Seismic Signal Separation Using Iterative Projection Operators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seismic data processing methods struggle to effectively separate interfering signals from multiple seismic sources, which hampers the accurate detection of hydrocarbon deposits in subterranean areas.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the application of multiple operators in different domains to generate and refine estimates of seismic data corresponding to individual sources, iteratively separating the signals by accounting for leakage energy from other sources, allowing for the determination of accurate seismic data attributed to each source.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple seismic sources are used to improve productivity, then the efficiency of seismic data acquisition is improved, but interfering signals from different sources cannot be effectively separated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseismic data acquisition efficiencyVSAvoidsignal separation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the mixed seismic data into separate source components by applying projection operators that isolate signals from individual seismic sources. The operator P_i projects the total data onto the subspace of a specific source, separating interfering signals while maintaining the benefits of simultaneous multi-source acquisition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs an iterative feedback mechanism where residual signals from one source are used to refine the separation of subsequent sources. The process repeatedly applies operators and subtracts estimated source contributions, with each iteration improving the accuracy of signal separation based on feedback from previous iterations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If traditional single-source processing is used to ensure signal separation accuracy, then interfering signals are easily separated, but the productivity of seismic data acquisition is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal separation accuracyVSAvoidseismic data acquisition efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary separation of source signals using projection operators before full processing. By pre-isolating the dominant source signals and removing them from the mixed data, the system prepares the data for more accurate subsequent processing of remaining sources, maintaining high separation accuracy while enabling multi-source acquisition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If simple signal filtering is applied to remove interfering signals, then the processing complexity is reduced, but the accuracy of hydrocarbon deposit detection is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing complexityVSAvoidhydrocarbon deposit detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces projection operators as intermediary mathematical tools that mediate between the mixed seismic data and the individual source signals. These operators act as intermediaries that systematically extract source-specific components without requiring complex manual filtering, balancing processing simplicity with detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2641109B1Separating interfering signals in seismic data
Publication Date: 2019.02.20 SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY BV
  • EP2641109B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2641109B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2641109B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A method for processing seismic data. The method may include receiving seismic data due to a plurality of seismic sources and applying a first operator to the seismic data in an ith domain to generate a first estimate of seismic data due to an ith seismic source. The ith domain may correspond to the ith seismic source of the plurality of seismic sources. The method may then include applying a second operator to the first estimate of seismic data due to the ith seismic source in one or more domains other than the Ith domain to generate residual seismic data due to one or more seismic sources other than the Ith seismic source. After applying the a second operator to the first estimate of seismic data due to the ith seismic source, the method may determine a second estimate of seismic data due to the ith seismic source based on the first estimate and the residual seismic data due to the seismic sources other than the Ith seismic source. The method may then repeat some of the steps described above (i.e., applying a first operator to the seismic data, applying a second operator to the first estimate of seismic data and determining a second estimate of seismic data due to the Ith seismic source for each seismic source). The method may then process the second estimate of seismic data due to each seismic source to determine the presence of hydrocarbon deposits in a subterranean area of the earth.