Seismic Wavefield Interpolation for Crosstalk Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Marine seismic surveys face challenges in generating high-resolution seismic images due to low signal-to-noise ratios and adverse crosstalk effects, particularly when processing both primary and multiple reflected wavefields.
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating pressure data and vertical velocity data using collocated sensors, separating these into up-going and down-going wavefields, regularizing and interpolating them to a migration grid, which enhances the signal-to-noise ratio and reduces crosstalk effects by generating seismic images based on interpolated and regularized data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If seismic images are generated from both primary and multiple reflected wavefields, then more information about subterranean formation is obtained, but the signal-to-noise ratio decreases and crosstalk effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the wavefield into up-going and down-going components, processing them independently through separate interpolation operations. This segmentation allows selective regularization of each wavefield component, enabling utilization of multiple reflection information while controlling noise and crosstalk through differentiated processing of upward and downward propagating energy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes multiples as a separate wavefield component before imaging. By identifying and extracting the multiple reflection energy from the total wavefield, the method can selectively process primaries and multiples through different regularization operations, thereby obtaining formation information from multiples while preventing their adverse noise effects from contaminating the final seismic image
2Adaptability or versatility
If irregularly spaced receiver coordinates are used in marine seismic surveying, then data acquisition flexibility is improved, but interpolation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different interpolation strategies to different wavefield components based on their local characteristics. Up-going wavefields receive one type of regularization while down-going wavefields receive another, allowing the interpolation accuracy to be optimized for each component's specific spatial and temporal properties while maintaining flexibility in handling irregular receiver spacing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary separation of the wavefield into up-going and down-going components before interpolation. This preliminary action allows each component to be regularized independently with appropriate methods, improving overall interpolation accuracy from irregularly spaced data by addressing the specific characteristics of each wavefield type rather than applying a uniform approach
3Device complexity
If multiple reflected wavefields are processed without separation, then processing complexity is reduced, but image resolution deteriorates due to crosstalk effects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing into distinct stages: wavefield separation into up-going and down-going components, independent regularization of each component, and subsequent combination for imaging. This segmented approach increases processing complexity but enables precise control over crosstalk effects and significantly improves image resolution by preventing contamination between different wavefield types
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 results in higher-resolution seismic images with improved signal-to-noise ratios and reduced crosstalk, allowing for better determination of subterranean formation structures and hydrocarbon deposit locations.
Implementation Method 1
At each interface between different types of rock and sediment, a portion of the acoustic signal is refracted, a portion is transmitted, and another portion is reflected back from each interface into the body of water
Implementation Method 2
At each interface between different types of rock and sediment, a portion of the acoustic signal is refracted
Data Source
Figure 1A
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Figure 2
AI summary
Methods and systems of generating seismic images from primaries and multiples are described. Methods separate pressure data into up-going pressure data and down-going pressure data from pressure data and vertical velocity data. Irregularly spaced receiver coordinates of the down-going and up-going pressure data are regularized to grid points of a migration grid and interpolation is used to fill in down-going and up-going pressure data at grid points of the migration grid. A seismic image is calculated at grid points of the migration grid based on the interpolated and regularized down-going pressure data and the interpolated and regularized up-going pressure data. The seismic images are high-resolution, have lower signal-to-noise ratio than seismic images generated by other methods, and have reduced acquisition artifacts and crosstalk effects.