US3746122A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-directional seismic exploration methods
Assignee: Avance Oil and Gas Co Inc
•
Filing: 1971-05-21
•
Granted: 1973-07-17
•
Expires: 1991-05-21
Abstract
Abstract A number of seismic detectors are located in a two-dimensional array on the surface of the earth, either on land or at sea. One or more seismic disturbances are produced in the vicinity of the seismic detectors at points located to produce sampling of various subsurface reflection points to form one or more twodimensional areas of coverage. For each seismic disturbance, the subsurface reflections thereof received by the various seismic detectors are recorded. In some embodiments, the seismic disturbances are produced at points located to produce multidirectional sampling of each of various subsurface reflection points and recordings for different ones of the seismic disturbances are combined to produce stacked recordings wherein multi-directional reflections from common subsurface points are added.
Inventors
- 👤 J Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:54
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
In the art of seismic exploration by producing seismic disturbances, detecting subsurface reflections of said disturbances with seismic detectors selectively located with respect to the source points of said disturbances, and recording for analysis, study, and refinement the reflections detected by said seismic detectors, the improvement comprising: developing multiple pieces of data from a given reflecting point by producing a plurality of seismic disturbances spaced in time from one another at source points spaced in distance from one another, locating seismic detectors in an array to receive reflections of said disturbances from said reflecting point, said source points and detectors being so located that a plane containing one source point, said reflecting point, and a detector is at an angle to another plane containing another source point, said reflecting point and another detector, and recording substantially all reflections of said disturbances received by said detectors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
In the art of seismic exploration by producing seismic disturbances, detecting subsurface reflections of said disturbances with seismic detectors selectively located with respect to the source points of said disturbances, and recording for analysis, study, and refinement the reflections detected by said seismic detectors, the improvement comprising: developing multiple pieces of data from a given reflecting point by producing a plurality of seismic disturbances spaced in time from one another at source points spaced in distance from one another, locating seismic detectors in an array to receive reflections of said disturbances from said reflecting point, said source points and detectors being so located that a plane containing one source point, said reflecting point, and a detector is at an angle to another plane containing another source point, said reflecting point and another detector, and recording substantially all reflections of said disturbances received by said detectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An improved seismic exploration method in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising utilizing a sufficient number of seismic disturbances and a sufficient number of seismic detectors to develop multiple pieces of data from a plurality of reflecting points in the course of a survey.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of seismic exploration in accordance with claim 2 and including: reprocuding the recorded reflections and studying same; and combining selected ones of the recorded reflections for producing composite records wherein plural reflections from common subsurface points are added, the selection being made to reduce the effect of changes in normal moveout.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of seismic exploration in accordance with claim 2 and including: reproducing the recorded reflections and studying same; and thereafter reproducing selected ones of the recorded reflections in a coordinated manner, the selected reflections being ones having ray path lengths of the appropriate value for minimizing undesired noise effects.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
An improved seismic exploration method in accordance with claim 2 in which at least some of said seismic detectors are located in said array to receive reflections from at least some of said reflecting points upon production of successive seismic disturbances without being relocated between such disturbances.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An improved seismic exploration method in accordance with claim 5 in which none of said seismic detectors are relocated in the course of a survey.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
An improved seismic exploration method in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising stacking recordings representing at least some of the multiple piecEs of data from said given reflecting point.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An improved seismic exploration method in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising selecting for study only those recordings representing pieces of data from said given reflecting point providing better quality information concerning said reflecting point.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
111 words
In the art of seismic exploration by producing seismic disturbances, detecting subsurface reflections of said disturbances with seismic detectors selectively located with respect to the source points of said disturbances, and recording for analysis, study, and refinement the reflections detected by said seismic detectors, the improvement comprising: producing a plurality of said disturbances at spaced distances and times, locating said seismic detectors in an array positioned with respect to the source points of said disturbances to receive reflections of different disturbances from at least some common reflecting points, said arrray having two dimensions in the generally horizontal plane, and recording substantially all reflections of said disturbances detected by said seismic detectors.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
In the art of seismic exploration by producing seismic disturbances, detecting subsurface reflections of said disturbances with seismic detectors selectively located with respect to the source points of said disturbances, and recording for analysis, study, and refinement the reflections detected by said seismic detectors, the improvement comprising: producing a plurality of said disturbances at spaced distances and times, locating said seismic detectors in an array positioned with respect to the source points of said disturbances to receive reflections of different disturbances from at least some common reflecting points, said arrray having two dimensions in the generally horizontal plane, and recording substantially all reflections of said disturbances detected by said seismic detectors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
An improved seismic exploration method in accordance with claim 9 and further comprising stacking recordings representing reflections from at least one of said common reflecting points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
An improved seismic exploration method in accordance with claim 9 and further comprising selecting for study only those recordings representing reflections from any one of said common reflecting points providing better quality information concerning said reflecting point.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of seismic exploration comprising: locating a number of seismic detectors in a two-dimensional array; producing in a sequential manner seismic disturbances at a number of points in the vicinity of the seismic detectors, such points being located to produce multidirectional sampling of each of various subsurface reflection points; and recording for each seismic disturbance the subsurface reflections thereof received by the various seismic detectors.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
66 words
A method of seismic exploration comprising: locating a number of seismic detectors in a two-dimensional array; producing in a sequential manner seismic disturbances at a number of points in the vicinity of the seismic detectors, such points being located to produce multidirectional sampling of each of various subsurface reflection points; and recording for each seismic disturbance the subsurface reflections thereof received by the various seismic detectors.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of seismic exploration comprising: locating a number of seismic detectors in a two-dimensional rectangular array covering a substantial surface area; producing at different times seismic disturbances in the immediate vicinity of each of the four corners of the rectangular array; and recording for each of the four seismic disturbances the subsurface reflections thereof received by the seismic detectors for providing a comprehensive multi-point coverage of the subsurface region below the rectangular array.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
74 words
A method of seismic exploration comprising: locating a number of seismic detectors in a two-dimensional rectangular array covering a substantial surface area; producing at different times seismic disturbances in the immediate vicinity of each of the four corners of the rectangular array; and recording for each of the four seismic disturbances the subsurface reflections thereof received by the seismic detectors for providing a comprehensive multi-point coverage of the subsurface region below the rectangular array.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of seismic exploration comprising: locating a first set of spaced seismic detectors along a first line; locating a second set of spaced seismic detectors along a second and different line; producing a first seismic disturbance at a point along the first line; producing a second seismic disturbance at a point along the second line; and recording for each of the seismic disturbances the subsurface reflections thereof received by the seismic detectors in both the first and second sets.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of seismic exploration comprising: locating a first set of spaced seismic detectors along a first line; locating a second set of spaced seismic detectors along a second and different line; producing a first seismic disturbance at a point along the first line; producing a second seismic disturbance at a point along the second line; and recording for each of the seismic disturbances the subsurface reflections thereof received by the seismic detectors in both the first and second sets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of seismic exploration in accordance with claim 14 wherein the first and second lines are parallel and are spaced a substantial distance apart.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of seismic exploration comprising: locating a first set of spaced seismic detectors along a first line; locating a second set of spaced seismic detectors along a second and different line; producing at different times seismic disturbances along the first line at spaced points different from the detector locations; producing at different times seismic disturbances along the second line at spaced points different from the detector locations; and recording for each of the seismic disturbances the subsurface reflections thereof received by the seismic detectors in both the first and second sets.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
92 words
A method of seismic exploration comprising: locating a first set of spaced seismic detectors along a first line; locating a second set of spaced seismic detectors along a second and different line; producing at different times seismic disturbances along the first line at spaced points different from the detector locations; producing at different times seismic disturbances along the second line at spaced points different from the detector locations; and recording for each of the seismic disturbances the subsurface reflections thereof received by the seismic detectors in both the first and second sets.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of seismic exploration in accordance with claim 16 whereiN the first and second lines are parallel and are spaced a substantial distance apart.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method of seismic exploration in accordance with claim 17 and including the steps of: locating a third set of spaced seismic detectors along a third line running parallel to the first and second lines and spaced apart a substantial distance therefrom; and recording for each of the seismic disturbances the subsurface reflections thereof received by the seismic detectors in the third set.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of seismic exploration in accordance with claim 18 wherein the third set of seismic detectors is located intermediate the first and second lines.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
106 words
A method of seismic exploration in accordance with claim 17 and including the steps of: locating a third set of spaced seismic detectors along a third line running parallel to the first and second lines and spaced apart a substantial distance therefrom; producing along the third line at spaced points different from the detector locations seismic disturbances at times different from one another and from the times for the seismic disturbances along the first and second lines; and recording for each of the seismic disturbances along each of the lines the subsurface reflections thereof received by the seismic detectors in the first, second and third sets.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method of seismic exploration in accordance with claim 20 and including the steps of: locating a fourth set of spaced seismic detectors along a fourth line running parallel to the first and second lines and located midway therebetween; locating a fifth set of spaced seismic detectors along a fifth line running parallel to the second and third lines and located midway therebetween; and recording for each of the seismic disturbances the subsurface reflections thereof received by the seismic detectors in the fourth and fifth sets.
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) | 1976-07-16 | 1977-01-15 | 1977-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-16 | 1981-01-15 | 1981-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-16 | 1985-01-15 | 1985-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |