Seismic Data Analysis Using Limited Aperture Hybrid Radon Transform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seismic data analysis methods face challenges in accurately imaging carbonate reservoirs due to high noise levels and the difficulty in distinguishing diffraction and reflection events, which leads to poor resolution of small-scale structures and heterogeneities, essential for effective oil and gas production in these environments.
Innovation Solution
The method employs a Limited Aperture Hybrid Radon Transform (LAHRT) to separate and analyze reflection and diffraction data in the dip-angle domain, optimizing migration aperture by restricting inversion trajectories around reflection apices and fully inverting diffraction components, thereby reducing migration noise and preserving small-scale structural features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional seismic data processing methods are used, then the processing is simple and fast, but the noise level is high and small-scale structures cannot be resolved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the seismic data processing into distinct components: reflection events and diffraction events. By separating these components through dip-angle domain analysis and selective inversion, the method achieves high-resolution imaging of small-scale structures while maintaining a systematic and manageable processing workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the processing from the conventional time or depth domain to the dip-angle domain. This dimensional change allows for better separation of reflection and diffraction events, enabling enhanced resolution of small-scale structures that are not visible in conventional processing.
2Loss of information
If full inversion of all components is performed, then complete subsurface information is obtained, but migration noise increases and obscures small-scale features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary information for imaging small-scale structures by selectively inverting diffraction components while muting reflection components. This extraction approach obtains the specific information needed (diffraction patterns from small structures) while eliminating harmful migration noise from the reflection inversion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different processing qualities to different components: diffraction components are fully inverted to preserve small-scale structure information, while reflection components are muted to reduce noise. This local differentiation of processing quality optimizes the signal-to-noise ratio for the specific imaging goal.
3Measurement precision
If diffraction and reflection events are not separated, then processing is straightforward, but diffracted energy cannot be distinguished from reflected energy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the data into the dip-angle domain where reflection and diffraction events exhibit distinct characteristics. Reflections appear as curved events while diffractions appear as linear events, making them easily distinguishable and separable through linear filtering techniques in this transformed domain.
Solution Approach 2:
The dip-angle domain acts as an intermediary space that facilitates the separation of reflection and diffraction events. By transforming to this intermediate domain, applying separation filters, and then transforming back, the patent achieves clean separation that would be difficult to accomplish in the conventional time or depth domain.
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 results in seismic images with reduced noise and improved imaging of small-scale structures, effectively capturing the geometry and characteristics of subsurface heterogeneities, enhancing the accuracy of subsurface mapping in carbonate reservoirs.
Implementation Method 1
transforming said seismic data with a Radon transform into said dip-angle domain
Implementation Method 2
The seismic waves penetrate the ground and get bounced, or reflected off major geological discontinuities in the subsurface
Implementation Method 3
When the subsurface contains edges and short-scale heterogeneities, the wavefront undergoes diffractions rather than reflections
Data Source
AI summary
Post-migration common image gathers (CIGs) are generated in a dip angle domain from measured seismic data. From a CIG, a hybrid Radon model is determined, including a reflection model related to concave features in the CIG and a diffraction model related to linear features in the CIG. The reflection model is transformed with a reflection Radon operator applied along inversion trajectories restricted around apices of the concave features to obtain reflection data. The diffraction model is transformed with a diffraction Radon operator to obtain diffraction data. The reflection and diffraction data at different horizontal positions can then be combined and summed to generate a migrated image of the subsurface.