Seismic Attenuation Modeling via Fast Sweeping Grid Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seismic data processing methods face challenges in accurately determining attenuated travel times and generating attenuation models for geological regions, which are crucial for compensating amplitude attenuation and identifying hydrocarbon presence, due to limitations in existing methods such as ray-based approaches and inefficiencies in processing large datasets.
Innovation Solution
The method employs a fast sweeping method using parallel processors to iteratively update attenuated travel times across a grid, leveraging an Eikonal function and forward modeling with gradient components, and generates an attenuation model that compensates for amplitude attenuation, allowing for improved seismic data processing and hydrocarbon detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ray-based approaches are used to determine attenuated travel times, then the method is simpler to implement, but the accuracy of attenuated travel time determination deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional ray-based mechanical/geometric approaches with a wavefield-based numerical method using the Eikonal equation and one-way wave equation. This substitution enables more accurate modeling of seismic wave propagation and attenuation effects while maintaining computational feasibility through finite difference methods and parallel processing.
2Reliability
If traditional processing methods are used for large seismic datasets, then the processing approach is more established, but the processing efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the computational domain into a grid structure and divides the wavefield propagation problem into discrete grid nodes. This segmentation allows parallel processing where each processor can independently compute attenuated travel times for specific grid nodes, dramatically improving processing efficiency for large datasets while maintaining the reliability of the overall method.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional 1D or 2D ray tracing to a full 3D grid-based wavefield propagation model. This dimensional expansion enables comprehensive modeling of seismic wave behavior in three-dimensional geological structures, improving both accuracy and efficiency through parallel computation across the 3D grid.
3Power
If memory-intensive methods are used for processing, then more computational resources are available, but the memory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary computation of travel times using the Eikonal equation before computing attenuated travel times. This staged approach allows memory to be reused across different computational phases, reducing peak memory requirements while still providing access to powerful computational resources for each specific computational task.
Data Source
AI summary
A method may include obtaining seismic data based on a seismic survey regarding a geological region of interest. The method may further include obtaining grid data based on the geological region of interest. The method may further includes determining various travel times using the seismic data, the grid data, an Eikonal function, and a velocity model for the geological region of interest. The method may further include determining various attenuated travel times using the travel times, the grid data, and a forward modeling function that includes various gradient components. The method may further include determining various updated attenuated travel times using the attenuated travel times, the grid data, the forward modeling function, and a fast sweeping method. The method may further include generating an attenuation model of the geological region of interest using the updated attenuated travel times.