Seismic Waveform Filtering via Adaptive Attenuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Seismic data processing in the oil and gas industry faces challenges in accurately modeling subsurface structures due to unwanted reflections and refractions from geological bodies, which contaminate global models and degrade image quality, especially when dealing with viscoelastic wave propagation that involves complex attenuation and dispersion phenomena.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that determine mechanical parameters and attenuation parameters based on time-space waveforms to filter out artifacts, using a filtering region and quality factors to generate filtered time-space waveforms, thereby improving the accuracy of seismic imaging by reducing unwanted interferences and computational costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional seismic data processing is used to model subsurface structures, then the process is straightforward, but unwanted reflections and refractions from geological bodies contaminate the models and degrade image quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidunwanted reflections and refractions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of viscoelastic attenuation and dispersion into a beneficial filtering mechanism. By deliberately introducing artificial attenuation and dispersion with specific quality factors, the method causes unwanted reflections and refractions to be preferentially attenuated while preserving primary seismic signals, thus converting the harmful viscoelastic effects into a useful artifact-rejection tool

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different quality factors to different spatial regions and wave types. By assigning specific quality factor values to different geological bodies and wave propagation paths, the method selectively attenuates artifacts from certain regions while preserving signals from others, enabling localized control over which reflections and refractions are suppressed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If viscoelastic wave propagation modeling is used to improve subsurface imaging, then image quality improves, but computational complexity and costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubsurface modeling accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial viscoelastic attenuation and dispersion correction rather than full complex viscoelastic modeling. By applying attenuation and dispersion with specific quality factors only where and when needed for artifact suppression, the method achieves improved subsurface imaging without the full computational burden of complete viscoelastic wave propagation modeling throughout the entire dataset

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If artifact attenuation is applied to improve seismic images, then image quality improves, but there is risk of attenuating valid seismic signals along with artifacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseismic image qualityVSAvoidvalid seismic signals

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the quality factor parameter to control attenuation strength. By carefully selecting and adjusting quality factor values, the method optimizes the balance between artifact attenuation and signal preservation. Different quality factors are assigned to different wave types and propagation paths, allowing selective suppression of artifacts while maintaining valid seismic signals through parameter optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enhances the quality of seismic images by effectively attenuating artifacts, preserving waveforms, and reducing computational complexity, leading to more accurate subsurface modeling and improved hydrocarbon reservoir location and drilling target identification.

Implementation Method 1

When considering viscoelastic wave propagation, it may be desirable to attenuate artifacts, such as unwanted reflections and refractions, that may be generated during numerical simulations of wave propagation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscoelastic attenuation: Viscoelasticity

Implementation Method 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 3

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectQuality factor attenuation: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250003327A1Adaptive non-dispersive and direction-dependent attenuation of artifacts in seismic wave propagation

Publication Date: 2025.01.02 SAUDI ARABIAN OIL CO

AI summary

Examples of methods and systems are disclosed. The methods may include obtaining seismic data associated with a subsurface region of interest, wherein the seismic data comprises a plurality of time-space waveforms. The methods may also include determining a plurality of mechanical parameters corresponding to a formation of the subsurface region based, at least in part, on the plurality of time-space waveforms. The methods may further include generating a filtering region based on an artifact identified in the plurality of time-space waveforms. The methods may still further include determining a plurality of attenuation parameters based, at least in part, on the filtering region, the attenuation parameters being configured to attenuate the artifact. The methods may further include filtering the time-space waveforms to generate a plurality of filtered time-space waveforms. The method may still further include generating a seismic image of the subsurface region using the plurality of filtered time-space waveforms.