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US3611278A
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Interval velocity determination
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1969-07-17
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Granted: 1971-10-05
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Expires: 1989-07-17
Abstract
Abstract In geophysical exploration, a suite of seismograms is converted to values of interval velocity and dip for each of the subsurface layers. An iteration process fits an arbitrarily dipping Snell''s Law layered model to the observed field seismograms. Use of the velocity model permits a migration of original data into its true spatial positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman J Guinzy
- 👤 William H Ruehle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:55
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/28; G01V1/30; G01V1/303; C; C25; C25F; C25F7/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
The method of accurately determining the interval velocity of each reflecting zone of a subsurface formation from seismic data representing the arrival time and time dip of the seismic reflections on traces obtained along a line of exploration comprising the following steps each performed on automatic computing apparatus: for a particular reflecting zone N, using the time dip of the Nth seismic reflection to specify the ray path in the upper reflecting zones, determining the ray path in The Nth reflecting zone to determine the dip of the Nth reflecting zone, generating a computed representation of arrival time for a plurality of assumed values of interval velocity VN and for a plurality of points X along said line of exploration, comparing said computed representation of arrival time with the representation of arrival time from said seismic data for each assumed value of interval velocity, picking the value of interval velocity producing the least error in the foregoing step, and iterating the above steps for successive reflecting zones of said formation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
170 words
The method of accurately determining the interval velocity of each reflecting zone of a subsurface formation from seismic data representing the arrival time and time dip of the seismic reflections on traces obtained along a line of exploration comprising the following steps each performed on automatic computing apparatus: for a particular reflecting zone N, using the time dip of the Nth seismic reflection to specify the ray path in the upper reflecting zones, determining the ray path in The Nth reflecting zone to determine the dip of the Nth reflecting zone, generating a computed representation of arrival time for a plurality of assumed values of interval velocity VN and for a plurality of points X along said line of exploration, comparing said computed representation of arrival time with the representation of arrival time from said seismic data for each assumed value of interval velocity, picking the value of interval velocity producing the least error in the foregoing step, and iterating the above steps for successive reflecting zones of said formation.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
171 words
The method of accurately determining the interval velocity of each layer of a subsurface formation from seismic data representing the arrival time and time dip of the seismic reflections on traces obtained along a line of exploration comprising the following steps each performed on automatic computing apparatus: for a particular layer N, using the time dip of the Nth seismic reflection to specify the ray path in the upper layers, determining from Snell''s law at the N-1 interface the ray path in the Nth layer to determine the dip of the Nth interface, generating a computed representation of arrival time for a plurality of assumed values of interval velocity VN and for a plurality of points X along said line of exploration, comparing said computed representation of arrival time with the representation of arrival time from said seismic data for each assumed value of interval velocity, picking the value of interval velocity producing the least error in the foregoing step, and iterating the above steps for successive layers of said formation.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
171 words
The method of accurately determining the interval velocity of each layer of a subsurface formation from seismic data representing the arrival time and time dip of the seismic reflections on traces obtained along a line of exploration comprising the following steps each performed on automatic computing apparatus: for a particular layer N, using the time dip of the Nth seismic reflection to specify the ray path in the upper layers, determining from Snell''s law at the N-1 interface the ray path in the Nth layer to determine the dip of the Nth interface, generating a computed representation of arrival time for a plurality of assumed values of interval velocity VN and for a plurality of points X along said line of exploration, comparing said computed representation of arrival time with the representation of arrival time from said seismic data for each assumed value of interval velocity, picking the value of interval velocity producing the least error in the foregoing step, and iterating the above steps for successive layers of said formation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method recited in claim 2 wherein said representation of arrival time from the seismic data include average velocity of each reflection and wherein average velocity is computed for each assumed value of interval velocity and compared with the representations from said seismic data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method recited in claim 2 wherein said representations of arrival time from the seismic data include the arrival time of each reflection TNi and wherein reflection time TNi is computed for each assumed value of interval velocity and compared with the representations from said seismic data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method recited in claim 2 wherein the step of determining the ray path in the Nth layer is computed in accordance with the following: where theta N is the dip of the Nth interface, VN is the assumed value of interval velocity for the Nth layer, VN 1 is the interval velocity determined from a previous iteration of the above steps and theta N 1 is dip of the N-1 interface determined from an iteration of the above steps.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
173 words
The method of accurately determining the interval velocity of each reflecting zone of a subsurface formation from seismic data representing the arrival time and time dip of the seismic reflections on traces obtained along an area of exploration comprising the following steps each performed on automatic computing apparatus: for a particular reflecting zone N, using the time dip of the Nth seismic reflection to specify the ray path in the upper reflecting zones, determining the ray path in the Nth reflecting zone to determine the dip and azimuth of the Nth reflecting zone, generating a computed representation of arrival time for a plurality of assumed values of interval velocity VN and for a plurality of points X, Y over said area of exploration, comparing said computed representation of arrival time with the representation of arrival time from said seismic data for each assumed value of interval velocity, picking the value of interval velocity producing the least error in thE foregoing step, and iterating the above steps for successive reflecting zones of said formation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
173 words
The method of accurately determining the interval velocity of each reflecting zone of a subsurface formation from seismic data representing the arrival time and time dip of the seismic reflections on traces obtained along an area of exploration comprising the following steps each performed on automatic computing apparatus: for a particular reflecting zone N, using the time dip of the Nth seismic reflection to specify the ray path in the upper reflecting zones, determining the ray path in the Nth reflecting zone to determine the dip and azimuth of the Nth reflecting zone, generating a computed representation of arrival time for a plurality of assumed values of interval velocity VN and for a plurality of points X, Y over said area of exploration, comparing said computed representation of arrival time with the representation of arrival time from said seismic data for each assumed value of interval velocity, picking the value of interval velocity producing the least error in thE foregoing step, and iterating the above steps for successive reflecting zones of said formation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3417370A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |