VIP Gathers to Angle Gathers Conversion for Tomography
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Solution Overview
Problem
Seismic data processing using Vector Image Partition (VIP) gathers is hindered by moveout variations due to dip, angle, and incorrect velocity models, making it difficult to apply tomography or other operations effectively.
Innovation Solution
Converting VIP gathers into angle gathers using an approximate velocity model, either exact or pseudo-angle gathers, to facilitate tomography processing and other operations by mapping moveouts into the VIP domain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If VIP gathers are used for seismic data processing, then data acquisition and initial processing is simplified, but moveout variations due to dip, angle, and velocity model inaccuracies deteriorate the quality of tomography and other processing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces angle gathers as an intermediary data representation between VIP gathers and tomography processing. The conversion process transforms VIP gathers into angle gathers using mapping functions that account for dip, angle, and velocity model parameters, thereby mediating the moveout variations and enabling accurate tomography operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the data from VIP domain to angle domain using mapping functions that incorporate velocity model parameters, dip angles, and offset information. This parameter transformation corrects moveout variations and enables accurate tomography processing.
2Manufacturing precision
If exact velocity models are used to convert VIP gathers to angle gathers, then moveout accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using approximate velocity models instead of exact complex models for the conversion process. This approach provides sufficient accuracy for most practical applications while significantly reducing computational complexity. The approximate models capture the essential physics without requiring full 3D velocity model calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the velocity model into simpler components (1D, 2D, or layer-based models) that can be processed more efficiently. This segmentation allows the conversion from VIP to angle gathers to be performed with reduced computational burden while maintaining acceptable accuracy for tomography applications.
3Productivity
If VIP gathers are directly used for tomography processing, then processing speed is maintained, but processing quality deteriorates due to moveout variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces angle gathers as an intermediary representation that preserves processing efficiency while improving quality. The conversion to angle gathers corrects moveout variations, and the subsequent tomography processing operates on this corrected data, achieving both speed and quality through the intermediary transformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing the VIP-to-angle gather conversion before tomography processing. This preliminary transformation corrects moveout variations in advance, ensuring that the subsequent tomography operation works with properly conditioned data, thereby improving final processing quality without significant speed penalty.
Data Source
AI summary
Acquired data that corresponds at least in part to a target structure is received. One or more subsets of a first type are formed from the acquired data. The one or more subsets of the first type are converted to one or more subsets of a second, different type.