Marine Vibrator Source Deconvolution for Ghost Attenuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Marine seismic surveys face challenges in obtaining accurate, high-resolution images of subterranean formations due to contamination from coherent noise, particularly receiver ghosts and source wavefield effects, which reduce image resolution and obscure geological structures.

Innovation Solution

The use of marine vibrators generating random sweeps allows for continuous recording of seismic data, enabling the attenuation of receiver ghost and source wavefield effects through specific processing techniques, such as deconvolution, to improve image resolution and clarity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If marine vibrators generate random sweeps for continuous recording, then productivity is improved, but coherent noise contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous recording capabilityVSAvoidcoherent noise contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful coherent noise (receiver ghosts and source wavefield effects) into a solvable problem through deconvolution processing. By treating the random sweep signature as a known filter, the system can mathematically remove its convolved effect from the recorded data, transforming the harmful contamination into recoverable signal information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies deconvolution processing as a preliminary step in the seismic data workflow. By removing the source signature and receiver ghost effects early in the processing sequence, subsequent imaging operations work with cleaner data, improving overall efficiency and reducing the need for later corrective processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If deconvolution processing is applied to remove source wavefield effects, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage resolutionVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex physical measurement systems with mathematical processing. Instead of using multiple sensors or complex hardware configurations to directly measure subsurface properties, the system uses deconvolution algorithms to computationally extract the desired information from the recorded wavefield, substituting mechanical/physical complexity with mathematical processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If receiver ghost attenuation is performed through deconvolution, then manufacturing precision is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseismic image qualityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs continuous random sweeps instead of traditional impulsive sources, enabling continuous data acquisition. The deconvolution process then continuously removes receiver ghost effects throughout the recording, maintaining image quality improvement without requiring间断 processing steps that would increase total processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 enhances the quality of seismic images by reducing coherent noise contamination, resulting in higher resolution and more accurate representations of subterranean formations, facilitating better identification of hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Implementation Method 1

A seismic source may be a marine vibrator that emits acoustic energy over a longer time period. The acoustic energy generated by a seismic source spreads out in all directions. A portion of the acoustic energy travels down through the water and into a subterranean formation to propagate as sound waves within the subterranean formation.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcoustic energy propagation: Sound

Implementation Method 2

At each interface between different types of liquid, rock and sediment, a portion of the sound wave is refracted, a portion is transmitted, and another portion is reflected into the body of water to propagate as a reflected wavefield toward the water surface.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 3

deconvolve the downgoing vertical acceleration wavefield from the upgoing pressure wavefield to generate a subsurface reflectivity wavefield

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeconvolution:

Data Source

PatentUS11709288B2Seismic imaging with source deconvolution for marine vibrators with random source signatures

Publication Date: 2023.07.25 PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS

AI summary

Processes and systems described herein are directed to imaging a subterranean formation from seismic data recorded in a marine survey with moving marine vibrators. The marine vibrators generate random sweeps with random sweep signatures. Processes and systems generate an up-going pressure wavefield from measured pressure and vertical velocity wavefield data recorded in the marine survey and obtain a downgoing vertical acceleration wavefield that records source wavefields, directivity, source ghosts, and random signatures of the random sweeps. The downgoing vertical acceleration wavefield data is deconvolved from the up-going pressure wavefield to obtain a subsurface reflectivity wavefield that is used to generate an image of the subterranean formation with reduced contamination from source wavefields, directivity, source ghosts, and random signatures of the random sweeps.