Device and method for displaying full azimuth angle domain image data

1. A method for displaying data representing a single seismic image data point, the method comprising:

computing, from a wide-azimuth data set, a discrete data set including multiple azimuths associated with an image function at the single seismic image point;

mapping the discrete data set onto a continuous curved three-dimensional surface;

projecting the mapped data set onto a continuous planar surface; and

displaying the projection of wide-azimuth data on a planar disk representing the single seismic image data point.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discrete data set comprises zenith angles and azimuth angles, wherein each distinct pair of zenith and azimuth angles of the discrete data set corresponds to a point of the continuous curved three-dimensional surface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a computational mesh is defined on the continuous curved three-dimensional surface, comprising regularly spaced nodes, and mapping the discrete data set onto the continuous curved three-dimensional surface comprises estimating the values of the image function at the nodes of the computational mesh and at points between the regularly spaced nodes of the computational mesh.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the continuous curved three-dimensional surface is selected from the group consisting of: a sphere, an ellipsoid, a spherical cap, and an ellipsoidal cap.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer boundary of the planar disk is a closed curve.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising assembling the plurality of continuous planar surfaces into a three-dimensional body.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying comprises, in response to an indication of a location of a seismic image point by a user, displaying to the user the image function vs. the direction associated with the indicated seismic image point.

8. A method for displaying data representing a seismic image gather, the method comprising:

generating, from a wide-azimuth data set, a plurality of discrete data sets, each discrete data set including multiple azimuths associated with an image function of a single one of a plurality of seismic image data points determined to be located along a line in a physical space;

gridding each of the discrete data sets onto a continuous curved three-dimensional surface;

projecting each of the gridded data sets of wide-azimuth data onto a continuous planar surface representing the single one of a plurality of seismic image data points;

assembling the plurality of continuous planar surfaces into a three-dimensional body; and

displaying the three-dimensional body for concurrently representing data associated with the line of points.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of seismic image data points determined to be located along a line in a physical space corresponds to a seismic image gather representing a plurality of zenith angles and a specific azimuth.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of discrete data sets comprises zenith angles and azimuth angles, wherein each distinct pair of zenith and azimuth angles of the discrete data set corresponds to a point of the continuous curved three-dimensional surface.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the continuous curved three-dimensional surface is defined on a computational mesh comprising regularly spaced nodes and gridding each of the discrete data sets onto a continuous curved three-dimensional surface comprises estimating the values of the image function at points at the regularly spaced nodes and between the regularly spaced nodes of the computational mesh.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the three-dimensional body is selected from the group consisting of: a cylinder, a cone, a funnel, and a pyramid.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the argument of the image function is selected from the group consisting of: direction angles, reflection angles, and offset functions.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein displaying comprises, in response to an indication of a line in a physical space by a user, displaying to the user a graphical user interface comprising the three-dimensional body derived from the discrete data set associated with the plurality of seismic image data points determined to be located along the indicated line in a physical space.

15. A system for displaying data representing a single seismic image data point, the system comprising:

a processor to compute, from a wide-azimuth data set, a discrete data set including multiple azimuths associated with an image function at the single seismic image data point, to map the discrete data set onto a continuous curved three-dimensional surface, and to project the mapped data set onto a continuous planar surface; and

a display to display the projected data set of wide azimuth data on a planar disk representing the single seismic image data point.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the discrete data set comprises zenith angles and azimuth angles, wherein each distinct pair of zenith and azimuth angles of the discrete data set corresponds to a point of the continuous curved three-dimensional surface.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the continuous curved three-dimensional surface is selected from the group consisting of: a sphere, an ellipsoid, a spherical cap, and an ellipsoidal cap.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the argument of the image function of the seismic image point is selected from the group consisting of: direction angles, reflection angles, and offset functions.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is to assemble a plurality of continuous planar surfaces into a three-dimensional body.

20. The system of claim 15 , comprising an input device for receiving indications from a user, wherein, in response to an indication of a physical location of seismic image point from a user operating the input device, the display is to display a graphical user interface comprising data for a plurality of directions associated with the indicated seismic image point.