IP Library Granted Patent US 8,331,192
Granted Patent B2
US 8,331,192 · App. 13/218,881 · Granted Dec 11, 2012

Seismic data acquisition and source-side derivatives generation and application

Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,331,192
App. No.
13/218,881
Granted
Dec 11, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The technologies described herein include systems and methods for performing a first seismic survey and performing a second seismic survey after a predetermined amount of time has lapsed between the first seismic survey and the second seismic survey. The shot times and the shot positions of the second seismic survey may be substantially the same as the shot times and the shot positions of the first seismic survey. After performing the seismic surveys, seismic data generated by the first seismic survey may be processed to generate a first image, and seismic data generated by the second seismic survey may be processed to generate a second image. After generating the first and second images, a difference between the first image and the second image may be computed to generate a time lapse difference image.

Claims (60)

1. A method, comprising:

activating a first sequence of shots;

activating a second sequence of shots that is different from the first sequence such that a cross-correlation between the first sequence and the second sequence is about zero for substantially all time shifts;

recording seismic data in response to the first sequence and in response to the second sequence; and

decoding the seismic data based on the first sequence and the second sequence.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first sequence is activated by a first source group having a plurality of sources and the second sequence is activated by a second source group having a plurality of sources.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein decoding the seismic data comprises correlating the seismic data with the first sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the first source group.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein decoding the seismic data comprises correlating the seismic data with the second sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the second source group.

5. A method, comprising:

activating a first sequence of shots;

activating a second sequence of shots that is different from the first sequence such that an auto-correlation of the first sequence or the second sequence is about one for a zero time shift and about zero for all other time shifts;

recording seismic data in response to the first sequence and in response to the second sequence; and

decoding the seismic data based on the first sequence and the second sequence.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first sequence is activated by a first source group having a plurality of sources and the second sequence is activated by a second source group having a plurality of sources.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein decoding the seismic data comprises correlating the seismic data with the first sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the first source group.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein decoding the seismic data comprises correlating the seismic data with the second sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the second source group.

9. A method for processing seismic data, comprising

processing seismic data acquired using a first sequence of shots and a second sequence of shots different from the first sequence, wherein a cross-correlation between the first sequence and the second sequence is substantially zero; and

decoding the seismic data based on the first sequence and the second sequence.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first sequence is activated by a first source group having a plurality of sources and the second sequence is activated by a second source group having a plurality of sources.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein decoding the seismic data comprises correlating the seismic data with the first sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the first source group.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein decoding the seismic data comprises correlating the seismic data with the second sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the second source group.

13. A method for processing seismic data, comprising

processing seismic data acquired using a first sequence of shots and a second sequence of shots different from the first sequence, wherein an auto-correlation of the first sequence or the second sequence is about one for a zero time shift and about zero for all other time shifts; and

decoding the seismic data based on the first sequence and the second sequence.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first sequence is activated by a first source group having a plurality of sources and the second sequence is activated by a second source group having a plurality of sources.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein decoding the seismic data comprises correlating the seismic data with the first sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the first source group.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein decoding the seismic data comprises correlating the seismic data with the second sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the second source group.

17. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:

process seismic data acquired using a first sequence of shots and a second sequence of shots different from the first sequence, wherein a cross-correlation between the first sequence and the second sequence is substantially zero; and

decode the seismic data based on the first sequence and the second sequence.

18. The computer system of claim 17 , wherein the first sequence is activated by a first source group having a plurality of sources and the second sequence is activated by a second source group having a plurality of sources.

19. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein the program instructions configured to decode the seismic data comprises program instructions configured to correlate the seismic data with the first sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the first source group.

20. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein the program instructions configured to decode the seismic data comprises program instructions configured to correlate the seismic data with the second sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the second source group.

21. A computer system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising program instructions executable by the processor to:

process seismic data acquired using a first sequence of shots and a second sequence of shots different from the first sequence, wherein an auto-correlation of the first sequence or the second sequence is about one for a zero time shift and about zero for all other time shifts; and

decode the seismic data based on the first sequence and the second sequence.

22. The computer system of claim 21 , wherein the first sequence is activated by a first source group having a plurality of sources and the second sequence is activated by a second source group having a plurality of sources.

23. The computer system of claim 22 , wherein the program instructions configured to decode the seismic data comprises program instructions configured to correlate the seismic data with the first sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the first source group.

24. The computer system of claim 22 , wherein the program instructions configured to decode the seismic data comprises program instructions configured to correlate the seismic data with the second sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the second source group.

25. A seismic data acquisition system, comprising:

a first source group having a plurality of seismic sources arranged therein according to a first activation sequence;

a second source group having a plurality of seismic sources arranged therein according to a second activation sequence; and

a source controller coupled to the first source group and the second source group, wherein the source controller is configured to activate at least one seismic source in the first source group according to the first activation sequence and at least one seismic source in the second source group according to the second activation sequence, wherein the first activation sequence is different from the second activation sequence such that a cross-correlation between the first activation sequence and the second activation sequence is about zero for substantially all time shifts.

26. The seismic data acquisition system of claim 25 , wherein the source controller is further configured to decode seismic data based on the first activation sequence and the second activation sequence.

27. The seismic data acquisition system of claim 25 , wherein the source controller is further configured to correlate seismic data with the first activation sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the first source group.

28. The seismic data acquisition system of claim 25 , wherein the source controller is further configured to correlate seismic data with the second activation sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the second source group.

29. The seismic data acquisition system of claim 25 , wherein the second source group is disposed at a different depth than the first source group.

30. A seismic data acquisition system, comprising:

a first source group having a plurality of seismic sources arranged therein according to a first activation sequence;

a second source group having a plurality of seismic sources arranged therein according to a second activation sequence; and

a source controller coupled to the first source group and the second source group, wherein the source controller is configured to activate at least one seismic source in the first source group according to the first activation sequence and at least one seismic source in the second source group according to the second activation sequence, wherein the first activation sequence is different from the second activation sequence such that an auto-correlation of the first activation sequence or the second activation sequence is about one for a zero time shift and about zero for all other time shifts.

31. The seismic data acquisition system of claim 30 , wherein the source controller is further configured to decode seismic data based on the first activation sequence and the second activation sequence.

32. The seismic data acquisition system of claim 30 , wherein the source controller is further configured to correlate seismic data with the first activation sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the first source group.

33. The seismic data acquisition system of claim 30 , wherein the source controller is further configured to correlate seismic data with the second activation sequence to generate only seismic data that correspond to the second source group.

34. The seismic data acquisition system of claim 30 , wherein the second source group is disposed at a different depth than the first source group.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jan 20, 2020
From: REFLECTION MARINE NORGE AS
To: REFLECTION MARINE NORGE AS
Reel/Frame 052109/0147 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Dec 27, 2019
From: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
To: REFLECTION MARINE NORGE AS
Reel/Frame 051428/0580 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 13011832 · Jan 21, 2011
Division 12340625 · Dec 19, 2008
Division 11459441 · Jul 24, 2006
Related Publication 20110310700A1 · Dec 22, 2011