Low Frequency Passive Seismic Data Acquisition Using Uniaxial Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low frequency passive seismic data acquisition is limited by the high cost and limited coverage of three-component sensors, and uniaxial sensors are considered unsuitable due to low sensitivity, making it difficult to record and identify seismic waves effectively.
Innovation Solution
Deploying uniaxial vertical geophones, such as the SG-10, to sense earth movements and process low frequency passive seismic data, which involves bandpass filtering and FK domain processing to decompose and categorize waveforms, enabling the identification of various seismic wave types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If three-component sensors are used for low frequency passive seismic data acquisition, then data quality and sensitivity are improved, but cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the seismic data acquisition system by using multiple simple uniaxial sensors distributed across a survey area rather than requiring complex three-component sensors at each location. This allows the system to achieve comprehensive coverage through numerous simple sensors instead of a few complex ones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs conventional, inexpensive uniaxial geophones that are widely available and cost-effective, replacing expensive three-component sensors. These simple sensors can be easily deployed and replaced, reducing the overall cost and complexity of the seismic acquisition system.
2Ease of manufacture
If uniaxial sensors are used for low frequency passive seismic data acquisition, then cost and ease of deployment are improved, but sensitivity and measurement capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes conventional uniaxial sensors universally applicable to low frequency passive seismic data acquisition by demonstrating that these standard sensors, originally designed for active seismic surveys, can effectively record passive seismic waves. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized expensive sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses conventional uniaxial geophones as copies or substitutes for the specialized three-component sensors, achieving similar measurement goals through simpler, more abundant sensor types that can be deployed more easily and at lower cost.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional uniaxial sensors are used, then cost is reduced, but data coverage and density become limited and sparse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the survey area into multiple locations with distributed uniaxial sensors, creating a comprehensive network that covers large areas. This segmentation approach allows extensive coverage through numerous simple sensors rather than relying on a few complex sensors with limited range.
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 method allows for the acquisition of satisfactory low frequency passive seismic data with conventional uniaxial sensors, improving data quality and coverage, and enabling the classification and analysis of seismic waves in 2D and 3D formats, useful for hydrocarbon exploration and geophysical studies.
Implementation Method 1
Uniaxial vertical sensors have been used to record low frequency passive seismic waves... the sensors sensed earth movements
Data Source
AI summary
Low sensitivity, single vertical axis or uniaxial transducer sensors are deployed along receiver lines across an area of interest to acquire low frequency passive seismic data from the earth. Recordings formed of the acquired low frequency passive seismic data are decomposed in the frequency-wavenumber (F-K) domain according to wavefront dipping angles into mono-dominant velocity seismic records. Resulting seismic waves of different types are identifiable based on the different dipping angles. Wavefields can then be analyzed separately in either time or frequency domains and analyzed or integrated with other data.