Seismic Sensor Gradient Rotation Computation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Seismic surveying faces challenges in accurately measuring rotation data, which is essential for noise attenuation and various data processing algorithms, as existing systems require separate rotational sensors and are prone to noise contamination from ground-roll and other horizontal seismic waves.

Innovation Solution

A seismic sensor device with particle motion sensors spaced along a longitudinal axis within an elongated housing allows for the computation of rotation data by calculating gradients of translational data, eliminating the need for separate rotational sensors and enhancing noise attenuation by combining translational and rotation data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If separate rotational sensors are used to measure rotation data, then rotation data can be obtained, but the device complexity increases and noise contamination from ground-roll and other horizontal seismic waves occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation data accuracyVSAvoidsensor arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines translational measurement sensors with rotational measurement capability by computing rotation data from spatial gradients of translational data measured by the sensors. This merging eliminates the need for separate rotational sensors while achieving the rotational measurement function, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses the spatial gradient computation as an intermediary method to derive rotation data from translational measurements. Instead of directly measuring rotation with separate sensors, the system computes rotation as a gradient of translational data, serving as a mathematical intermediary that connects translational measurements to rotational information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If separate rotational sensors are deployed, then rotation data is available, but noise contamination from ground-roll and horizontal seismic waves increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise attenuationVSAvoidrotation data accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of ground-roll noise into a beneficial measurement approach by computing rotation data from the gradient of translational data. Since ground-roll waves primarily affect horizontal translational measurements, computing the vertical gradient of these measurements inherently filters out the horizontal noise, transforming the noise problem into a solution.

Inventive Principle:

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

3Measurement precision

If particle motion sensors are spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, then rotation data can be computed via gradient, but the housing length increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverotation data computation accuracyVSAvoidsensor housing length

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a有限 (limited) spacing between sensors that is sufficient to compute meaningful gradients for rotation data but not excessive. By using just enough sensor separation to achieve the gradient computation function, the system avoids unnecessarily increasing housing length while maintaining adequate measurement precision for rotation data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 attenuates noise and provides accurate rotation and divergence data, improving seismic data processing and imaging by integrating rotation data with translational measurements, enhancing the characterization of subterranean structures without the need for additional rotational sensors.

Implementation Method 1

seismic waves (or impulses) produced by one or more seismic sources and propagated into an earth subsurface... reflected from a subterranean structure... measured by a sensor device provided at (or proximate) a ground surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSeismic wave detection: Acoustics

Implementation Method 2

The computer system computes rotation data around a third direction (e.g., the y-axis) based at least in part on computing a gradient of the translational data with respect to the second direction (e.g., the z-axis)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGradient computation:

Data Source

PatentUS10928528B2Computing rotation data using a gradient of translational data

Publication Date: 2021.02.23 WESTERNGECO LLC

AI summary

Translational data in a first direction is measured by particle motion sensors contained in an elongated housing of a sensor device provided at an earth surface. The particle motion sensors are spaced apart along a second, different direction along a longitudinal axis of the elongated housing. Rotation data around a third direction is computed based at least in part on computing a gradient of the translational data with respect to the second direction.