IP Library Granted Patent US 11,385,373
Granted Patent B2
US 11,385,373 · App. 16/243,496 · Granted Jul 12, 2022

Method for determining sensor depths and quality control of sensor depths for seismic data processing

Inventor: Gary Hampson (Peppermint Grove, AU)
Assignee: DownUnder GeoSolutions Pty Ltd.
G01V1/3835G01V1/366G01V2210/56
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,385,373
App. No.
16/243,496
Granted
Jul 12, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for determining seismic sensor depths in a body of water includes accepting as input to a computer measurements of seismic signals made by a plurality of seismic sensors disposed in a body of water. A depth increment and a range of sensor depths for correlation of signals from each of the plurality of seismic sensors is defined. In the computer, the input seismic measurements are extrapolated to each depth increment in the range. A depth of each seismic sensor is determined by correlating the seismic signal measurements with depth-extrapolated measurements of the seismic signal measurements.

Claims (35)

1. A method for determining seismic sensor depths below an air/surface interface, comprising:

accepting as input to a computer measurements of seismic signals made by a plurality of seismic sensors disposed at selected depths below the air/surface interface, the seismic signals resulting from actuation of a seismic energy source disposed at a selected depth with reference to the air-surface interface;

defining a depth increment and a range of sensor depths for correlation of signals from each of the plurality of seismic sensors;

in the computer, extrapolating the input seismic measurements to each depth increment in the range; and

in the computer, determining a depth of each seismic sensor by correlating the seismic signal measurements with depth-extrapolated measurements of the seismic signal measurements.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the range of sensor depths is defined using an initial estimate of sensor depths.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the initial estimate is derived from measurements of a depth of each sensor in a body of water.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the measurements of depth of each sensor comprises measurement of water pressure at each sensor.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising quality checking the measured depths using the determined depths.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the depth increment is selected to be consistent with a digital sample interval of the input seismic signal measurements.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the extrapolating comprises delaying a measured wavefield so that the measured wavefield aligns with a ghost component of a wavefield of the seismic signal measurements.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the delaying is performed with respect to seismic sensor depth.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the correlating comprises a wave equation equivalent of autocorrelation.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein measurements of depths of each of the plurality of seismic sensors is made using measurements of water pressure.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in the computer, determining at least one source depth using the depth-extrapolated measurements of the seismic signal measurements.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in the computer, determining a depth of each seismic sensor by correlating primary reflections and water layer multiple reflections.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in the computer, using the determined depths to deghost the measurements of seismic signals.

14. A method for seismic surveying, comprising:

towing a seismic energy source and a plurality of spaced apart seismic sensors in a body of water;

actuating the seismic energy source and detecting seismic signals at each of the plurality of seismic sensors;

communicating the detected seismic signals as input to a computer;

defining a depth increment and a range of sensor depths for correlation of the detected seismic signals from each of the plurality of seismic sensors;

in the computer, extrapolating the detected seismic signals to each depth increment in the range; and

in the computer, determining a depth of each of the plurality of seismic sensors by correlating the detected seismic signals with depth-extrapolated detected seismic signals.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the depth increment is selected to be consistent with a digital sample interval of the detected seismic signals.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the extrapolating comprises delaying a measured wavefield so that the measured wavefield aligns with a ghost component of a wavefield of the detected seismic signals.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the delaying is performed with respect to seismic sensor depth.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the correlating comprises a wave equation equivalent of autocorrelation.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the range of sensor depths is defined using an initial estimate of sensor depths.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the initial estimate is derived from measurements of a depth of each sensor in the body of water.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the measurements of depth of each sensor comprises measurement of water pressure at each sensor.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising using the determined depths to quality check the measured depths.

23. The method of claim 14 further comprising, in the computer, determining at least one source depth using the depth-extrapolated measurements of the seismic signal measurements.

24. The method of claim 14 further comprising, in the computer, determining a depth of each seismic sensor by correlating primary reflections and water layer multiple reflections.

25. The method of claim 14 further comprising, in the computer, using the determined depths to deghost the detected seismic signals.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 13, 2022
From: DOWNUNDER GEOSOLUTIONS PTY LTD
To: DUG TECHNOLOGY (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD
Reel/Frame 060181/0734 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2019
From: HAMPSON, GARY
To: DOWNUNDER GEOSOLUTIONS (AMERICA) LLC
Reel/Frame 047942/0374 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2019
From: DOWNUNDER GEOSOLUTIONS (AMERICA) LLC
To: DOWNUNDER GEOSOLUTIONS PTY LTD.
Reel/Frame 047942/0462 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation PCTUS2017040785 · Jul 6, 2017
Provisional Application 62360655 · Jul 11, 2016
Related Publication 20190146112A1 · May 16, 2019