Hexagonal Phase Encoding for Simultaneous Marine Vibrator Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seismic data acquisition techniques face challenges in maximizing bandwidth usage and minimizing time durations for seismic signal transmissions, detections, and analysis, which are crucial for efficient energy development operations.
Innovation Solution
The method involves arranging two or more seismic sources to transmit signals simultaneously, determining optimal phase modulation, and resolving wavefields in a hexagonal plane wave domain to enable deterministic separation of the signals, allowing for improved seismic data resolution and visualization of subsurface structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple seismic sources transmit signals simultaneously, then bandwidth usage is maximized and time duration is minimized, but signal separation and resolution become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies phase modulation as a parameter change technique. Each seismic source is assigned a unique phase code (0°, 120°, or 240°) that modifies the signal characteristics without changing the fundamental seismic wave generation mechanism. This allows multiple sources to transmit simultaneously while maintaining signal separability through phase-based differentiation in the frequency-wavenumber domain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the signal separation problem from the spatial domain to the frequency-wavenumber domain through Fourier transformation. By encoding sources in the phase dimension and separating them in the frequency-wavenumber domain, the system achieves simultaneous transmission with clear signal resolution. The hexagonal arrangement in the frequency-wavenumber domain creates non-overlapping spectral signatures for each source.
2Productivity
If seismic sources are arranged in traditional patterns, then signal transmission is simple, but bandwidth usage is not optimized and time duration cannot be minimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an asymmetric hexagonal arrangement of seismic sources rather than a symmetric square or linear pattern. This asymmetric configuration creates distinct spectral signatures in the frequency-wavenumber domain, allowing clear separation of simultaneous signals. The hexagonal geometry in the spatial domain transforms into a hexagonal pattern in the frequency-wavenumber domain, providing optimal signal dispersion and separation.
3Measurement precision
If phase modulation is applied to enable simultaneous transmission, then signal separation is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the frequency-wavenumber domain as an intermediary space between the spatial source arrangement and the final signal separation. By transforming signals to this domain, applying simple spectral filtering based on hexagonal frequency patterns, and then transforming back, the system achieves complex signal separation using relatively simple processing steps. The intermediary domain allows straightforward differentiation of sources through their characteristic hexagonal frequency signatures.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed method includes simultaneously transmitting, using a first seismic source and a second seismic source: a first signal from the first seismic source; and a second signal from the second seismic source. The method also includes: determining, based on detecting the simultaneously transmitted first signal and second signal, wave number data; and designating, based on the wave number data, a position of the first seismic source relative to the second seismic source. The method also includes: determining, based on the position of the first seismic source relative to the second seismic source, optimal phase modulation of the simultaneously transmitted first signal and second signal that enable deterministic separation of the simultaneously transmitted first signal and second signal in the plane wave domain; and using the optimal phase modulation to resolve or separate wavefields included in the simultaneously transmitted first signal and second signal in the plane wave domain.