Land Streamer Data Extrapolation Using Seismic Interferometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Land streamer seismic data acquisition is limited by low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) due to weak receiver-ground coupling, resulting in shallow penetration depth and inadequate subsurface imaging, despite techniques like Kirchhoff migration and Fourier transforms failing to significantly improve SNR.
Innovation Solution
Employing a two-step interferometric extrapolation process involving cross-correlation and convolution to generate virtual and super-virtual traces, enhancing SNR, and using deconvolution to reduce artifacts, thereby extending the effective length of land streamer data beyond original acquisition limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If land streamer surveys use conventional acquisition techniques, then installation time is reduced and survey speed is improved, but penetration depth is limited and signal-to-noise ratio deteriorates at large offsets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates virtual copies of seismic traces through interferometric extrapolation. By cross-correlating recorded traces to generate virtual traces and convolving them to produce super-virtual traces, the system synthesizes additional data that extends the effective streamer length and improves penetration depth without physical expansion of the array.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple types of seismic traces (recorded traces, virtual traces, and super-virtual traces) into a composite dataset. This composite approach integrates information from different source-receiver geometries and offset ranges, creating a enhanced signal that maintains high SNR while extending penetration depth.
2Length of stationary object
If land streamer length is increased to improve penetration depth, then survey coverage is extended, but installation time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses interferometric extrapolation to create virtual extensions of the streamer array. By processing recorded data through cross-correlation and convolution operations, the system generates virtual traces that effectively double the penetration depth without physically extending the streamer cable or adding more receivers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the data representation parameters through mathematical operations. By changing from raw recorded traces to cross-correlated virtual traces and then to convolved super-virtual traces, the system alters the effective offset range and penetration depth parameters while maintaining the same physical array configuration.
3Measurement precision
If Kirchhoff migration and Fourier transform methods are applied to improve subsurface imaging, then image quality is enhanced, but signal-to-noise ratio does not significantly improve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary signal enhancement through interferometric extrapolation before final subsurface imaging. By pre-processing the seismic data to generate super-virtual traces with extended offset ranges and improved SNR, the subsequent migration and imaging operations work with higher quality input data, achieving better overall imaging results.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces interferometric extrapolation as an intermediary processing step between data acquisition and final imaging. This intermediate stage generates enhanced virtual traces that serve as a bridge, transforming the low SNR recorded data into high SNR super-virtual traces that are then used for improved subsurface 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 method effectively doubles the penetration depth and resolution of land streamer surveys by generating new source-receiver traces, improving subsurface imaging without increasing physical streamer length, and reducing installation time by 80% compared to conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
In first step, the recorded traces are cross-correlated to generate virtual traces and the virtual traces that share a same ray path are stacked together to enhance signal-to-noise ratio of the virtual traces
Implementation Method 2
In second step, the virtual traces are convolved with the recorded traces to generate super-virtual traces having longer ray paths than the recorded traces
Implementation Method 3
All super-virtual traces that share a same source and receiver points are stacked to further enhance signal-to-noise ratio of final super-virtual traces
Data Source
AI summary
A system, and method for utilizing an interferometric technique to extrapolate land streamer data. The technique involves a two-step process. In the first step, the recorded traces are correlated to generate virtual traces. Virtual traces that share the same ray path are stacked together, to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In the second step, the generated virtual traces are convolved with the recorded traces to produce new super-virtual traces characterized by longer ray paths than any of the recorded data. These new traces represent source-receiver pairs that were not initially recorded and possess source-receiver offsets larger than all the recorded traces. Subsequently, the traces sharing the same ray path are stacked together to further improve the SNR of the final virtual traces.