Dynamic Seismic Streamer Sampling Density Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic streamers in marine environments face challenges with regular sampling density, resulting in excessive data volume and reduced resolution due to decreasing bandwidth with distance from the seismic source, while requiring higher density in areas of interest, which complicates timely analysis and processing.
Innovation Solution
Dynamic adjustment of seismic sample spacing by selectively enabling or disabling receivers along the streamers based on real-time data from controllers and modeling inputs, allowing for increased density over areas of interest and reducing data volume in less interesting areas, using a process that adapts as the streamer moves over varying subsurface features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If regular interval sampling is used along the entire streamer, then data coverage is uniform, but data volume becomes excessive and processing becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different sampling densities to different spatial locations along the streamer based on subsurface feature characteristics. Areas with interesting subsurface features use higher sampling density, while areas without features use lower sampling density, optimizing both data quality and volume management
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling density is dynamically adjusted during the survey based on real-time detection of subsurface features. The system transitions from static regular sampling to dynamic adaptive sampling, changing the spacing between active receivers based on encountered geological features
2Measurement precision
If high sampling density is maintained throughout, then resolution is improved, but bandwidth requirements increase and processing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
High resolution sampling is applied locally only to areas containing subsurface features of interest, rather than uniformly across the entire streamer. This maintains resolution where needed while reducing overall data volume for faster processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses partial sampling activation, enabling only the necessary portion of receivers at any given time based on feature detection. This provides sufficient resolution for identified features while avoiding the excessive data generation that would result from full-streamer high-density sampling
3Productivity
If bandwidth is reduced to decrease data volume, then processing efficiency improves, but resolution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains high resolution locally in areas with subsurface features by activating denser receiver spacing in those specific zones, while allowing bandwidth reduction in areas without features, achieving both efficiency and resolution where needed
Data Source
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AI summary
A seismic measurement system and a method of obtaining seismic measurements are described. The seismic measurement system includes a cable and a plurality of sensors disposed at a first interval along the cable. The plurality of sensors receives reflections resulting from a seismic source and each of the plurality of sensors receives the reflection corresponding with a particular subsurface location. The system also includes a controller to turn on a first set of the plurality of sensors and turn off a second set of the plurality of sensors based on an area of interest.