US3688249A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for locating impedance discountinuities in a wave propagating medium
Assignee: Halliburton Co
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Filing: 1970-07-06
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Granted: 1972-08-29
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Expires: 1990-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A method for digitally processing seismic data, or other similar data derived for propagating wave energy to produce a data image comprised of a plurality of coordinate points is described. Each coordinate point has a value which is a combination of the amplitude values taken from a plurality of primary seismic traces at the travel times on the respective primary traces required for energy to travel from the respective source points to the coordinate point and return to the respective receiving points of the seismic traces. More particularly, the combination is accomplished in such a way as to increase the signal-to-noise ratio by selected data to be combined at the respective coordinate points either on a predetermined basis or automatically by an analysis of the data.
Inventors
- 👤 Milo M Backus
- 👤 William A Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:35
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
The method for determining the location of impedance discontinuities in a wave propagating medium from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced at a source point which comprises producing, in an automatic data processing machine, a data image having a plurality of coordinate points defining at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point having a composite value produced by combining a plurality of weighted amplitude values, each weighted amplitude value being derived by picking the amplitude value on a different input trace at the time required for wave energy to travel from the source point of each of the respective input records to the coordinate point and return to the receiving point for the respective input record and multiplying each of the picked amplitude values by a weighting factor that is a function of the depth and the horizontal distance between the source points and receiver points of the input trace from which the amplitude value is picked and the coordinate point for which the value is to be derived, wherein the weighting factor at a given depth increases as the horizontal distance increases to enhance the image of diffractors.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
The method for determining the location of impedance discontinuities in a wave propagating medium from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced at a source point which comprises producing, in an automatic data processing machine, a data image having a plurality of coordinate points defining at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point having a composite value produced by combining a plurality of weighted amplitude values, each weighted amplitude value being derived by picking the amplitude value on a different input trace at the time required for wave energy to travel from the source point of each of the respective input records to the coordinate point and return to the receiving point for the respective input record and multiplying each of the picked amplitude values by a weighting factor that is a function of the depth and the horizontal distance between the source points and receiver points of the input trace from which the amplitude value is picked and the coordinate point for which the value is to be derived, wherein the weighting factor at a given depth increases as the horizontal distance increases to enhance the image of diffractors.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
165 words
The method for determining the location of impedance discontinuities in a wave propagating medium from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced at a source point which comprises producing, in an automatic data processing machine, a data image having a plurality of coordinate points defining at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point having a composite value produced by combining a plurality of weighted amplitude values, eaCh weighted amplitude value being derived by picking the amplitude value on a different input trace at the time required for wave energy to travel from the source point of each of the respective input records to the coordinate point and return to the receiving point for the respective input record and multiplying each of the picked amplitude values by a weighting factor that is an inverse function of the degree of correspondence between preselected amplitude values, the degree of correspondence being indicative of spectral reflectors.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
165 words
The method for determining the location of impedance discontinuities in a wave propagating medium from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced at a source point which comprises producing, in an automatic data processing machine, a data image having a plurality of coordinate points defining at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point having a composite value produced by combining a plurality of weighted amplitude values, eaCh weighted amplitude value being derived by picking the amplitude value on a different input trace at the time required for wave energy to travel from the source point of each of the respective input records to the coordinate point and return to the receiving point for the respective input record and multiplying each of the picked amplitude values by a weighting factor that is an inverse function of the degree of correspondence between preselected amplitude values, the degree of correspondence being indicative of spectral reflectors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the coordinate points define three spacial dimensions.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
169 words
The method for determining the location of diffractive impedance discontinuities in a wave propagating medium from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced at a source point which comprises producing, in an automatic data processing machine, the data image having a plurality of coordinate points defining at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point being a composite value derived from a combination of amplitude values, each amplitude value being the amplitude value at the time on a different input trace required for energy to travel from the source of the respective input trace to the coordinate point to the receiving point for the respective record, the amplitude values for each coordinate value being selected substantially only from those input traces having the midpoint between the source and receiving points a predetermined distance from the respective coordinate point such as to exclude energy which could have been returned by a specular reflector within a predetermined dip range.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
169 words
The method for determining the location of diffractive impedance discontinuities in a wave propagating medium from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced at a source point which comprises producing, in an automatic data processing machine, the data image having a plurality of coordinate points defining at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point being a composite value derived from a combination of amplitude values, each amplitude value being the amplitude value at the time on a different input trace required for energy to travel from the source of the respective input trace to the coordinate point to the receiving point for the respective record, the amplitude values for each coordinate value being selected substantially only from those input traces having the midpoint between the source and receiving points a predetermined distance from the respective coordinate point such as to exclude energy which could have been returned by a specular reflector within a predetermined dip range.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the coordinate points define three spacial dimensions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
204 words
The data image produced in an automatic data processing machine to determine the location of impedance discontinuities in a wave propagating medium from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced at a source point by establishing a plurality of coordinate points defining the data image in at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point having a composite value produced by combining a plurality of weighted amplitude values, each weighted amplitude value being derived by picking the amplitude value on a different input trace at the time required for wave energy to travel from the source point of each of the respective input records to the coordinate point and return to the receiving point for the respective input record and multiplying each of the pick amplitude values by a weighting factor that is a function of the depth and the horizontal distance between the source points and receiver points of the input trace from which the amplitude value is picked and the coordinate point for which the value is to be derived, wherein the weighting factor at a given depth increases as the horizontal distance increases to enhance the image of diffractors.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
204 words
The data image produced in an automatic data processing machine to determine the location of impedance discontinuities in a wave propagating medium from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced at a source point by establishing a plurality of coordinate points defining the data image in at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point having a composite value produced by combining a plurality of weighted amplitude values, each weighted amplitude value being derived by picking the amplitude value on a different input trace at the time required for wave energy to travel from the source point of each of the respective input records to the coordinate point and return to the receiving point for the respective input record and multiplying each of the pick amplitude values by a weighting factor that is a function of the depth and the horizontal distance between the source points and receiver points of the input trace from which the amplitude value is picked and the coordinate point for which the value is to be derived, wherein the weighting factor at a given depth increases as the horizontal distance increases to enhance the image of diffractors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The data image of claim 6 wherein the coordinate points define three spacial dimensions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
167 words
The data image produced in an automatic digital data processing machine to determine the location of impedance discontinuities in a wave propagating medium from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced at a source point by establishing a plurality of coordinate points defining the data image in at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point having a composite value produced by combining a plurality of weighted amplitude values, each weighted amplitude value being derived by picking the amplitude value on a different input trace at the time required for wave energy to travel from the source point of each of the respective input records to the coordinate point and return to the receiving point for the respective input record and multiplying each of the picked amplituDe values by a weighting factor that is an inverse function of the degree of correspondence between preselected amplitude values, the degree of correspondence being indicative of spectral reflectors.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
167 words
The data image produced in an automatic digital data processing machine to determine the location of impedance discontinuities in a wave propagating medium from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced at a source point by establishing a plurality of coordinate points defining the data image in at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point having a composite value produced by combining a plurality of weighted amplitude values, each weighted amplitude value being derived by picking the amplitude value on a different input trace at the time required for wave energy to travel from the source point of each of the respective input records to the coordinate point and return to the receiving point for the respective input record and multiplying each of the picked amplituDe values by a weighting factor that is an inverse function of the degree of correspondence between preselected amplitude values, the degree of correspondence being indicative of spectral reflectors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The data image of claim 8 wherein the coordinate points define three spacial dimensions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
170 words
The data image produced in an automatic data processing machine to determine the location of diffractive impedance discontinuities from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced in a wave propagating medium at a source point by establishing a plurality of coordinate points defining the data image in at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point being a composite value derived from a combination of amplitude values, each amplitude value being the amplitude value at the time on a different input trace required for energy to travel from the source of the respective input trace to the coordinate point to the receiving point for the respective record, the amplitude values for each coordinate value being selected substantially only from those input traces having the midpoint between the source and receiving points a predetermined distance from the respective coordinate point such as to exclude energy which could have been returned by a specular reflector within a predetermined dip range.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
170 words
The data image produced in an automatic data processing machine to determine the location of diffractive impedance discontinuities from a plurality of digital input records each representative of wave energy returning to a receiving point from wave energy induced in a wave propagating medium at a source point by establishing a plurality of coordinate points defining the data image in at least two spacial dimensions, each coordinate point being a composite value derived from a combination of amplitude values, each amplitude value being the amplitude value at the time on a different input trace required for energy to travel from the source of the respective input trace to the coordinate point to the receiving point for the respective record, the amplitude values for each coordinate value being selected substantially only from those input traces having the midpoint between the source and receiving points a predetermined distance from the respective coordinate point such as to exclude energy which could have been returned by a specular reflector within a predetermined dip range.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The data image of claim 10 wherein the coordinate points define three spacial dimensions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-29 | 1976-02-28 | 1976-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-29 | 1980-02-28 | 1980-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-29 | 1984-02-28 | 1984-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |