Seismic Data Processing with Moving Non-Impulsive Sources

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Processing seismic data acquired using non-impulsive moving sources poses challenges due to Doppler effects and ray-path variations, which complicate the extraction of accurate underground formation images, as conventional methods are inadequate for handling these complexities.

Innovation Solution

The method involves obtaining seismic data and emitted signal data, calculating a cross-talk estimate, and subtracting it from the noisy underground formation response estimate to generate an image of the underground formation, while also applying inversion techniques and frequency-dependent spatial resampling to correct for source and receiver motion and deblend signals from multiple sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional seismic processing methods are used for non-impulsive moving sources, then processing simplicity is maintained, but image accuracy deteriorates due to uncorrected Doppler effects and ray-path variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary corrections for Doppler effects and ray-path variations before the main imaging process. By pre-compensating for source and receiver motion effects on the seismic traces, the method prepares the data in advance for more accurate imaging without requiring complex iterative corrections during the imaging stage itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical correction approaches with mathematical transformations in the frequency-wavenumber domain. Instead of physically tracking and correcting each ray path through complex geometric modeling, the method uses spectral transformations and filtering operations to achieve the same correction effect more efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If multiple sources are used to improve data coverage, then survey efficiency increases, but signal separation becomes more difficult due to signal blending

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesurvey efficiencyVSAvoidsignal separation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by treating signals from different sources with different processing operations. By identifying and separating signals based on their unique characteristics (such as frequency content, arrival times, and spatial distribution), the method applies source-specific corrections and filtering to each blended signal component, enabling effective separation even when sources are actively shooting simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If non-impulsive sources are used to reduce operational constraints, then source deployment flexibility improves, but Doppler effects and motion artifacts increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesource deployment flexibilityVSAvoidDoppler effects and motion artifacts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful Doppler effects and motion artifacts into useful information by measuring and characterizing the source and receiver motion. Instead of treating these effects as mere noise to be eliminated, the method uses them to infer motion parameters, which are then used to correct the data. The motion-induced frequency shifts become the basis for calculating correction operators that restore the original seismic signal characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

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

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 effectively compensates for source and receiver motion, reduces noise, and enhances the quality of underground formation images by accurately accounting for Doppler shifts and ray-path variations, improving the resolution and clarity of seismic data processing.

Implementation Method 1

Processing seismic data acquired using non-impulsive moving sources poses challenges due to Doppler effects and ray-path variations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDoppler effect: Doppler Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10371844B2Processing seismic data acquired using moving non-impulsive sources

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 CGG SERVICES SAS

AI summary

Methods for processing seismic data acquired with non-impulsive moving sources are provided. Some methods remove cross-talk noise from the seismic data using emitted signal data and an underground formation's response estimate, which may be iteratively enhanced. Some methods perform resampling before a spatial or a spatio-temporal inversion. Some methods compensate for source's motion during the inversion, and/or are usable for multiple independently moving sources.