Three-dimensional gravity inversion based on the simulated annealing algorithm for constraining diapiric roots of salt canopies

We have developed a three-dimensional gravity inversion technique that utilizes the Metropolis simulated annealing algorithm for global optimization. This technique is effective in locating and constraining the diapiric roots of salt canopies, which are difficult to image seismically. Unlike the traditional least-squares approach, the SA computation does not suffer from instability and the coding is extremely simple. The non-uniqueness problem is minimized by use of the salt top morphology, which can be obtained from a limited 2-D seismic coverage, as a priori information. Our technique has been applied to synthetic data and has identified the location and geometry of three separate diapiric roots hidden under a laterally extensive salt sheet.