Seismic Imaging via Dimensionality Reduction in Spherical Spiral Coordinates

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current seismic data processing and imaging methods face inefficiencies in data storage, processing, and visualization, particularly with the increased complexity of three-dimensional common image gathers (CIGs) which require extensive computational resources and memory, and struggle to accurately image geophysical structures across various azimuth angles.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a uniform spherical spiral coordinate system for representing seismic data, which reduces dimensionality by mapping dual-angle systems into a single-dimensional representation, allowing for more efficient data processing and visualization while maintaining accurate imaging of geophysical structures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If three-dimensional common image gathers (CIGs) are used to image geophysical structures across various azimuth angles, then imaging accuracy is improved, but computational resources and memory requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging accuracyVSAvoidcomputational resources and memory requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms three-dimensional CIG data into two-dimensional representations by applying coordinate system transformations and projection methods. This dimensional reduction maintains the essential imaging information while significantly decreasing computational complexity and memory requirements, directly resolving the contradiction between imaging accuracy and computational resource demands

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and separates specific azimuth angle components from the full three-dimensional CIG data set. By isolating and processing individual azimuth slices or projections, the method maintains imaging accuracy for specific directions while reducing the overall data volume and computational burden required to process the complete dataset

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If multi-azimuth or wide-azimuth data acquisition methods are used to enhance illumination of reservoirs, then precision of geophysical detection is improved, but the amount of data recorded increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprecision of geophysical detectionVSAvoidamount of data recorded
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple azimuth angle measurements into unified two-dimensional representations through coordinate transformations. By merging the information from various azimuth directions into condensed 2D formats, the method preserves the enhanced detection precision achieved through multi-azimuth acquisition while reducing the total data volume that must be stored and processed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies dimensional reduction by transforming multi-azimuth three-dimensional data into two-dimensional representations. This transformation maintains the precision benefits of wide-azimuth acquisition by preserving essential imaging information while systematically reducing the data quantity through projection and coordinate system changes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If dual-angle systems are used to represent seismic data points, then imaging coverage is improved, but data dimensionality and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimaging coverageVSAvoiddata dimensionality and processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically reduces data dimensionality by transforming dual-angle three-dimensional coordinate representations into two-dimensional formats through mathematical projections. This dimensional reduction maintains comprehensive imaging coverage by preserving the essential spatial and angular information while decreasing processing complexity and data storage requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2078217B1System and method for full azimuth angle domain imaging in reduced dimensional coordinate systems
Publication Date: 2019.05.08 EMERSON PARADIGM HOLDING LLC
  • EP2078217B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2078217B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2078217B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for converting coordinate systems for representing image data such as for example seismic data, including accepting a first set of seismic data, mapping the first set of seismic data to a second set of seismic data, where the dimensionality of the second set of seismic data is less than the dimensionality of the first set of seismic data, and generating image data by processing the second set of seismic data.