Marine Seismic Streamer Noise Attenuation via Varied Sensor Spacing

Solution Overview

Problem

Marine seismic streamers face significant noise attenuation challenges due to vibrations and fluid-filled core materials, which affect the accuracy of seismic data collection, and existing methods are not sufficient to effectively reduce noise.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a system using seismic detectors interconnected to form wavenumber filters and band-pass filters, which selectively attenuate signals within specific frequency ranges based on velocity, allowing signals of interest to be preserved while filtering out noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional uniform sensor spacing and single-stage filtering are used in marine seismic streamers, then device complexity is reduced, but noise attenuation effectiveness deteriorates because existing methods cannot sufficiently reduce mechanical noise from fluid-filled core materials and vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise attenuation effectivenessVSAvoidsensor spacing configuration and filtering system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The streamer is divided into multiple sections with different sensor spacings. First section has sensors spaced at first intervals, second section has sensors spaced at second intervals. This segmentation allows different frequency ranges to be targeted in different sections, improving noise attenuation effectiveness without requiring a completely complex system redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The filtering system uses two-stage dynamic filtering with band-pass filters followed by low-pass filters. The filtering characteristics are not fixed but adapt through multiple processing stages, allowing the system to dynamically adjust to different noise conditions and improve attenuation effectiveness while managing complexity through modular filter design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If position-dependent varied sensor spacing is implemented, then noise attenuation across different frequency ranges is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to the need for specific sensor positioning accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise attenuation effectivenessVSAvoidsensor positioning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The streamer is divided into multiple sections with different sensor spacings. First section has sensors spaced at first intervals, second section has sensors spaced at second intervals. This segmentation allows different frequency ranges to be targeted in different sections, improving noise attenuation effectiveness without requiring a completely complex system redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor spacing parameter is varied along the position of the streamer. By changing the spacing parameter from first intervals in the first section to second intervals in the second section, the system achieves position-dependent filtering characteristics that improve noise attenuation across different frequency ranges while maintaining manufacturability through defined parameter zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If two-stage filtering with multiple filter types is used, then noise attenuation effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional filtering components and processing stages

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise attenuation effectivenessVSAvoidfiltering system configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filtering system uses two-stage dynamic filtering with band-pass filters followed by low-pass filters. The filtering characteristics are not fixed but adapt through multiple processing stages, allowing the system to dynamically adjust to different noise conditions and improve attenuation effectiveness while managing complexity through modular filter design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The band-pass filters serve as an intermediary stage between the raw signal and the final low-pass filtering. This intermediate filtering stage prepares the signal by allowing specific frequency ranges to pass through before the final low-pass filtering, improving overall noise attenuation effectiveness while organizing complexity into manageable intermediary processing steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9001618B2Method of attenuating noise in marine seismic streamers utilizing varied sensor spacing and position-dependent band-pass filters

Publication Date: 2015.04.07 PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS

AI summary

The invention comprises a system for attenuating noise in seismic signals detected in a marine seismic streamer. In a particular implementation the system may comprise seismic detectors positioned in the streamer and interconnected to form a plurality of wavenumber filters, with each of the wavenumber filters attenuating signals within a range of wavenumbers. The output signals from the wavenumber filters are operatively connected to a plurality of band-pass filters, and the output signals of the band-pass filters are combined by summation means. The range of wavenumbers attenuated by the wavenumber filters and the passbands of the band-pass filters are selected so that in the output signal of the summation means, signals within a selected frequency range of interest propagating along the cable within a selected velocity range are attenuated and signals within the selected frequency range of interest having a velocity range outside the selected velocity range are preserved.