Apparatus and Method for Integrating Survey Parameters Into a Header

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for acquiring seismic data is disclosed that in one aspect receives a seismic signal detected by at least one sensor in response to a seismic energy signal generated by a source at a selected location at a data acquisition unit in data that is in data communication with the sensor, receives at least one parameter of the source and/or receiver at the data acquisition unit; and generates a data block at the data acquisition unit having data representative of the received seismic signal and a header that contains data representative of the at least one parameter of the source and/or receiver. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application takes priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 812,568, filed on Jun. 10, 2006.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE [0002] The disclosure relates generally to devices, systems and methods relating to seismic surveying and for integrating one or more survey parameters into trace headers. BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0003] Seismic surveys are conducted on land and over water to obtain images of subsurface formations to determine the location and extent of hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas. Seismic surveys are typically conducted over land by deploying a large array of seismic sensors over a surface portion of the earth. Typically, such arrays cover several square kilometers, for example 75-100 square kilometers, utilizing a few thousand, for example 2000 to 5000, seismic receivers or sensors. An energy source (typically a buried explosive source or a mobile vibratory source) is activated within the array to generate an acoustic en...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a method for associating data relating to one or more seismic source parameters with the acquired seismic data during the acquisition of the seismic data. In one aspect, the method may include receiving seismic signals at a receiver in the field in response to activating a source at a selected location; processing the received signals at a filed data acquisition unit and recording the processed signals at the recorder; receiving at the field data acquisition unit one or more parameters of the source and / or the receiver; associating the one or more parameters of the source and / or receiver with the recorded processed signals; recording the associated one or more parameters of the source and / or receiver along with the recorded processed signals; and transferring the recorded processed signals and the one or more parameters of the source and / or receiver to a another unit for processing. In one aspect, the field data acquisition unit may associate the one or more parameters of the source and / or receiver with the recoded processed signals by including the one or more parameters of the source and / or receiver into a header of a data block or packet that is formed to contain the processed signals. The field data acquisition unit may transfer the data blocks to a data collection station or to a processing center via a suitable communication link, including a cable connection or a wireless link.

Problems solved by technology

The actual location of the shots may differ because it is not feasible to activate a source at the planned location or that even after locating a stake at such location, such stakes are moved, knocked down, and / or blown over, and / or removed and / or destroyed completely.

Even if the stake marker is accurate, the actual seismic source may be positioned inaccurately.

The pre-processing task of entering the source, receiver and other parameters, such as spatial coordinates, etc. for each trace data can be arduous, time-consuming, and prone to errors.

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