Method and apparatus for determining near-surface corrections from seismic data

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein the steps of the method are defined further to include: correcting each recorded seismic wave trace for normal moveout utilizing the determined time static correction factor; and repeating the steps of the method to determine a subsequent time static correction factor utilizing the seismic wave traces corrected for normal moveout utilizing the previously determined time static correction factor.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein the steps are defined further to include: determining a predetermined number of subsequent time static correction factors, the last determined time static correction factor being utilized as the time static correction factor between the near-surface layer effect beneath the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface.

Claim 9

The method of claim 5 wherein the steps of the method are defined further to include: correcting each recorded seismic wave trace for normal moveout utilizing the determined total time static correction factor; and repeating the steps of the method to determine a subsequent total time static correction factor utilizing the seismic wave traces corrected for normal moveout utilizing the previously determined total time static correction factor.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6, wherein the steps of the method are defined further to include: determining a predetermined number of subsequent total time static correction factors, the last determined total time static correction factor being utilized to correct the recorded seismic wave traces of the time-section.

Claim 11

Apparatus for determining the time static correction factor for the near-surface layer effect beneath predetermined positions on the earth''s surface from seismic data obtained utilizing a predetermined number of receptor positions and a predetermined number of source positions to obtain a plurality of seismic waves reflected from various predetermined adjoining basement points, the travel time of each seismic wave trace having been corrected for normal moveout, comprising: a correlator adapted to receive a plurality of corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from predetermined adjoining basement points via signal input paths and to determine the time differences between the corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from predetermined adjoining basement points and recorded at predetermined positions on the earth''s surface and to provide an output signal corresponding to each determined time difference; a mean determination network adapted to receive the time differences from the correlator and to determine the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences and to provide an output signal corresponding to the determined dip arithmetic mean; a difference network adapted to receive the signal output of the correlator and the signal output of the mean determination network and to determine a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each time difference determined by the correlator and to provide a signal output corresponding to each time difference determined by the difference network; and a mean determination network adapted to receive the signal output of the difference network and determine the arithmetic mean of the time differences determined by the difference network, the arithmetic mean determined by the last mentioned mean determination network being the time static correction factor.

Claim 12

Apparatus for determining the time static correction factor for the near-surface layer effect beneath predetermined positions on the earth''s surface from seismic data obtained utilizing a predetermined number of receptor positions and a predetermined number of source positions to obtain a plurality of seismic waves reflected from various predetermined adjoining basement points, the travel time of each seismic wave trace having been corrected for normal moveout, comprising: a correlator adapted to receive a plurality of corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from predetermined adjoining basement points via signal input paths and to determine the time differences between the corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from predetermined adjoining basement points and recorded at predetermined positions on the earth''s surface and to provide an output signal corresponding to each determined time difference; a mean determination network adapted to receive the time differences from the correlator and to determine the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences and to provide an output signal corresponding to the determined dip arithmetic mean; a difference network adapted to receive the signal output of the correlator and the signal output of the mean determination network and to determine a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each time difference determined by the correlator and to provide a signal output corresponding to each time difference determined by the difference network; and a mean determination network adapted to receive the signal output of the difference network and determine the arithmetic mean of the time differences determined by the difference network, the arithmetic mean determined by the last mentioned mean determination network being the time static correction factor.

Claim 13

Apparatus for determining the time static correction factor for the near-surface layer effect beneath predetermined positions on the earth''s surface from seismic data obtained utilizing a predetermined number of receptor positions and a predetermined number of source positions to obtain a plurality of seismic waves reflected from a plurality of adjoining basement points, the travel time of each seismic wave trace having been corrected for normal moveout, comprising: a first correlator adapted to receive a plurality of corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from two predetermined adjoining basement points via signal input paths and to determine the time differences between the corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from the two predetermined adjoining basement points, and recorded at two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface and provide an output signal corresponding to each determined time difference; a first mean determination network adapted to receive the time differences from the first correlator and to determine the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences and to provide an output signal corresponding to the determined dip arithmetic Mean; a first difference network adapted to receive the signal output of the first correlator and the signal output of the first mean determination network and to determine a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each difference determined by the first correlator and to provide a signal output corresponding to each time difference determined by the first difference network; a second correlator adapted to receive a plurality of corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from two other predetermined adjoining basement points via signal input paths and to determine the time differences between the corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from the two other predetermined adjoining basement points and recorded at the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface; a second mean determination network adapted to receive the time differences from the second correlator and to determine the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the two other predetermined adjoining basement points and to provide an output signal corresponding to the determined dip arithmetic mean; a second difference network adapted to receive the signal output of the second correlator and the signal output of the second mean determination network and to determine a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean determined by the second mean determination network and each difference determined by the second correlator and to provide a signal output corresponding to each time difference determined by the second difference network; and a total mean determination network adapted to receive the signal output of the first difference network and the signal output of the second difference network and to determine the arithmetic mean of the time differences determined by the first difference network and the second difference network, the arithmetic mean determined by the total mean determination network being the time static correction factor beneath the two predetermined positions on the earth''s surface.

Claim 14

Apparatus for determining the time static correction factor for the near-surface layer effect beneath predetermined positions on the earth''s surface from seismic data obtained utilizing a predetermined number of receptor positions and a predetermined number of source positions to obtain a plurality of seismic waves reflected from a plurality of adjoining basement points, the travel time of each seismic wave trace having been corrected for normal moveout, comprising: a first correlator adapted to receive a plurality of corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from two predetermined adjoining basement points via signal input paths and to determine the time differences between the corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from the two predetermined adjoining basement points, and recorded at two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface and provide an output signal corresponding to each determined time difference; a first mean determination network adapted to receive the time differences from the first correlator and to determine the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences and to provide an output signal corresponding to the determined dip arithmetic Mean; a first difference network adapted to receive the signal output of the first correlator and the signal output of the first mean determination network and to determine a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each difference determined by the first correlator and to provide a signal output corresponding to each time difference determined by the first difference network; a second correlator adapted to receive a plurality of corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from two other predetermined adjoining basement points via signal input paths and to determine the time differences between the corrected seismic wave travel times reflected from the two other predetermined adjoining basement points and recorded at the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface; a second mean determination network adapted to receive the time differences from the second correlator and to determine the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the two other predetermined adjoining basement points and to provide an output signal corresponding to the determined dip arithmetic mean; a second difference network adapted to receive the signal output of the second correlator and the signal output of the second mean determination network and to determine a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean determined by the second mean determination network and each difference determined by the second correlator and to provide a signal output corresponding to each time difference determined by the second difference network; and a total mean determination network adapted to receive the signal output of the first difference network and the signal output of the second difference network and to determine the arithmetic mean of the time differences determined by the first difference network and the second difference network, the arithmetic mean determined by the total mean determination network being the time static correction factor beneath the two predetermined positions on the earth''s surface.

Claim 15

In a machine process, as performed by automatic data processing equipment for determining the time static corrector factor for the near-surface layer effect beneath predetermined positions on the earth''s surface from seismic data obtained utilizing a predetermined number of receptor positions and a predetermined number of source positions to obtain a plurality of seismic waves reflected from various predetermined adjoining basement points, the machine process comprising: correcting each recorded seismic wave trace for normal moveout; determining a plurality of time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from predetermined adjoining basement points and recorded at predetermined positions on the earth''s surface; determining the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the predetermined adjoining basement points; determining a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each time difference between recorded seismic wave traces reflected from adjoining basement points and recorded at the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface to determine a plurality of time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface; determining the arithmetic mean of the time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface to determine the time static correction factor; correcting each recorded seismic wave trace for normal moveout utilizing the determined time static correction factor; and repeating the steps of the method to determine a subsequent time static correction factor utilizing the seismic wave traces corrected for normal moveout utilizing the previously determined time static correction factor.

Claim 16

In a machine process, as performed by automatic data processing equipment for determining the time static corrector factor for the near-surface layer effect beneath predetermined positions on the earth''s surface from seismic data obtained utilizing a predetermined number of receptor positions and a predetermined number of source positions to obtain a plurality of seismic waves reflected from various predetermined adjoining basement points, the machine process comprising: correcting each recorded seismic wave trace for normal moveout; determining a plurality of time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from predetermined adjoining basement points and recorded at predetermined positions on the earth''s surface; determining the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the predetermined adjoining basement points; determining a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each time difference between recorded seismic wave traces reflected from adjoining basement points and recorded at the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface to determine a plurality of time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface; determining the arithmetic mean of the time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface to determine the time static correction factor; correcting each recorded seismic wave trace for normal moveout utilizing the determined time static correction factor; and repeating the steps of the method to determine a subsequent time static correction factor utilizing the seismic wave traces corrected for normal moveout utilizing the previously determined time static correction factor.

Claim 17

The machine process of claim 10, further defined to include: determining a predetermined number of subsequent time static correction factors, the last determined time correction factor being utilized as the time static correction between the near-surface layer effect beneath the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface.

Claim 18

In a machine process, as performed by automatic data processing equipment for determining the time static correction factor for the near-surface layer effect beneath predetermined positions on the earth''s surface from seismic data obtained utilizing a predetermined number of receptor positions and a predetermined number of source positions to obtain a plurality of seismic waves reflected from a plurality of adjoining basement points, the machine process comprising: correcting each recorded seismic wave trace for normal moveout; determining a plurality of time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from two predetermined adjoining basement points, and recorded at two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface; determining the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the two predetermined adjoining basement points; determining a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each time difference between recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the two predetermined adjoining basement points and recorded at the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface, to determine a plurality of time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface; determining a plurality of time differences between seismic wave traces reflected from two other predetermined and recorded at the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface; determining the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the two other predetermined adjoining basement points; determining a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each time difference between recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the two other predetermined adjoining basement points recorded at the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface, to determine a plurality of time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface; and determining the arithmetic mean of the time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface, some of the differences corresponding to the two predetermined adjoining basement points and some of the differences corresponding to the two other predetermined adjoining basement points, to determine the time static correction factor.

Claim 19

In a machine process, as performed by automatic data processing equipment for determining the time static correction factor for the near-surface layer effect beneath predetermined positions on the earth''s surface from seismic data obtained utilizing a predetermined number of receptor positions and a predetermined number of source positions to obtain a plurality of seismic waves reflected from a plurality of adjoining basement points, the machine process comprising: correcting each recorded seismic wave trace for normal moveout; determining a plurality of time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from two predetermined adjoining basement points, and recorded at two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface; determining the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the two predetermined adjoining basement points; determining a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each time difference between recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the two predetermined adjoining basement points and recorded at the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface, to determine a plurality of time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface; determining a plurality of time differences between seismic wave traces reflected from two other predetermined and recorded at the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface; determining the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the two other predetermined adjoining basement points; determining a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each time difference between recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the two other predetermined adjoining basement points recorded at the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface, to determine a plurality of time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface; and determining the arithmetic mean of the time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the two predetermined receptor positions on the earth''s surface, some of the differences corresponding to the two predetermined adjoining basement points and some of the differences corresponding to the two other predetermined adjoining basement points, to determine the time static correction factor.

Claim 20

In a machine process, as performed by automatic data processing equipment for determining a total time static correction factor for recorded seismic wave traces in a time-section from seismic data obtained utilizing a predetermined number of receptor positions and a predetermined number of source positions, the various receptor positions and the various source positions being altered such that at predetermined times some of the receptor positions correspond to subsequent source positions, to obtain a plurality of seismic waves reflected from various predetermined adjoining basement points, the machine process comprising: correcting each recorded seismic wave trace for normal moveout; determining a plurality of time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from predetermined adjoining basement points, and recorded at predetermined positions on the earth''s surface; determining the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the predetermined adjoining basement Points; determining a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each time difference between recorded seismic wave traces reflected from adjoining basement points and recorded at the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface, to determine a plurality of time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface; determining the arithmetic mean of the time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the predetermined positions of the earth''s surface to determine the time static correction factor with respect to the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface; repeating the above steps to determine a time static correction factor for each source position and each receptor position utilized in the time-section; and determining the sum of the time static correction factors for the particular source position and the particular receptor position for each recorded seismic wave trace in the time-section, to determine the total time static correction factor for each recorded seismic wave trace in the time-section.

Claim 21

In a machine process, as performed by automatic data processing equipment for determining a total time static correction factor for recorded seismic wave traces in a time-section from seismic data obtained utilizing a predetermined number of receptor positions and a predetermined number of source positions, the various receptor positions and the various source positions being altered such that at predetermined times some of the receptor positions correspond to subsequent source positions, to obtain a plurality of seismic waves reflected from various predetermined adjoining basement points, the machine process comprising: correcting each recorded seismic wave trace for normal moveout; determining a plurality of time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from predetermined adjoining basement points, and recorded at predetermined positions on the earth''s surface; determining the dip arithmetic mean of the time differences between the recorded seismic wave traces reflected from the predetermined adjoining basement Points; determining a plurality of time differences between the dip arithmetic mean and each time difference between recorded seismic wave traces reflected from adjoining basement points and recorded at the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface, to determine a plurality of time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface; determining the arithmetic mean of the time differences between the near-surface layer effect beneath the predetermined positions of the earth''s surface to determine the time static correction factor with respect to the predetermined positions on the earth''s surface; repeating the above steps to determine a time static correction factor for each source position and each receptor position utilized in the time-section; and determining the sum of the time static correction factors for the particular source position and the particular receptor position for each recorded seismic wave trace in the time-section, to determine the total time static correction factor for each recorded seismic wave trace in the time-section.

Claim 22

The machine process of claim 13 defined further to include: correcting each recorded seismic wave trace for normal moveout utilizing the determined total time static correction factor; and repeating the steps of the method to determine a subsequent total time static correction factor utilizing the seismic wave traces corrected for normal moveout utilizing the previously determined total time static correction factor.

Claim 23

The machine process of claim 14 defined further to include: determining a predetermined number of subsequent total time static correction factors, the last determined total time static correction factor being utilized to correct the recorded seismic wave traces of the time-section.