US 8,522,915 B2Granted

Method and system for selecting parameters of a seismic source array

AssigneeWesternGeco L.L.C.

InventorsJon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Montgomery Laws, Julian Edward Kragh

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Abstract

A method for selecting parameters of a seismic source array comprising a plurality of source elements each having a notional source spectrum is described, the method comprising calculating a ghost response function of the array; calculating directivity effects of the array; and adjusting the parameters of the array such that the directivity effects of the array are compensated by the ghost response to minimize angular variation of a far field response in a predetermined frequency range. A method for determining a phase center of a seismic source array is also related, the method comprising calculating a far field spectrum of the array at predetermined spherical angles, and minimizing the phase difference between the farfield spectra within a predetermined frequency range by adjusting a vertical reference position from which the spherical angles are defined.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for selecting parameters of a seismic source array comprising a plurality of source elements each having a notional source signature, the method comprising:

calculating directivity effects of the seismic source array, wherein the directivity effects of the seismic source array are produced by the parameters of the seismic source array including positions of the plurality of source elements in the seismic source array, the notional source signatures of each of the plurality of source elements and firing times of each of the plurality of source elements;
calculating directivity effects of a sea surface reflection of a source signal produced by the seismic source array;
and
adjusting the parameters of the seismic source array to provide that the directivity effects of the sea surface reflection are canceled or minimized by
wherein the cancellation or minimization of the directivity effects of the sea surface reflection minimizes an angular variation of a far field response for the seismic source array in a predetermined frequency range.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/809,091Filed 12 Dec 2008 · us provisional application
Published: US 2011/0017543 A127 Jan 2011
Granted: 3 Sep 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

G01V 1/143
Generating seismic energy: using mechanical driving means , e.g. motor driven shaft
G01V 1/006
Seismic data acquisition in general, e.g. survey design: generating single signals by using more than one generator, e.g. beam steering or…
G01V 1/047
Details: arrangements for coupling the generator to the ground
G01V 1/053
Arrangements for coupling the generator to the ground: for generating transverse waves