Hybrid OBS and Streamer Seismic Survey Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Combining seismic data sets from traditional towed streamer surveys and OBS surveys is challenging due to differences in data acquisition methods, including non-uniform and misaligned streamer and OBS receiver sublines, varying receiver depths, and source/receiver ghost travel times.
Innovation Solution
Hybrid marine seismic surveys are performed with a survey vessel towing an array of wide towed sources and multiple streamers above an array of OBS receivers, with carefully selected sail line, source, and OBS receiver separations to achieve nominally uniform subline separations, allowing for the recording and processing of seismic data to build high-resolution velocity models of subterranean formations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional towed streamer surveys and OBS surveys are performed separately with different acquisition methods, then each method can be optimized for its specific application, but combining the data sets becomes challenging due to non-uniform and misaligned receiver sublines, varying receiver depths, and source/receiver ghost travel times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully selecting and coordinating survey parameters including sail line separation, source separation, and OBS receiver separation to achieve uniform subline separations. This standardization of geometric parameters enables the integration of data from different acquisition methods while maintaining consistency in the final data set.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a hybrid survey configuration that can simultaneously accommodate both towed streamer and OBS receiver systems. The coordinated geometry allows the same survey design to serve multiple data acquisition methods, making the system versatile and enabling combined data sets from different survey techniques.
2Manufacturing precision
If streamer and OBS receiver sublines are deployed with different spacing and alignment, then each system can be optimized for its specific requirements, but the resulting data sets cannot be easily combined or processed together
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves uniform receiver subline spacing by carefully selecting specific parameter values: sail line separation, source separation, and OBS receiver separation are all coordinated to produce consistent subline spacing. This parameter optimization ensures both precision in spacing and efficiency in data acquisition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates equipotentiality in the survey geometry by ensuring that streamer sublines and OBS receiver sublines both conform to the same uniform spacing pattern. This equalization of geometric conditions across different receiver types enables seamless data integration while maintaining high productivity through optimized survey design.
3Ease of operation
If receiver depths vary between streamers and OBS receivers, then each system can be deployed in its optimal depth configuration, but this creates challenges for data processing and imaging consistency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different receiver types (streamers and OBS) to operate at their optimal local depths while maintaining overall data consistency. Each receiver system retains its depth flexibility for operational ease, but the coordinated geometry and processing methods ensure measurement precision and imaging consistency across the combined data set.
4Productivity
If source and receiver positions are not carefully coordinated, then deployment is simpler and faster, but the resulting data geometry is non-uniform and unsuitable for high-resolution imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves both rapid deployment and high-precision geometry by optimizing the relationship between key parameters: sail line separation, source separation, and OBS receiver separation. These parameters are selected to automatically produce uniform subline spacing, eliminating the need for complex post-deployment adjustments while ensuring data geometry suitable for high-resolution imaging.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the effective combination and processing of seismic data from both methods, resulting in high-resolution images of subterranean formations, suitable for seismic migration and imaging, by aligning and uniformly spacing streamer and OBS receiver sublines, thus overcoming previous integration challenges.
Implementation Method 1
A seismic source comprises an array of airguns, or one or more marine vibrators, that are activated to produce acoustic energy that spreads out in all directions
Implementation Method 2
At each interface between different types of liquid, rock and sediment, a portion of the acoustic energy is refracted
Implementation Method 3
a portion is reflected into the body of water to propagate as an acoustic reflected wavefield toward the water surface
Implementation Method 4
Each streamer contains many seismic receivers or sensors that measure pressure wavefield and/or particle motion wavefield properties of the reflected wavefield
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
Methods for performing a marine survey of a subterranean formation using a hybrid combination of ocean bottom seismic ("OBS") receivers, wide towed sources, and moving streamers are described herein. In one aspect, a sail line separation in a crossline direction is determined based on an average streamer separation and number of streamers. An array of OBS receivers are deposited on a surface of a subterranean formation with an OBS receiver separation that is based on the sail line separation. Wide towed sources and streamers are towed above the array of OBS receivers behind a survey vessel that travels sail lines separated by the sail line separation. The wide towed sources may be activated above the array of OBS receivers. Wavefields reflected from the subterranean formation are recorded at the OBS receivers and receivers located in the streamers as seismic data.