A full waveform inversion of seismic data using partial match filtering

A method for seismic exploration includes obtaining 310 recorded seismic data, generating 330 synthetic data corresponding to the recorded data using a model of the underground structure, and computing 340 a partial match filter (PMF) which partially matches the recorded data and the synthetic data. The method further includes generating 350 auxiliary data using the PMF and one of the synthetic and recorded data and updating 360 the model based on the auxiliary data. The updated model is useable to locate natural resources in the explored underground structure. Other aspects relate to an apparatus and computer readable recording medium. The method may involve using full waveform inversion and as such, auxiliary data replaces one of the observed data and the synthetic data in the FWI's objective function to avoid cycle skipping. The generating of the auxiliary data may include a convolution by the PMF or solving a least squares problem. The generating of the auxiliary data may partially compensate for timing and amplitude differences between the recorded and synthetic data.