches and material-specific design principles of layer-valley Hall effect.Our results demonstrate novel Hall physics and open up exotic paradigms for new research direction of layer-valleytronics that exploits the quantum nature of the coupled layer-valley DoF.

Three-dimensional constrained gravity inversion of Moho depth and crustal structural characteristics at Mozambique continental margin

Mozambique's continental margin in East Africa was formed during the break-off stage of the east and west Gondwana lands. Studying the geological structure and division of continent-ocean boundary(COB) in Mozambique's continental margin is considered of great significance to rebuild Gondwana land and understand its movement mode. Along these lines, in this work, the initial Moho was fit using the known Moho depth from reflection seismic profiles, and a 3D multi-point constrained gravity inversion was carried out. Thus, highaccuracy Moho depth and crustal thickness in the study area were acquired. According to the crustal structure distribution based on the inversion results, the continental crust at the narrowest position of the Mozambique Channel was detected. According to the analysis of the crustal thickness, the Mozambique ridge is generally oceanic crust and the COB of the whole Mozambique continental margin is divided.

Improved reservoir characterization by means of supervised machine learning and model-based seismic impedance inversion in the Penobscot field,Scotian Basin

The present research work attempted to delineate and characterize the reservoir facies from the Dawson Canyon Formation in the Penobscot field,Scotian Basin.An integrated study of instantaneous frequency,P-impedance,volume of clay and neutron-porosity attributes,and structural framework was done to unravel the Late Cretaceous depositional system and reservoir facies distribution patterns within the study area.Fault strikes were found in the EW and NEE-SWW directions indicating the dominant course of tectonic activities during the Late Cretaceous period in the region.P-impedance was estimated using model-based seismic inversion.Petrophysical properties such as the neutron porosity(NPHI)and volume of clay(VCL)were estimated using the multilayer perceptron neural network with high accuracy.Comparatively,a combination of low instantaneous frequency(15-30 Hz),moderate to high impedance(7000-9500 gm/cc*m/s),low neutron porosity(27%-40%)and low volume of clay(40%-60%),suggests fair-to-good sandstone development in the Dawson Canyon Formation.After calibration with the welllog data,it is found that further lowering in these attribute responses signifies the clean sandstone facies possibly containing hydrocarbons.The present study suggests that the shale lithofacies dominates the Late Cretaceous deposition(Dawson Canyon Formation)in the Penobscot field,Scotian Basin.Major faults and overlying shale facies provide structural and stratigraphic seals and act as a suitable hydrocarbon entrapment mechanism in the Dawson Canyon Formation's reservoirs.The present research advocates the integrated analysis of multi-attributes estimated using different methods to minimize the risk involved in hydrocarbon exploration.

True-temperature inversion algorithm for a multi-wavelength pyrometer based on fractional-order particle-swarm optimization

Herein,a method of true-temperature inversion for a multi-wavelength pyrometer based on fractional-order particle-swarm optimization is proposed for difficult inversion problems with unknown emissivity.Fractional-order calculus has the inherent advantage of easily jumping out of local extreme values;here,it is introduced into the particle-swarm algorithm to invert the true temperature.An improved adaptive-adjustment mechanism is applied to automatically adjust the current velocity order of the particles and update their velocity and position values,increasing the accuracy of the true temperature values.The results of simulations using the proposed algorithm were compared with three algorithms using typical emissivity models:the internal penalty function algorithm,the optimization function(fmincon)algorithm,and the conventional particle-swarm optimization algorithm.The results show that the proposed algorithm has good accuracy for true-temperature inversion.Actual experimental results from a rocket-motor plume were used to demonstrate that the true-temperature inversion results of this algorithm are in good agreement with the theoretical true-temperature values.

An empirical method for joint inversion of wave and wind parameters based on SAR and wave spectrometer data

Synthetic aperture radar(SAR)and wave spectrometers,crucial in microwave remote sensing,play an essential role in monitoring sea surface wind and wave conditions.However,they face inherent limitations in observing sea surface phenomena.SAR systems,for instance,are hindered by an azimuth cut-off phenomenon in sea surface wind field observation.Wave spectrometers,while unaffected by the azimuth cutoff phenomenon,struggle with low azimuth resolution,impacting the capture of detailed wave and wind field data.This study utilizes SAR and surface wave investigation and monitoring(SWIM)data to initially extract key feature parameters,which are then prioritized using the extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost)algorithm.The research further addresses feature collinearity through a combined analysis of feature importance and correlation,leading to the development of an inversion model for wave and wind parameters based on XGBoost.A comparative analysis of this model with ERA5 reanalysis and buoy data for of significant wave height,mean wave period,wind direction,and wind speed reveals root mean square errors of 0.212 m,0.525 s,27.446°,and 1.092 m/s,compared to 0.314 m,0.888 s,27.698°,and 1.315 m/s from buoy data,respectively.These results demonstrate the model’s effective retrieval of wave and wind parameters.Finally,the model,incorporating altimeter and scatterometer data,is evaluated against SAR/SWIM single and dual payload inversion methods across different wind speeds.This comparison highlights the model’s superior inversion accuracy over other methods.

Crustal and uppermost mantle structure of the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau from joint inversion of surface wave dispersions and receiver functions with P velocity constraints

Lithospheric structure beneath the northeastern Qinghai-Xizang Plateau is of vital significance for studying the geodynamic processes of crustal thickening and expansion of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. We conducted a joint inversion of receiver functions and surface wave dispersions with P-wave velocity constraints using data from the Chin Array Ⅱ temporary stations deployed across the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Prior to joint inversion, we applied the H-κ-c method(Li JT et al., 2019) to the receiver function data in order to correct for the back-azimuthal variations in the arrival times of Ps phases and crustal multiples caused by crustal anisotropy and dipping interfaces. High-resolution images of vS, crustal thickness, and vP/vSstructures in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau were simultaneously derived from the joint inversion. The seismic images reveal that crustal thickness decreases outward from the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. The stable interiors of the Ordos and Alxa blocks exhibited higher velocities and lower crustal vP/vSratios. While, lower velocities and higher vP/vSratios were observed beneath the Qilian Orogen and Songpan-Ganzi terrane(SPGZ), which are geologically active and mechanically weak, especially in the mid-lower crust.Delamination or thermal erosion of the lithosphere triggered by hot asthenospheric flow contributes to the observed uppermost mantle low-velocity zones(LVZs) in the SPGZ. The crustal thickness, vS, and vP/vSratios suggest that whole lithospheric shortening is a plausible mechanism for crustal thickening in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, supporting the idea of coupled lithospheric-scale deformation in this region.

UAV-based transient electromagnetic 3D forward modeling and inversion and analysis of exploration capability

Unmanned aerial vehicle transient electromagnetic(UAV-TEM)is a novel airborne exploration method that offers advantages such as low cost,simple operation,high exploration efficiency and suitability for near-surface exploration in complex terrain areas.To improve the accuracy of data interpretation in this method,the authors conducted a systematic three-dimensional(3D)forward modeling and inversion of the UAV-TEM.This study utilized the finite element method based on unstructured tetrahedral elements and employed the second-order backward Euler method for time discretization.This allowed for accurate 3D modeling and accounted for the effects of complex terrain.Based on these,the influence characteristics of flight altitudes and the sizes,burial depths,and resistivities of anomalies are compared and analyzed to explore the UAV-TEM systems’exploration capability.Lastly,four typical geoelectrical models of landslides are designed,and the inversion method based on the Gauss-Newton optimization method is used to image the landslide models and analyze the imaging effect of the UAV-TEM method on landslide geohazards.Numerical results showed that UAV-TEM could have better exploration resolution and fine imaging of nearsurface structures,providing important technical support for monitoring,early warning,and preventing landslides and other geological hazards.

Horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio inversion method based on multimodal forest optimization algorithm

The exploration of urban underground spaces is of great significance to urban planning,geological disaster prevention,resource exploration and environmental monitoring.However,due to the existing of severe interferences,conventional seismic methods cannot adapt to the complex urban environment well.Since adopting the single-node data acquisition method and taking the seismic ambient noise as the signal,the microtremor horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio(HVSR)method can effectively avoid the strong interference problems caused by the complex urban environment,which could obtain information such as S-wave velocity and thickness of underground formations by fitting the microtremor HVSR curve.Nevertheless,HVSR curve inversion is a multi-parameter curve fitting process.And conventional inversion methods can easily converge to the local minimum,which will directly affect the reliability of the inversion results.Thus,the authors propose a HVSR inversion method based on the multimodal forest optimization algorithm,which uses the efficient clustering technique and locates the global optimum quickly.Tests on synthetic data show that the inversion results of the proposed method are consistent with the forward model.Both the adaption and stability to the abnormal layer velocity model are demonstrated.The results of the real field data are also verified by the drilling information.

Rapid source inversions of the 2023 SE Türkiye earthquakes with teleseismic and strong-motion data

We conducted rapid inversions of rupture process for the 2023 earthquake doublet occurred in SE Türkiye,the first with a magnitude of M_(W)7.8 and the second with a magnitude of M_(W)7.6,using teleseismic and strong-motion data.The teleseismic rupture models of the both events were obtained approximately 88 and 55 minutes after their occurrences,respectively.The rupture models indicated that the first event was an asymmetric bilateral event with ruptures mainly propagating to the northeast,while the second one was a unilateral event with ruptures propagating to the west.This information could be useful in locating the meizoseismal areas.Compared with teleseismic models,the strong-motion models showed relatively higher resolution.A noticeable difference was found for the M_(W)7.6 earthquake,for which the strong-motion models shows a bilateral event,rather than a unilateral event,but the dominant rupture direction is still westward.Nevertheless,all strong-motion models are consistent with the teleseismic models in terms of magnitudes,durations,and dominant rupture directions.This suggests that both teleseismic and strong-motion data can be used for fast determination of major source characteristics.In contrast,the strong-motion data would be preferable in future emergency responses since they are recorded earlier and have a better resolution ability on the source ruptures.

Statistical Inversion Based on Nonlinear Weighted Anisotropic Total Variational Model and Its Application in Electrical Impedance Tomography

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) aims to reconstruct the conductivity distribution using the boundary measured voltage potential. Traditional regularization based method would suffer from error propagation due to the iteration process. The statistical inverse problem method uses statistical inference to estimate unknown parameters. In this article, we develop a nonlinear weighted anisotropic total variation (NWATV) prior density function based on the recently proposed NWATV regularization method. We calculate the corresponding posterior density function, i.e., the solution of the EIT inverse problem in the statistical sense, via a modified Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling. We do numerical experiment to validate the proposed approach.

Moment tensor and stress inversion solutions of acoustic emissions during compression and tensile fracturing in crystalline rocks

We investigate the accuracy and robustness of moment tensor(MT)and stress inversion solutions derived from acoustic emissions(AEs)during the laboratory fracturing of prismatic Barre granite specimens.Pre-cut flaws in the specimens introduce a complex stress field,resulting in a spatial and temporal variation of focal mechanisms.Specifically,we consider two experimental setups:(1)where the rock is loaded in compression to generate primarily shear-type fractures and(2)where the material is loaded in indirect tension to generate predominantly tensile-type fractures.In each test,we first decompose AE moment tensors into double-couple(DC)and non-DC terms and then derive unambiguous normal and slip vectors using k-means clustering and an unstructured damped stress inversion algorithm.We explore temporal and spatial distributions of DC and non-DC events at different loading levels.The majority of the DC and the tensile non-DC events cluster around the pre-cut flaws,where macro-cracks later develop.Results of stress inversion are verified against the stress field from finite element(FE)modeling.A good agreement is found between the experimentally derived and numerically simulated stress orientations.To the best of the authors’knowledge,this work presents the first case where stress inversion methodologies are validated by numerical simulations at laboratory scale and under highly heterogeneous stress distributions.

A high resolution inversion method for fluid factor with dynamic dryrock V_(P)/V_(S) ratio squared

As an important indicator parameter of fluid identification,fluid factor has always been a concern for scholars.However,when predicting Russell fluid factor or effective pore-fluid bulk modulus,it is necessary to introduce a new rock skeleton parameter which is the dry-rock VP/VS ratio squared(DVRS).In the process of fluid factor calculation or inversion,the existing methods take this parameter as a static constant,which has been estimated in advance,and then apply it to the fluid factor calculation and inversion.The fluid identification analysis based on a portion of the Marmousi 2 model and numerical forward modeling test show that,taking the DVRS as a static constant will limit the identification ability of fluid factor and reduce the inversion accuracy.To solve the above problems,we proposed a new method to regard the DVRS as a dynamic variable varying with depth and lithology for the first time,then apply it to fluid factor calculation and inversion.Firstly,the exact Zoeppritz equations are rewritten into a new form containing the fluid factor and DVRS of upper and lower layers.Next,the new equations are applied to the four parameters simultaneous inversion based on the generalized nonlinear inversion(GNI)method.The testing results on a portion of the Marmousi 2 model and field data show that dynamic DVRS can significantly improve the fluid factor identification ability,effectively suppress illusion.Both synthetic and filed data tests also demonstrate that the GNI method based on Bayesian deterministic inversion(BDI)theory can successfully solve the above four parameter simultaneous inversion problem,and taking the dynamic DVRS as a target inversion parameter can effectively improve the inversion accuracy of fluid factor.All these results completely verified the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method.

GBO algorithm for seismic source parameters inversion

The use of geodetic observation data for seismic fault parameters inversion is the research hotspot of geodetic inversion, and it is also the focus of studying the mechanism of earthquake occurrence. Seismic fault parameters inversion has nonlinear characteristics, and the gradient-based optimizer(GBO) has the characteristics of fast convergence speed and falling into local optimum hardly. This paper applies GBO algorithm to simulated earthquakes and real LuShan earthquakes in the nonlinear inversion of the Okada model to obtain the source parameters. The simulated earthquake experiment results show that the algorithm is stable, and the seismic source parameters obtained by GBO are slightly closer to the true value than the multi peak particle swarm optimization(MPSO). In the 2013 LuShan earthquake experiment, the root mean square error between the deformation after forwarding of fault parameters obtained by the introduced GBO algorithm and the surface observation deformation was 3.703 mm, slightly better than 3.708 mm calculated by the MPSO. Moreover, the inversion result of GBO algorithm is better than MPSO algorithm in stability. The above results show that the introduced GBO algorithm has a certain practical application value in seismic fault source parameters inversion.

Rock physics and seismic reflectivity parameterization and amplitude variation with offsets inversion in terms of total organic carbon indicator

Total organic carbon (TOC) prediction with elastic parameter inversions has been widely used in the identification and evaluation of source rocks. However, the elastic parameters used to predict TOC are not only determined by TOC but also depend on the other physical properties of source rocks. Besides, the TOC prediction with the elastic parameters inversion is an indirect method based on the statistical relationship obtained from well logs and experiment data. Therefore, we propose a rock physics model and define a TOC indicator mainly affected by TOC to predict TOC directly. The proposed rock physics model makes the equivalent elastic moduli of source rocks parameterized by the TOC indicator. Combining the equivalent elastic moduli of source rocks and Gray’s approximation leads to a novel linearized approximation of the P-wave reflection coefficient incorporating the TOC indicator. Model examples illustrate that the novel reflectivity approximation well agrees with the exact Zoeppritz equation until incident angles reach 40°. Convoluting the novel P-wave reflection approximation with seismic wavelets as the forward solver, an AVO inversion method based on the Bayesian theory is proposed to invert the TOC indicator with seismic data. The synthetic examples and field tests validate the feasibility and stability of the proposed AVO inversion approach. Using the inversion results of the TOC indicator, TOC is directly and accurately estimated in the target area.