IP Library Granted Patent US 11,047,998
Granted Patent B2
US 11,047,998 · App. 16/287,603 · Granted Jun 29, 2021

Simultaneous shooting nodal acquisition seismic survey methods

Inventors: Etienne Marc (Houston, TX); Clifford H. Ray (Fulshear, TX); James Nelson Thompson (Houston, TX)
Assignee: Magseis FF LLC
G01V1/247G01V1/3852G01V1/38G01V2210/1427
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,047,998
App. No.
16/287,603
Granted
Jun 29, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of performing a seismic survey including: deploying nodal seismic sensors at positions in a survey region; activating a plurality of seismic sources; and using the nodal seismic sensors to record seismic signals generated in response to the activation of the plurality of signals.

Claims (44)

1. A system to process blended seismic signals, comprising:

a seismic sensor unit to record seismic signals generated by a plurality of seismic sources of a survey region, the seismic sensor unit including a geophone, a clock, a power source, memory, and an accelerometer; and

one or more processors to:

receive blended seismic signals detected by the seismic sensor unit;

select a timing function that includes a ratio of a dither time to a shot interval used to perform a seismic survey that is less than or equal to ½; and

deblend, based on the timing function, the blended seismic signals to generate data representing subsurface structures indicative of oil or gas.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the one or more processors to:

process a source activation time to extract and organize recording segments.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the one or more processors to:

separate a coherent signal from an incoherent signal, wherein the coherent signal exhibits coherency based on a regular time interval between firing of a source and the incoherent signal exhibits incoherency based on a random dither time.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dither time includes a variable dither time, the system further comprising:

a first seismic source of the plurality of seismic sources configured to activate at a first time; and

a second seismic source of the plurality of seismic sources configured to activate at a second time separated by the first time based on the variable dither time.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of seismic sensor units deployed at a plurality of positions in the survey region to record seismic signals generated by the plurality of seismic sources.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seismic sensor unit does not receive an external control communication while on an ocean bottom.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the seismic sensor unit does not transmit an external control communication while on an ocean bottom.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the one or more processors to:

separate a plurality of wavefields into up-going and down-going components.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the one or more processors to:

deblend the blended seismic signals from seismic source activations wherein a time and spatial location of the seismic source activations can be determined.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising the one or more processors to:

activate the seismic sensor unit based on a modulation signature configured to identify each of the plurality of seismic sources.

11. A method to process blended seismic signals, comprising:

providing a seismic sensor unit to record seismic signals generated by a plurality of seismic sources of a survey region, wherein the seismic sensor unit includes a geophone, a clock, a power source, memory, and an accelerometer;

receiving, by one or more processors, blended seismic signals detected the seismic sensor unit;

selecting, by the one or more processors, a timing function that includes a ratio of a dither time to a shot interval used to perform a seismic survey that is less than or equal to ½; and

deblending, by the one or more processors, based on the timing function, the blended seismic signals to generate data representing subsurface structures indicative of oil or gas.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

processing, by the one or more processors, a source activation time to extract and organize recording segments.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

separating, by the one or more processors, a coherent signal from an incoherent signal, wherein the coherent signal exhibits coherency based on a regular time interval between firing of a source and the incoherent signal exhibits incoherency based on a random dither time.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the dither time includes a variable dither time, the method further comprising:

providing a first seismic source of the plurality of seismic sources configured to activate at a first time; and

providing a second seismic source of the plurality of seismic sources configured to activate at a second time separated by the first time based on the variable dither time.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

providing a plurality of seismic sensor units deployed at a plurality of positions in the survey region to record seismic signals generated by the plurality of seismic sources.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the seismic sensor unit does not receive an external control communication while on an ocean bottom.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the seismic sensor unit does not transmit an external control communication while on an ocean bottom.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

separating, by the one or more processors, a plurality of wavefields into up-going and down-going components.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

deblending, by the one or more processors, the blended seismic signals from seismic source activations wherein a time and spatial location of the seismic source activations can be determined.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

activating, by the one or more processors, the seismic sensor unit based on a modulation signature configured to identify each of the plurality of seismic sources.

Assignments (5)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 9, 2024
From: MAGSEIS FF LLC
To: KROLL TRUSTEE SERVICES LIMITED
Reel/Frame 069547/0418 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2024
From: MAGSEIS FF LLC
To: DANSKE BANK A/S
Reel/Frame 067606/0766 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2019
From: MARC, ETIENNE; RAY, CLIFFORD H.; THOMPSON, JAMES NELSON
To: FAIRFIELD INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 049119/0517 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2019
From: FAIRFIELD INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
To: FAIRFIELD SEISMIC TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 049122/0429 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 8, 2019
From: FAIRFIELD SEISMIC TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: MAGSEIS FF LLC
Reel/Frame 049122/0485 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 15652798 · Jul 18, 2017
Continuation 15170610 · Jun 1, 2016
Continuation 13829210 · Mar 14, 2013
Provisional Application 61751766 · Jan 11, 2013
Related Publication 20190196037A1 · Jun 27, 2019