Marine Seismic Signal Segmentation for Interference Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current marine seismic surveys face challenges in efficiently acquiring data due to overlapping frequency bands and interference between seismic sources, which affect the accuracy and efficiency of subsurface imaging.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dividing the seismic signal into non-overlapping subsweeps with randomized frequencies and gaps, imparted by a combination of low and high-frequency marine vibrators, allowing for parallel emission and reception, thereby reducing interference and enhancing data quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional overlapping frequency bands are used for seismic signal acquisition, then the signal coverage is continuous, but interference between seismic sources increases and imaging artifacts are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal qualityVSAvoidinterference between sources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the continuous frequency spectrum into multiple non-overlapping subsweeps, where each vibrator operates in a distinct frequency band. This segmentation eliminates frequency overlap between sources, reducing interference and imaging artifacts while maintaining complete spectral coverage through the combination of all subsweeps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple marine vibrators operate simultaneously with overlapping frequencies, then data acquisition speed increases, but interference and imaging artifacts increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveacquisition speedVSAvoidimaging accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frequency spectrum into non-overlapping subsweeps for each vibrator, allowing simultaneous operation without frequency interference. This enables faster acquisition through parallel processing while maintaining imaging accuracy by eliminating coherent noise from frequency overlap.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the frequency parameter distribution across multiple vibrators, assigning each vibrator a unique non-overlapping frequency range. This parameter differentiation allows simultaneous operation of multiple sources without creating interference patterns that would degrade imaging quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If frequency gaps are introduced between subsweeps to reduce interference, then imaging artifacts are reduced, but frequency coverage may have gaps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging artifactsVSAvoidfrequency coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the frequency responses of multiple vibrators, each operating in non-overlapping subsweeps with gaps. The individual subsweeps are merged during signal processing to reconstruct the complete frequency spectrum, eliminating information loss while maintaining the interference-reducing benefits of frequency gaps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 improves the accuracy and efficiency of seismic data acquisition by minimizing imaging artifacts and maintaining high signal quality, allowing for faster and cheaper survey operations.

Implementation Method 1

imparting, by a marine vibratory source (110, 210), comprising a plurality of marine vibrators, a composite swept seismic signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical vibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3391096B1Coding of signals for efficient acquisition
Publication Date: 2023.01.04 BP CORP NORTH AMERICA INC
  • EP3391096B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3391096B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~25
  • EP3391096B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

A method for use in marine seismic surveying includes: towing at least a portion of a marine seismic survey spread; imparting a composite swept seismic signal from the marine seismic survey spread, the composite swept seismic signal including a plurality of randomized subsweeps having different frequencies relative to one another and being emitted in parallel; and receiving a respective return for each of the subsweeps.