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US 9,753,163 B2Granted
Simultaneous marine vibrators
AssigneeWesternGeco L.L.C.
InventorRobert Montgomery Laws
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for acquiring marine seismic data to generate images or determine properties of an interior section of the Earth using simultaneous marine vibrator sweeps and methods for processing the acquired seismic data. Phase of sweeps produced by the marine vibrator(s) are controlled to provide for removal of crosstalk. The phases between marine vibrator sweeps may be random or controlled to have a predetermined/desired phase difference. The predetermined phases may be determined to minimize the crosstalk between sweeps based on known seismic velocity of the survey area.
Claims14
A method comprising:
- receiving data representing earth responses recorded due to energies emitted by a first marine seismic vibrator and a second marine seismic vibrator while the first marine seismic vibrator and the second marine seismic vibrator are being towed in a marine seismic survey,
- wherein during the seismic survey:
- the first marine seismic vibrator is towed at a spatial offset relative to the second marine seismic vibrator;
- the first marine seismic vibrator fires a first time sequence of shots, each shot of the first time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and a shot time, and the shots of the first time sequence being associated with a first phase;
- the second marine seismic vibrator fires a second time sequence of shots, each shot of the second time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and being associated with one of the shot times, and the shots of the second time sequence being associated with a second phase;
- the second phase varying from shot to shot of the second time sequence of shots;
- the second phase varying with respect to the first phase;
- and
- processing the data to source separate the earth responses, comprising:
- time separating the earth responses to correspond to sets of adjacent shot times and stacking together the earth responses of each set;
- and
- using results of the processing to determine at least one property of a subterranean section of the earth.
9 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving data representing earth responses recorded due to energies emitted by a first marine seismic vibrator and a second marine seismic vibrator while the first marine seismic vibrator and the second marine seismic vibrator are being towed in a marine seismic survey,
- wherein during the seismic survey:
- the first marine seismic vibrator is towed at a spatial offset relative to the second marine seismic vibrator;
- the first marine seismic vibrator fires a first time sequence of shots, each shot of the first time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and a shot time, and the shots of the first time sequence being associated with a first phase that does not vary from shot to shot;
- the second marine seismic vibrator fires a second time sequence of shots, each shot of the second time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and being associated with one of the shot times, and the shots of the second time sequence being associated with a second phase that varies in a range from zero to a from shot to shot;
- and
- processing the data to source separate the earth responses, comprising:
- stacking seismographs representing the earth responses to provide at least one seismograph representing earth responses to the energy emitted by the first marine seismic vibrator;
- and
- using results of the processing to determine at least one property of a subterranean section of the earth.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- receiving data representing earth responses recorded due to energies emitted by a first marine seismic vibrator and a second marine seismic vibrator while the first marine seismic vibrator and the second marine seismic vibrator are being towed in a marine seismic survey,
- wherein during the seismic survey:
- the first marine seismic vibrator is towed at a spatial offset relative to the second marine seismic vibrator;
- the first marine seismic vibrator fires a first time sequence of shots, each shot of the first time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and a shot time, and the shots of the first time sequence being associated with a first phase that does not vary from shot to shot;
- the second marine seismic vibrator fires a second time sequence of shots, each shot of the second time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and being associated with one of the shot times, and the shots of the second time sequence being associated with a second phase that randomly varies from shot to shot;
- and
- processing the data to source separate the earth responses, comprising:
- stacking seismographs representing the earth responses to provide at least one seismograph representing earth responses to the energy emitted by the first marine seismic vibrator;
- and
- using results of the processing to determine at least one property of a subterranean section of the earth.
7 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- an interface to receive data representing earth responses recorded due to energies emitted by a first marine seismic vibrator and a second marine seismic vibrator while the first marine seismic vibrator and the second marine seismic vibrator are being towed in a marine seismic survey,
- wherein during the seismic survey:
- the first marine seismic vibrator is towed at a spatial offset relative to the second marine seismic vibrator;
- the first marine seismic vibrator fires a first time sequence of shots, each shot of the first time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and a shot time, and the shots of the first time sequence being associated with a first phase;
- the second marine seismic vibrator fires a second time sequence of shots, each shot of the second time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and being associated with one of the shot times, and the shots of the second time sequence being associated with a second phase;
- the second phase varying from shot to shot of the second time sequence of shots;
- the second phase varying with respect to the first phase;
- and
- a processor to process the data to source separate the earth responses, wherein the processor is adapted to:
- time separate the earth responses to correspond to sets of adjacent shot times and stacking together the earth responses of each set;
- and
- use results of the stacking to determine at least one property of a subterranean section of the earth.
9 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- an interface to receive data representing earth responses recorded due to energies emitted by a first marine seismic vibrator and a second marine seismic vibrator while the first marine seismic vibrator and the second marine seismic vibrator are being towed in a marine seismic survey,
- wherein during the seismic survey:
- the first marine seismic vibrator is towed at a spatial offset relative to the second marine seismic vibrator;
- the first marine seismic vibrator fires a first time sequence of shots, each shot of the first time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and a shot time, and the shots of the first time sequence being associated with a first phase that does not vary from shot to shot;
- the second marine seismic vibrator fires a second time sequence of shots, each shot of the second time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and being associated with one of the shot times, and the shots of the second time sequence being associated with a second phase that varies in a range from zero to a from shot to shot;
- and
- a processor to process the data to source separate the earth responses, wherein the processor is adapted to:
- stack seismographs representing the earth responses to provide at least one seismograph representing earth responses to the energy emitted by the first marine seismic vibrator;
- and
- use results of the stacking to determine at least one property of a subterranean section of the earth.
7 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- an interface to receive data representing earth responses recorded due to energies emitted by a first marine seismic vibrator and a second marine seismic vibrator while the first marine seismic vibrator and the second marine seismic vibrator are being towed in a marine seismic survey,
- wherein during the seismic survey:
- the first marine seismic vibrator is towed at a spatial offset relative to the second marine seismic vibrator;
- the first marine seismic vibrator fires a first time sequence of shots, each shot of the first time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and a shot time, and the shots of the first time sequence being associated with a first phase that does not vary from shot to shot;
- the second marine seismic vibrator fires a second time sequence of shots, each shot of the second time sequence being associated with a sweep of seismic frequencies and being associated with one of the shot times, and the shots of the second time sequence being associated with a second phase that randomly varies from shot to shot;
- and
- a processor to process the data to source separate the earth responses, wherein the processor is adapted to:
- stack seismographs representing the earth responses to provide at least one seismograph representing earth responses to the energy emitted by the first marine seismic vibrator;
- and
- use results of the stacking to determine at least one property of a subterranean section of the earth.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.