US 11,442,189 B2Granted

Method for determining notional seismic source signatures and their ghosts from near field measurements and its application to determining far field source signatures

AssigneeDownUnder GeoSolutions Pty Ltd.

InventorGary Hampson

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Abstract

A method for estimating a far field seismic energy source signature includes using detected near field seismic signals corresponding to actuation of each one of a plurality of seismic energy sources in an array of seismic energy sources. The near field seismic signals are detected at two spaced apart locations in the near field of each seismic energy source, the at least two spaced apart locations being arranged such that a direction of propagation of the detected near field seismic signals is determinable from the detected near field signals. A notional source signature for each seismic energy source and a notional ghost for each seismic energy source using the detected near field seismic signals. A far field signature is determined for the plurality of seismic energy sources using the determined notional source signature and notional ghost signature from each seismic energy source.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for estimating a far field seismic energy source signature, comprising:

entering into a computer detected near field seismic signals corresponding to actuation of each one of a plurality of seismic energy sources in an array of seismic energy sources, the near field seismic signals detected at two spaced apart locations in the near field of each seismic energy source, the at least two spaced apart locations being arranged such that a direction of propagation of the detected near field seismic signals is determinable from the detected near field signals;
in the computer, determining a notional source signature for each seismic energy source and a notional ghost for each seismic energy source using the detected near field seismic signals, wherein the determining a notional source signature and determining a notional ghost comprises inversion of the expression,
h
i
⁡
(
t
)
=
∑
j
=
1
n
⁢
p
j
⁡
(
t
)
*
δ
⁡
(
t
-
τ
ji
)
/
r
ji
+
∑
j
=
1
n
⁢
a
j
⁡
(
t
)
*
δ
⁡
(
t
-
τ
gji
)
/
r
gji
in which hi(t) denotes the ith seismic sensor data recording with respect to time t, pj(t) denotes the jth notional source waveform, rji denotes a possibly time variant distance from a moving seismic energy source bubble to a moving seismic sensor, aj(t) is a notional ghost waveform, rgji is a distance between a moving virtual source to a moving seismic sensor and τji is a time for seismic energy to travel from an airgun discharge bubble center to the moving seismic sensor, the expression denoted in block matrix form as,
(
D
11
D
1
⁢
j
⋯
D
1
⁢
n
D
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1
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⋮
⋮
D
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1
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mj
⋯
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|
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11
G
1
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…
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⋯
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⋯
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·
(
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=
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1
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h
m
)
wherein Dij is formed by taking the identity matrix and convolving each column with δ(t−τji)/rji, and Gij is formed by taking the identity matrix and convolving each column with δ(t−τgji)/rgji;
in the computer, determining a far field signature for each of the plurality of seismic energy sources using the determined notional source signature and notional ghost source signature of each seismic energy source;
and
using the far field signature for each of the plurality of seismic energy sources to correct distortion in detected reflected seismic signals.

165 more elements

A method for seismic surveying, comprising:

at selected times actuating each of a plurality of seismic energy sources in a seismic energy source array in a body of water, the source array comprising a plurality of individual seismic energy sources;
detecting near field seismic energy from each individual seismic energy source at least two separated positions with respect to each of the plurality of individual seismic energy sources;
detecting far field seismic energy from the source array at a plurality of spaced apart locations in the body of water;
entering into a computer the signals representing the detected near field seismic energy;
in the computer, determining a notional source signature for each individual seismic energy source and a notional ghost for each individual seismic energy source using the detected near field seismic energy, wherein the determining a notional source signature and determining a notional ghost comprises inversion of the expression,
h
i
⁡
(
t
)
=
∑
j
=
1
n
⁢
p
j
⁡
(
t
)
*
δ
⁡
(
t
-
τ
ji
)
/
r
ji
+
∑
j
=
1
n
⁢
a
j
⁡
(
t
)
*
δ
⁡
(
t
-
τ
gji
)
/
r
gji
in which hi(t) denotes the ith seismic sensor data recording with respect to time t, Pj(t) denotes the jth notional source waveform, rji denotes a possibly time variant distance from a moving seismic energy source bubble to a moving seismic sensor, aj(t) is a notional ghost waveform, rgji is a distance between a moving virtual source to a moving seismic sensor and τji is a time for seismic energy to travel from an airgun discharge bubble center to the moving seismic sensor, the expression denoted in block matrix form as,
(
D
11
D
1
⁢
j
⋯
D
1
⁢
n
D
i
⁢
⁢
1
D
ii
⋯
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in
⋮
⋮
⋮
⋮
⋮
⋮
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m
⁢
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1
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⋯
D
mn
|
G
11
G
1
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j
…
G
1
⁢
n
G
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1
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⋯
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in
⋮
⋮
⋮
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⋮
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1
G
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⋯
G
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)
·
(
p
1
p
j
⋮
p
n
a
1
a
j
⋮
a
n
)
=
(
h
1
h
i
⋮
⋮
h
m
)
wherein Dij is formed by taking the identity matrix and convolving each column with δ(t−τji)/rji, and Gij is formed by taking the identity matrix and convolving each column with δ(t−τgji)/rgji,
in the computer, determining a far field signature for the plurality of seismic energy sources using the determined notional source signature and notional ghost from each seismic energy source to process the detected far field energy;
and
using the far field signature to correct distortion in detected seismic signals.

168 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/266,379Filed 4 Feb 2019 · continuation
Priority: 5 Aug 2016
Published: US 2019/0170889 A16 Jun 2019
Granted: 13 Sep 2022
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G01V 1/3835
Positioning of seismic devices: measuring position, e.g. by GPS or acoustically
G01V 1/364
Effecting static or dynamic corrections on records, e.g. correcting spread; Correlating seismic signals; Eliminating effects of unwanted energy:…
G01V 1/38
Seismology; Seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting: specially adapted for water-covered areas
G01V 1/3861
Specially adapted for water-covered areas: control of source arrays, e.g. for far field control

Family

Application62/371,248Us provisional application · filed 5 Aug 2016
PCT/US2017/042734Parent of this continuation · filed 19 Jul 2017
US 2019/0170889 A1Pre-grant publication · published 6 Jun 2019
US 11,442,189 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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