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US 4,359,766 AGranted
Method for reconnaissance geophysical prospecting
OwnerKenneth H. Waters, George W. Rice +2inventors
InventorsKenneth H. Waters, George W. Rice, Anthony J. Scanlan, Beverly B. Stebens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for deriving seismic information of more generalized nature over a relatively large and previously unexplored expanse of land to determine relevant strike, dip, velocity and related information. The method consists of the placing of a plurality of seismic sources and receivers in respective lines arranged in a cross pattern, each line being generally at right angles each to the other, and thereafter exciting the sources and recording the received energy for further processing to derive the strike, dip and velocity information for selected strata by using travel times of signal return.
Claims24
A method of reconnaissance geophysical prospecting to derive the configuration directly of a selected stratum underlying the earth's surface comprising:
- collecting seismic data by performing the steps of:
- placing a plurality of seismic energy sources in spaced relationship along a source line disposed on the earth's surface;
- placing a plurality of seismic energy receivers in spaced relationship along a receiver line disposed on the earth's surface and positioned to bisect said source line generally perpendicularly;
- each of said energy sources and receivers having a known location relative to an origin;
- obtaining seismic trace data for events reflected from said selected stratum, said trace data being compiled of traces representative of seismic energy events traveling from respective sources to each receiver and reflected from reflection points at said selected stratus and wherein the reflection points form patterns disposed in spaced quadrantal relationship to the crossed source and receiver lines;
- and
- processing said seismic data by performing the following steps with automatic computing apparatus:
- producing from said trace data measured time of travel signals for each of plural source-receiver pairs included in said crossed lines, said measured time of travel signals representing measured time of travel of one of said events reflected from a reflection point at said selected stratum;
- producing parameter signals representing parameters defining, relative to said origin, an estimated plane underlying the earth's surface;
- producing estimated time of travel signals for each of said plural source-receiver pairs, said estimated time of travel signals representing time of travel of seismic energy reflected from said estimated plane;
- producing error signals representing the difference for each of said plural source-receiver pairs between said measured time of travel signals and said estimated time of travel signals;
- adjusting all said parameter signals until said error signals are brought to a minimum value and an estimated plane is obtained which best fits said measured time of travel signals, and
- providing output indication of the attitude and azimuth of said best fit plane to depict the dip and strike of said selected stratum.
10 more elements
A method of deriving the configuration directly of a selected substrata underlying an earth location, comprising:
- collecting seismic data by performing the steps of:
- positioning an equi-spaced line of seismic energy sources generally perpendicular to and intersecting said line of seismic energy receivers;
- each of said energy sources and receivers having a known location relative to an origin;
- energizing each of said sources sequentially and recording energy data received by all said receivers for each sequential source energization;
- and
- processing said seismic data by performing the following steps with automatic computing apparatus:
- producing from said recorded energy data measured time of travel signals for each of plural source-receiver pairs included in said intersecting lines, said measured time of travel signals representing measured time of travel of energy reflected from reflection points at said selected stratum;
- producing parameter signals representing parameters defining, relative to said origin, an estimated plane underlying the earth's location and representing velocity of seismic energy between the earth's location and said estimated plane;
- producing estimated time of travel signals for each of said source-receiver pairs, said estimated time of travel signals representing time of travel of energy reflected from said estimated plane;
- comparing said measured time of travel signals and said estimated time of travel signals;
- and
- adjusting all said parameter signals until said error signals are brought to a minimum value, and an estimated plane is obtained which best fits said measured time of travel signals;
- and
- providing output indication of the attitude and azimuth of said best fit plane to provide the dip and strike of said selected substrata, and the velocity parameter used in making the best fit determination to provide the actual velocity of seismic energy between the earth location and the selected substrata.
11 more elements
In a method of collecting and processing seismic energy data for selected substrata underlying an earth location where said data is collected by cross-pattern energization of plural seismic energy sources in linear, equi-spaced array which is positioned generally perpendicular to said source array, each of said energy sources and receivers having a known location relative to an origin, the method of processing said seismic energy data by performing the following steps:
- assembling seismic energy trace data for a selected substrata as received by said plural seismic energy receivers for each of said energized seismic energy sources thereby to define reflection times for a quadrature array of energy reflection point groups at said substrata;
- and
- performing the following steps with automatic computing apparatus;
- producing parameter signals representing parameters defining, relative to said origin, a plane which best fits said defined reflection times for and is common to said energy reflection point groups at said substrata, said plane thereby representing the configuration of a portion of the selected substrata including said energy reflection point groups;
- and
- providing output indication of the attitude and azimuth of said best fit plane to provide the dip and strike of said portion of the selected stratum.
3 more elements
A method of geophysical prospecting to derive the approximate configuration directly of a selected stratum underlying the earth's surface comprising:
- collecting seismic data by performing the steps of:
- placing a plurality of spaced seismic energy sources on the earth's surface,
- placing a plurality of spaced seismic energy receivers on the earth's surface to receive seismic energy events emanating from said sources and reflected from reflection points extending throughout a region of said selected stratum;
- each of said energy sources and receivers having a known location relative to an origin;
- obtaining trace data compiled of traces representative of said seismic energy events and establishing reflection times of said events;
- and
- processing said seismic data by performing the following steps with automatic computing apparatus:
- producing from said seismic trace data measured time of travel signals for source-receiver pairs of said sources and receivers, said measured time of travel signals representing said reflection times of said events;
- producing parameter signals representing parameters defining, relative to said origin, a plane best fitting said measured time of travel signals and approximating the configuration of said selected stratum region;
- and,
- providing output indication based on said parameters of said best fitting plane, the strike and dip of said selected stratum region.
8 more elements
The method of determining the configuration directly of a selected stratum underlying the earth's surface, comprising:
- collecting seismic data by performing the steps of:
- setting out a cross pattern of recorders and seismic sources on the earth's surface;
- each of said energy sources and receivers having a known location relative to an origin;
- obtaining time of travel data for each of plural source-receiver pairs in said cross pattern including measured time of travel for each said source-receiver pair of seismic energy reflected from said selected stratum by sequentially energizing said seismic sources and recording reflected seismic energy with said recorders;
- and
- processing said seismic data by performing the following steps with automatic computing apparatus;
- producing measured time of travel signals (t) representing said time of travel data for each said source-receiver pair;
- producing parameter signals (c, L, m and V) representing geometrical parameters (c, L and m) mathematically defining, relative to said origin, an estimated plane underlying the earth's surface and representing velocity (V) of seismic energy between the earth's surface and said estimated plane;
- producing from said parameter signals estimated plane time of travel signals (T) representing time of travel for each said source-receiver pair of seismic energy reflected from said estimated plane;
- producing error signals (E) representing the difference for each said source-receiver pair between said measured time of travel signals (t) and said estimated plane time of travel signals (T);
- adjusting all said parameter signals until said error signals (E) are brought to a minimum value and an estimated plane is obtained which best fits said time of travel data;
- and
- providing output indication of the attitude and azimuth of said best fit plane for providing the dip and strike of said selected stratum, and the velocity used in making the best fit determination for providing the actual velocity of seismic energy in the layers between the earth's surface and said selected stratum.
10 more elements
A method of reconnaissance geophysical prospecting to derive the configuration directly of a selected stratum underlying the earth's surface comprising:
- collecting seismic data by performing the steps of:
- placing a plurality of spaced seismic energy sources and a plurality of spaced seismic energy receivers in a crossed line relationship on the earth's surface;
- each of said energy sources and receivers having a known location relative to an origin;
- obtaining seismic trace data for events reflected from said selected stratum, said trace data being compiled of traces representative of seismic energy events traveling from respective sources to each receiver and reflected from reflection points at said selected stratum and wherein the reflection points form patterns disposed in spaced quadrantal relationship to the crossed source and receiver lines;
- and
- processing said seismic data by performing the following steps with automatic computing apparatus;
- producing from said seismic trace data measured time of travel signals for said seismic energy events reflected from said reflection points;
- producing parameter signals representing parameters defining, relative to said origin, an estimated plane which best represents a portion of said selected stratum common to said patterns of reflection points;
- producing estimated time of travel signals representing time of travel if seismic energy events in reflection point patterns at said estimated plane similar to said reflection point patterns at said selected stratum;
- producing error signals representing the difference for said reflection point patterns between said measured time of travel signals and said estimated time of travel signals;
- adjusting all said parameter signals until said error signals are brought to a minimum value and an estimated plane is obtained which best fits said measured time of travel signals;
- and
- providing output indication of the attitude and azimuth of said best fit plane for providing the dip and strike of said selected stratum.
10 more elements
A method of reconnaissance geophysical prospecting to derive the configuration directly of a selected stratum underlying the earth's surface comprising:
- collecting seismic data by performing the steps of:
- placing a plurality of seismic energy sources in spaced relationship along a source line disposed on the earth's surface;
- placing a plurality of seismic energy receivers in spaced relationship along a receiver line disposed on the earth's surface and positioned to bisect said source line generally perpendicularly;
- each of said energy sources and receivers having a known location relative to an origin;
- obtaining seismic trace data establishing reflection times for events reflected from said selected stratum, said trace data being compiled of traces representative of seismic energy events traveling between source-receiver pairs and reflected from reflection points at said selected stratum and wherein the reflection points form patterns disposed in spaced quadrantal relationship to the crossed source and receiver lines;
- and
- processing said seismic data by performing the following steps with automatic computing apparatus;
- producing parameter signals representing a plurality of parameters defining, relative to said origin, an estimated plane, producing signals representing estimated reflection times for events reflected from said estimated plane for at least as many source-receiver pairs as said plurality of parameters, adjusting said parameter signals until the error between said actual and estimated reflection time representing signals is minimized to obtain an estimated plane which best fits the reflection times established by said trace data, said best fit plane thereby representing the configuration of said selected stratum, determining the attitude and azimuth of said best fit plane, and based on said attitude and azimuth providing output indication of the dip and strike of said selected stratum.
5 more elements
A method of geophysical prospecting to derive the configuration directly of a selected stratum underlying the earth's surface comprising:
- collecting seismic data by performing the steps of:
- placing spaced plural seismic energy sources in local association with spaced plural seismic energy receivers at a location over said selected stratum;
- obtaining seismic trace data establishing reflection times for events reflected from a plurality of non-linearly related, spaced reflection points at said selected stratum, said trace data being compiled of traces representative of seismic energy events traveling between source-receiver pairs at known locations and reflected from said reflection points at said selected stratum;
- and
- processing said seismic data by performing the following steps with automatic computing apparatus:
- producing parameter signals representing parameters defining an estimated plane having a known geometrical relationship to said source-receiver pairs, and adjusting said parameter signals to obtain an estimated plane which best fits travel times established by said trace data for at least four of said source-receiver pairs, said best fit plane thereby representing the configuration of said selected stratum, and deriving and providing output indication of the attitude and aximuth of said best fit plane to provide the dip and strike of said selected stratum.
3 more elements
A method of geophysical prospecting to derive the approximate configuration directly of a selected stratum underlying the earth's surface comprising:
- collecting seismic data by performing the steps of:
- placing a plurality of spaced seismic energy sources on the earth's surface,
- placing a plurality of spaced seismic energy receivers on the earth's surface to receive seismic energy events emanating from said sources and reflected from reflection points spaced from each other over a region of said selected stratum;
- each of said energy sources and receivers having a known location relative to an origin;
- obtaining trace data compiled of traces representative of said seismic energy events over independent travel paths between source-receiver pairs at known locations and establishing reflection times of said events;
- and
- processing said seismic data by performing the following steps with automatic computing apparatus;
- producing from said seismic trace data measured time of travel signals for source-receiver pairs of said sources and receivers, said measured time of travel signals representing said reflection times of said events;
- and
- producing parameter signals representing a plurality of parameters defining an estimated surface best fitting said reflection times and approximating said selected stratum region,
- producing estimated time of travel signals for events between said source-receiver pairs and reflected from said estimated surface,
- determining a best fitting estimated surface by comparing said measured and said estimated time of travel signals for at least as many independent travel paths as said parameters, and
- providing output indication of dip and strike of selected portions of said best fitting estimated surface to depict the configuration of the selected stratum.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.