Patent US3794827A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3794827A
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Invel system of velocity determination
Assignee: BP America Production Co
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Filing: 1973-01-08
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1993-01-08
Abstract
Abstract This is a new way of compositing multifold common-depth-point data from seismic prospecting operations to improve the making of static corrections, particularly when determining velocity. Such static corrections eliminate time differences in arrival of reflected seismic events on the various traces of a seismic spread due to differences in thickness of the low velocity or ''''weathered'''' layer below the geophones, to differences in surface elevation, and the like. Seismic waves are generated successively at generating points, each near the earth''s surface. Seismic waves are received and reproducibly recorded at geophones at least one of which in each case is close to the generating point and another is near the location of another generating point. These spatial relationships are symmetrical. Reproduced reflected waves from each generating point received at the respective near geophone locations are composited at approximately equal peak amplitudes. This procedure is then repeated for new generating and receiving points which maintain approximately constant the mean location of reflection points on the seismic reflecting beds. Visual traces equivalent to the composited ''''short'''' traces are reproduced after elimination of the normal moveout correction. The reflections from a common reflecting bed are aligned by introducing a static correction into each composited trace to produce substantial time alignment at a mean reflection time. The identical seismic static correction is then applied to any further record processing of the seismic data from the ''''far'''' geophones, similarly composited, before producing visual traces of such data. The procedure is valuable both for making velocity panels for determination of velocity vs. depth in seismic prospects, and in determining depth and/or dip of reflecting subsurface discontinuities.
Inventors
- 👤 M Widess
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
395 words
A method of seismic prospecting including the steps of 1. generating seismic waves at a first generating point near the earth''s surface; 2. separately receiving and reproducibly recording said seismic waves reflected from a subsurface bed at least at two receiving points at or near the earth''s surface, one near and one far from said first generating point; 3. separately generating seismic waves at a second generating point near the earth''s surface in symmetrical relation to the first generating point and near said receiving point which is far from said first generating point; 4. separately receiving at least near the said two receiving points and reproducibly recording the seismic waves generated in step 3) and reflected from said subsurface bed; 5. reproducing and compositing said received recorded seismic waves from said first and said second generating point received in each case at the near receiving point, at approximately equal average amplitude; 6. repeating steps 1) to 5) inclusive, employing new generating and new receiving stations, while maintaining (a) substantially the same distance from each generating point to the near receiving points used in steps 2) and 3), and (b) substantially the same midpoint between the two new generating points and far receivers as was defined by the first two generating points and corresponding far receivers; 7. producing a first visual image of each of the said composited received waves as one seismic trace of a plurality of such traces in side-by-side relation; 8. introducing such a static correction into each such composited trace as produces substantially time alignment of said traces at a mean reflection time on said traces, whereby such correction for each such trace is directly related to the two locations of generation points used in producing such trace; 9. reproducing and compositing at approximately equal average amplitude said received recorded seismic waves from said first and said second generating point received in each case at the far receiving point, in the steps 1) to 6); 10. introducing the same static correction into each composited set of waves in step 9) as that already introduced in step 8) for the same location of the two generating points involved in step 8) respectively; and 11. making a second visual image derived from each composited set of waves from step 10) after introduction of the appropriate static corrections, in the form of side-by-side seismic tRaces.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
395 words
A method of seismic prospecting including the steps of 1. generating seismic waves at a first generating point near the earth''s surface; 2. separately receiving and reproducibly recording said seismic waves reflected from a subsurface bed at least at two receiving points at or near the earth''s surface, one near and one far from said first generating point; 3. separately generating seismic waves at a second generating point near the earth''s surface in symmetrical relation to the first generating point and near said receiving point which is far from said first generating point; 4. separately receiving at least near the said two receiving points and reproducibly recording the seismic waves generated in step 3) and reflected from said subsurface bed; 5. reproducing and compositing said received recorded seismic waves from said first and said second generating point received in each case at the near receiving point, at approximately equal average amplitude; 6. repeating steps 1) to 5) inclusive, employing new generating and new receiving stations, while maintaining (a) substantially the same distance from each generating point to the near receiving points used in steps 2) and 3), and (b) substantially the same midpoint between the two new generating points and far receivers as was defined by the first two generating points and corresponding far receivers; 7. producing a first visual image of each of the said composited received waves as one seismic trace of a plurality of such traces in side-by-side relation; 8. introducing such a static correction into each such composited trace as produces substantially time alignment of said traces at a mean reflection time on said traces, whereby such correction for each such trace is directly related to the two locations of generation points used in producing such trace; 9. reproducing and compositing at approximately equal average amplitude said received recorded seismic waves from said first and said second generating point received in each case at the far receiving point, in the steps 1) to 6); 10. introducing the same static correction into each composited set of waves in step 9) as that already introduced in step 8) for the same location of the two generating points involved in step 8) respectively; and 11. making a second visual image derived from each composited set of waves from step 10) after introduction of the appropriate static corrections, in the form of side-by-side seismic tRaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method in accordance with claim 1 including repeating steps 1) to 6), 9) and 10) a plurality of at least four times so that at least five seismic traces are present in said first and said second visual images in side-by-side relationship, to permit a more precise determination of said mean reflection time on said traces in step 8).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
separately receiving and reproducibly recording said seismic waves reflected from a subsurface bed at least at two receiving points at or near the earth''s surface, one near and one far from said first generating point;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
separately receiving and reproducibly recording said seismic waves reflected from a subsurface bed at least at two receiving points at or near the earth''s surface, one near and one far from said first generating point;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
separately generating seismic waves at a second generating point near the earth''s surface in symmetrical relation to the first generating point and near said receiving point which is far from said first generating point;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
separately generating seismic waves at a second generating point near the earth''s surface in symmetrical relation to the first generating point and near said receiving point which is far from said first generating point;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 in which between steps 10) and 11) a second, dynamic time correction equal to the normal moveout appropriate to the region of said prospecting is introduced into each of said set of waves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 in which between steps 10) and 11) a plurality of second, dynamic time corrections (each equal to the normal moveout for a different variation of subsurface velocity with depth) is introduced into each of said traces and step 11) is repeated for each of said plurality of corrections corresponding to one of said variations of subsurface velocity with depth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
separately receiving at least near the said two receiving points and reproducibly recording the seismic waves generated in step 3) and reflected from said subsurface bed;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
separately receiving at least near the said two receiving points and reproducibly recording the seismic waves generated in step 3) and reflected from said subsurface bed;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
reproducing and compositing said received recorded seismic waves from said first and said second generating point received in each case at the near receiving point, at approximately equal average amplitude;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
reproducing and compositing said received recorded seismic waves from said first and said second generating point received in each case at the near receiving point, at approximately equal average amplitude;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 2 in which said mean reflection time is chosen from only reflections of good quality from a reflecting stratum of low curvature.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
63 words
repeating steps 1) to 5) inclusive, employing new generating and new receiving stations, while maintaining (a) substantially the same distance from each generating point to the near receiving points used in steps 2) and 3), and (b) substantially the same midpoint between the two new generating points and far receivers as was defined by the first two generating points and corresponding far receivers;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
repeating steps 1) to 5) inclusive, employing new generating and new receiving stations, while maintaining (a) substantially the same distance from each generating point to the near receiving points used in steps 2) and 3), and (b) substantially the same midpoint between the two new generating points and far receivers as was defined by the first two generating points and corresponding far receivers;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
producing a first visual image of each of the said composited received waves as one seismic trace of a plurality of such traces in side-by-side relation;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
producing a first visual image of each of the said composited received waves as one seismic trace of a plurality of such traces in side-by-side relation;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
introducing such a static correction into each such composited trace as produces substantially time alignment of said traces at a mean reflection time on said traces, whereby such correction for each such trace is directly related to the two locations of generation points used in producing such trace;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
introducing such a static correction into each such composited trace as produces substantially time alignment of said traces at a mean reflection time on said traces, whereby such correction for each such trace is directly related to the two locations of generation points used in producing such trace;
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
reproducing and compositing at approximately equal average amplitude said received recorded seismic waves from said first and said second generating point received in each case at the far receiving point, in the steps 1) to 6);
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
reproducing and compositing at approximately equal average amplitude said received recorded seismic waves from said first and said second generating point received in each case at the far receiving point, in the steps 1) to 6);
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
introducing the same static correction into each composited set of waves in step 9) as that already introduced in step 8) for the same location of the two generating points involved in step 8) respectively; and
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
introducing the same static correction into each composited set of waves in step 9) as that already introduced in step 8) for the same location of the two generating points involved in step 8) respectively; and
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
making a second visual image derived from each composited set of waves from step 10) after introduction of the appropriate static corrections, in the form of side-by-side seismic tRaces.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
making a second visual image derived from each composited set of waves from step 10) after introduction of the appropriate static corrections, in the form of side-by-side seismic tRaces.
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) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |