Device and method for velocity function extraction from the phase of ambient noise

1. A method for exploring an underground formation, the method comprising:

receiving low frequency content of ambient noise associated with seismic data acquired for the underground formation;

identifying one or more locations of one or more sources of the ambient noise for each of a plurality of analyzed frequencies;

separating low frequency content associated with each of the one or more sources of ambient noise using the one or more locations;

generating a plurality of velocity versus frequency functions associated to geographical locations based on an analysis of the low frequency content associated with each of the one of the one or more sources of ambient noise; and

transforming the plurality of velocity versus frequency functions into a plurality of velocity versus depth functions indicating structure of the underground formation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the separating is performed in a frequency-horizontal coordinates domain.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the separating is based on an analysis of phase maps.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the noise data is recorded on a seismic data production record associated with receivers of a three-dimensional seismic survey.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating is based on one of a plurality of analysis models wherein the one of a plurality of analysis models is selected based on factors associated with the seismic data.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the factors comprise spatial sampling data density, seismic/non-seismic noise ratio, data quality and residual interference separation data quality.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the one of a plurality of analysis models is an isotropic one-dimensional velocity model or an azimuthally anisotropic one-dimensional velocity model or an isotropic three-dimensional velocity model or an azimuthally anisotropic three-dimensional velocity model.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the plurality of velocity versus frequency functions is based on one or more local parameters comprising mean velocity, azimuth dependent velocity, azimuth of fast axis and ratio of fast and slow velocities.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein a low frequency body wave estimate is generated by subtraction of surface wave data from the low frequency content, and the body wave estimate is used to construct reflectivity data.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the reflectivity data is obtained by correlating the body wave estimate associated with each receiver by all other body wave estimates.

11. An apparatus for exploring structure of an underground formation, the apparatus comprising:

an interface for receiving low frequency content of ambient noise associated with seismic data acquired for the underground formation; and

a data processing unit configured to the interface and configured:

to identify one or more locations of one or more sources of the ambient noise for each of a plurality of analyzed frequencies;

to separate low frequency content associated with each of the one or more sources of ambient noise using the one or more locations;

to generate a plurality of velocity versus frequency functions associated to geographical locations based on an analysis of the low frequency content associated with each of the one of the one or more sources of ambient noise; and

to transform the plurality of velocity versus frequency functions into a plurality of velocity versus depth functions indicating structure of the underground formation.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the data processing unit separates the low frequency content associated with each of the one or more sources of ambient noise in a frequency-horizontal coordinates domain.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the data processing unit uses an analysis of phase maps to separate the low frequency content associated with each of the one or more sources of ambient noise.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the noise data is included in a seismic data production record associated with receivers of a three-dimensional seismic survey.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the data processing unit generates a plurality of velocity versus frequency functions associated to geographical locations using one of a plurality of analysis models, wherein the one of the plurality of analysis models is selected based on factors associated with the seismic data.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the factors comprise spatial sampling data density, seismic/non-seismic noise ratio, data quality and residual interference separation data quality.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the one of a plurality of analysis models is an isotropic one-dimensional velocity model, an azimuthally anisotropic one-dimensional velocity model, an isotropic three-dimensional velocity model or an azimuthally anisotropic three-dimensional velocity model.

18. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the data processing unit generates the plurality of velocity versus frequency functions based on one or more local parameters comprising mean velocity, azimuth dependent velocity, azimuth of fast axis and ratio of fast and slow velocities.

19. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the data processing unit is further configured to generate a low frequency body wave estimate by subtracting surface wave data from the low frequency content, and the body wave estimate is used to construct reflectivity data.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the reflectivity data is obtained by correlating the body wave estimate associated with each receiver by all other body wave estimates.