Seismic Shot Scheduling Using Random Time Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic data acquisition with multiple sources simultaneously is challenging due to the difficulty in separating individual shots, leading to unreliable depth determination of reflectors and increased costs, especially in blended source surveys and areas with intense exploration activity.
Innovation Solution
The method involves determining an acceptable minimum random component in time separation between successive shot activations based on the lowest expected frequency, using a uniform distribution to minimize coherent energy overlap, allowing for post-survey shot separation and improving the quality of seismic data imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple seismic sources are activated simultaneously to reduce survey time and cost, then productivity increases, but the difficulty of separating individual shots increases leading to unreliable depth determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the time separation between successive shot activations random rather than fixed or regular. This dynamic approach ensures that coherent energy from different shots does not systematically overlap at the same time, allowing for reliable separation and depth determination while maintaining high productivity through simultaneous multi-source activation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameter of shot activation by introducing random time separations based on the lowest expected frequency. By adjusting the time separation parameter dynamically rather than using fixed intervals, the system maintains measurement precision while achieving improved productivity through overlapping shot recordings
2Ease of operation
If regular time intervals are used between successive shots, then scheduling is simplified, but coherent energy overlap occurs reducing data quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static regular intervals to dynamic random time separations. This allows the system to maintain ease of operation through automated random scheduling while dramatically improving data quality by preventing systematic coherent energy overlap that occurs with regular intervals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces random time separation as an intermediary element between the simplified scheduling requirement and the data quality requirement. This intermediary randomization layer maintains operational simplicity while effectively preventing coherent energy overlap, thus preserving data quality
3Quantity of substance
If shot time separation is reduced to increase shot point density, then survey coverage improves, but coherent energy from multiple shots overlaps reducing separability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using random time separations that adapt to the lowest expected frequency. This allows increased shot point density while maintaining shot separability, as the random timing prevents coherent energy from different shots from systematically overlapping, making it easier to detect and measure individual shot contributions
Data Source
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AI summary
According to an embodiment of the instant invention there is provided a method for collecting a blended source seismic survey that utilizes new approach to determining; a random time separation between successive shots. The random time separation may be drawn in some embodiments from a distribution of uniformly distributed numbers, with t > 1/ (2 f), where t is the half-width of the uniform distribution and f is the lowest frequency of interest in the survey.