Refraction-Based Amplitude Compensation for Seismic Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional seismic data processing methods are ineffective in accurately separating near-surface effects from subsurface reflectivity, particularly due to limited sensitivity of reflected waves and noise in land seismic data, which hampers the reliability of surface-consistent amplitude balancing and deconvolution processes.

Innovation Solution

The approach involves refraction-based surface-consistent amplitude compensation and deconvolution, using refracted waves to determine amplitude residuals and apply corrections, thereby enhancing the separation of near-surface effects from subsurface reflectivity, utilizing a new sorting domain and linear equation solutions to derive surface-consistent amplitude residuals for sources and receivers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If reflected waves are used for surface-consistent amplitude balancing, then subsurface reflectivity can be processed, but the sensitivity to near-surface effects is limited and noise in land seismic data reduces reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of amplitude correctionsVSAvoidseparation accuracy of near-surface effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using refracted waves (first arrivals) instead of reflected waves for amplitude balancing. Refracted waves are more sensitive to near-surface velocity variations and provide better constraints for separating near-surface effects from subsurface reflectivity, thereby improving both reliability and measurement precision of amplitude corrections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the wave type parameter from reflected waves to refracted waves, and introduces a new sorting domain based on first arrivals. This parameter change enables better sensitivity to near-surface effects and improves the accuracy of amplitude residual calculation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If conventional surface-consistent amplitude balancing is used, then processing can be performed, but near-surface effects cannot be effectively separated from subsurface reflectivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoidseparation accuracy of near-surface effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the seismic signal by sorting traces into bins based on common midpoints and first arrival times. This segmentation allows independent estimation of near-surface effects for each bin, improving separation accuracy while maintaining processing efficiency through systematic organization of data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts near-surface effects by calculating amplitude residuals from first arrival events and removing them through deconvolution. This extraction process separates near-surface variability from subsurface reflectivity, preventing information loss while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If numerical methods with matrix inversion are used for amplitude compensation, then attenuation can be corrected, but the process becomes complex and computationally intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamplitude correction accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses simple amplitude ratio calculations between pilot traces and individual traces instead of complex matrix inversion. This disposable, computationally light approach estimates attenuation factors efficiently while maintaining sufficient accuracy, reducing processing complexity without sacrificing reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 improves the accuracy of reflectivity information by effectively removing near-surface effects, enabling the use of land seismic data for reservoir characterization and resource exploration, and enhances the reliability of amplitude corrections, leading to better subsurface imaging.

Implementation Method 1

generating a pilot trace based on the seismic traces in that bin and a time window around a first arrival event, wherein the first arrival event is a refracted event

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP3619558B1Refraction-based surface-consistent amplitude compensation

Publication Date: 2022.03.30 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

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Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B

AI summary

A method for refraction-based surface-consistent amplitude compensation and deconvolution includes receiving seismic traces, the seismic traces generated using at least one source and at least one receiver; calculating an amplitude residual for each seismic trace; determining surface-consistent amplitude residuals for the at least one source and the at least one receiver based on the amplitude residual for each seismic trace; and performing surface-consistent amplitude correction to each seismic trace by applying the determined surface-consistent amplitude residuals for the at least one source and the at least one receiver.