Seismic Survey Mosaic Animation via Z-Slice Compositing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current geophysical interpretation technologies are limited in manipulating and rendering multiple seismic surveys simultaneously, making it cumbersome and time-consuming to examine subterranean features over larger regions, and existing solutions are either expensive or provide static, non-dynamic displays.
Innovation Solution
The method involves flattening seismic volumes from individual surveys, aligning and prioritizing overlapping data, and creating animated mosaics by producing z-slice movie frames, which are geo-referenced to a basemap, allowing for dynamic display and quicker access to regional geologic patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple seismic surveys are merged into a single survey to enable rendering, then the capability to display multiple surveys is improved, but the processing time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the processing task by working with individual seismic surveys separately rather than merging them. Each survey is processed independently to extract z-slices, which are then composited together. This segmentation approach maintains the ability to display multiple surveys while avoiding the time-consuming merging process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates visual copies (z-slices) from each seismic survey that can be composited together. Instead of merging the actual survey data, it generates representative image slices that capture the essential information, allowing multiple surveys to be displayed without processing the full datasets together.
2Device complexity
If static pictures are used to create composite regional maps from multiple surveys, then the processing complexity is reduced, but the display becomes static and non-dynamic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces animation by sequentially displaying z-slice frames from multiple surveys. The system creates an animated mosaic that progresses through different depth levels or time points, transforming the static composite map into a dynamic visualization that shows subsurface features evolving across the survey region.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the time dimension to the visualization by creating animations that progress through z-slices. This transforms a 2D static composite map into a 3D+time representation, allowing users to observe changes and patterns across multiple surveys dynamically rather than as a single static image.
3Manufacturing precision
If cube-by-cube manipulation of multiple 3D surveys is performed, then each survey can be processed individually, but the operation becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the processing workflow at the z-slice composition stage rather than at the full survey level. Individual surveys are processed to extract z-slices, then these slices are combined in a unified compositing operation. This approach maintains individual survey processing quality while improving overall efficiency by reducing the number of separate manipulation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial processing to each survey by extracting only the necessary z-slice information rather than manipulating entire cubes. This selective extraction of essential data elements reduces processing overhead while maintaining the quality needed for accurate composite visualization.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of methods of creating and interpreting animated mosaics of multiple seismic surveys are disclosed herein. Volumes from individual seismic surveys may be flattened in each seismic cube. Animations/movies may then be produced by capturing a series of z-slice movie frames through each of the flattened volumes. The individual sets of movie frames are geo-referenced to a basemap image of well locations using appropriate composition software. Where overlap exists between surveys, the surveys are prioritized and lower priority volumes are masked by higher priority volumes. This technique provides a matched, unbroken image across overlapping volumes at each stratigraphic layer. As the movie or animation plays, a moving arrow pointer shows the vertical position of the current movie frame on a stratigraphic section consisting of a seismic reference section that is optionally labelled with suitable regional sequence names and other stratigraphic zonation data.