Seismic Data Compression via Bit-Reversed Run-Length Encoding

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Seismic data acquisition systems face challenges with limited transmission bandwidth, making timely transmission of voluminous seismic data sets problematic, both in wired and wireless connections.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for conducting seismic surveys that involves converting seismic signals into discrete samples represented by bit strings, creating sample blocks, compressing data using Run Length Encoding, and transmitting the compressed data, which includes incremental encoding of high-order bits and decompressing for imaging subsurface areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If seismic data is transmitted using traditional point-to-point cable connections or radio frequency links, then data transmission can be established, but the limited transmission bandwidth prevents timely transmission of voluminous seismic data sets

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission speedVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes redundant information from seismic data by identifying and eliminating repeated patterns. The system analyzes the seismic data stream, detects repeating sequences, and replaces them with compact references, effectively extracting only the essential unique information that needs to be transmitted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the representation parameters of seismic data by transforming the data from its original format into a compressed format using run-length encoding. This parameter transformation reduces the data volume while preserving the essential information, enabling efficient transmission within limited bandwidth constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of time

If all bits of seismic data are transmitted in sequence, then complete data can be transmitted, but transmission time is excessive due to the voluminous nature of the data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission timeVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes redundant information from seismic data by identifying and eliminating repeated patterns. The system analyzes the seismic data stream, detects repeating sequences, and replaces them with compact references, effectively extracting only the essential unique information that needs to be transmitted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the representation parameters of seismic data by transforming the data from its original format into a compressed format using run-length encoding. This parameter transformation reduces the data volume while preserving the essential information, enabling efficient transmission within limited bandwidth constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If seismic data is compressed using run-length encoding by encoding all bits of a particular bit number in sequence, then data volume is reduced, but the compression process adds complexity to the encoding system

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata volumeVSAvoidencoding system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the seismic data into discrete units organized in a bit-reversed order, dividing the data stream into manageable blocks that can be independently processed. This segmentation allows the run-length encoding to be applied systematically to each segment, reducing the overall complexity of the compression system while maintaining effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the representation parameters of seismic data by transforming the data from its original format into a compressed format using run-length encoding. This parameter transformation reduces the data volume while preserving the essential information, enabling efficient transmission within limited bandwidth constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3011367B1Efficient seismic file transmission
Publication Date: 2021.08.04 INOVA LTD(GB)
  • EP3011367B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3011367B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3011367B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for conducting a seismic survey. The system includes a seismic sensor supplying a seismic signal; sampling circuitry configured to convert the signal to a sequence of samples, each sample represented by a bit string; a data communication device configured to transmit compressed seismic data; a recording computer configured to receive compressed seismic data; at least one processor with a computer memory accessible thereto, the at least one processor configured to: create a sample block by storing at least a portion of the sequence of samples in memory units in the computer memory, wherein each sample is stored in a corresponding memory unit; and compress data contained in the sample block by encoding all bits of a particular bit number from the memory units of the sample block in sequence to produce compressed seismic data.