Full Azimuth Seismic Data Visualization via Curved Surface Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seismic data processing and imaging methods, particularly those using multi-azimuth or wide-azimuth data, face challenges in accurately imaging subsurface geophysical structures due to increased data complexity, requiring significant computational resources and storage, and often struggle to provide detailed images of structures like faults and small-scale fractures with sufficient accuracy.
Innovation Solution
The method involves mapping discrete wide-azimuth data sets onto continuous curved three-dimensional surfaces and projecting them onto planar surfaces to form three-dimensional bodies, allowing for the display of seismic data in spherical or cylindrical formats, enabling the visualization of reflection and directional data in a more comprehensive and accurate manner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multi-azimuth or wide-azimuth data acquisition methods are used to enhance illumination of reservoirs below complex structures, then imaging precision is improved, but data complexity and computational resources required increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex full-azimuth angle domain data into discrete azimuthal sectors. Each sector represents a specific angular range and can be processed independently. This segmentation reduces the overall computational burden while maintaining the enhanced illumination benefits of multi-azimuth data acquisition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the complex multi-dimensional angle domain data into a more manageable representation by organizing it along the azimuthal dimension. Discrete azimuthal sectors are arranged in a circular or radial pattern, creating a new organizational dimension that simplifies processing while preserving the three-dimensional spatial relationships needed for accurate subsurface imaging.
2Measurement precision
If multi-azimuth or wide-azimuth data acquisition methods are used to enhance illumination of reservoirs below complex structures, then imaging precision is improved, but computational resources and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the full-azimuth data into discrete sectors, the patent enables parallel processing of smaller data subsets. Each azimuthal sector can be processed with less computational power, and results can be combined to achieve the same imaging precision as processing the complete dataset would provide, but with reduced peak computational resource requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent processes discrete azimuthal sectors that cover the full azimuthal range, but processes them in a staged manner rather than all at once. This partial action approach maintains the benefits of wide-azimuth data while managing computational resources more efficiently by processing sectors sequentially or in parallel batches.
3Measurement precision
If discrete wide-azimuth data sets are mapped onto continuous curved three-dimensional surfaces and projected onto planar surfaces, then visualization accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maps discrete wide-azimuth data onto continuous curved three-dimensional surfaces, specifically using spherical or spheroidal coordinate systems. This curvature-based approach naturally represents the angular relationships in azimuthal data, improving visualization accuracy by preserving the geometric relationships between different azimuthal directions while providing a systematic framework for processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs a dimensionality transformation by projecting three-dimensional curved surface data onto two-dimensional planar surfaces. This projection creates visual representations that maintain the essential three-dimensional spatial relationships while being displayable on standard two-dimensional screens, facilitating accurate visualization without requiring complex three-dimensional display hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
A device, system, and method for displaying seismic image data may include computing, from a wide-azimuth data set, a discrete data set associated with an image function at a seismic image point. The discrete data set may be mapped onto a continuous curved three-dimensional surface. The mapped data set may be projected onto a continuous planar surface. The projected data may be displayed as a planar disk. A plurality of continuous planar surfaces, each representing a single image point, may be assembled to form a three-dimensional body, representing a seismic gather of image points. The three-dimensional body may be displayed. Other embodiments are described and claimed.