← Back to Patent Explorer
US4295213A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Composite seismic signal

Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
•
Filing: 1979-10-09
•
Granted: 1981-10-13
•
Expires: 1999-10-09
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract This invention provides for transmission of composite swept sine wave seismic signals wherein auto-correlation side lobes of such signals are reduced. The frequency spectrum of a desired swept sine wave seismic signal is divided into a number of consecutive segments, and the segments are arranged to form a sequence of segments by the order of frequency content. Component swept sine wave seismic signals each covering a segment in the sequence are generated simultaneously from the same location to produce the desired seismic signal. The component swept sine wave seismic signals are generated in a manner so that they alternate as upsweeps and downsweeps for consecutive segments in the sequence of segments. The seismic signal comprising the sum of the component swept sine wave seismic signals will have an auto-correlation function with reduced side lobes. Alternatively, the component swept sine wave seismic signals may be generated successively from the same location in a manner so that they alternate as upsweeps and downsweeps for consecutive segments in the sequence of segments. The reflections are successively recorded and stacked prior to correlation with the sum of the component swept sine wave seismic signals. Used in this manner, the sum of the component swept sine wave seismic signals will also have an auto-correlation function with reduced side lobes.

Inventors

  • 👤 Joseph F. Mifsud

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 03:09
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/003; G01V1/005

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 158 words
A method of generating a seismic signal of selected frequency content comprising: generating simultaneously from substantially the same location a plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals covering selected frequency segments within the frequency spectrum of said seismic signal of selected frequency content wherein said selected frequency segments do not substantially overlap in frequency content, said plurality of component swept since wave seismic signals including at least two signals substantially covering two of said frequency segments which are substantially contiguous in frequency content, the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering one of said two frequency segments sweeping in an ascending order of frequency and the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering the other of said two frequency segments sweeping in a descending order of frequency; and correlating the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals with the sum of the reflections of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 158 words
A method of generating a seismic signal of selected frequency content comprising: generating simultaneously from substantially the same location a plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals covering selected frequency segments within the frequency spectrum of said seismic signal of selected frequency content wherein said selected frequency segments do not substantially overlap in frequency content, said plurality of component swept since wave seismic signals including at least two signals substantially covering two of said frequency segments which are substantially contiguous in frequency content, the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering one of said two frequency segments sweeping in an ascending order of frequency and the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering the other of said two frequency segments sweeping in a descending order of frequency; and correlating the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals with the sum of the reflections of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 146 words
A method of generating seismic signals, comprising: selecting a plurality of substantially nonoverlapping frequency segments; generating simultaneously from substantially the same location a plurality of swept sine wave seismic signals so that each of said plurality of frequency segments is substantially covered by at least one of said plurality of swept sine wave seismic signals, and so that for two frequency segments contiguous in frequency content among said plurality of frequency segments, the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering one of said two frequency segments sweeps in an ascending order of frequency, and the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering the other of said two frequency segments sweeps in a descending order of frequency; and correlating the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals with the sum of the reflections of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 146 words
A method of generating seismic signals, comprising: selecting a plurality of substantially nonoverlapping frequency segments; generating simultaneously from substantially the same location a plurality of swept sine wave seismic signals so that each of said plurality of frequency segments is substantially covered by at least one of said plurality of swept sine wave seismic signals, and so that for two frequency segments contiguous in frequency content among said plurality of frequency segments, the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering one of said two frequency segments sweeps in an ascending order of frequency, and the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering the other of said two frequency segments sweeps in a descending order of frequency; and correlating the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals with the sum of the reflections of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 150 words
A method of generating seismic signals to investigate subsurface structures, comprising: selecting a plurality of substantially nonoverlapping frequency segments; generating successively from substantially the same location a plurality of swept sine wave seismic signals so that each of said plurality of frequency segments is substantially covered by at least one of said plurality of swept sine wave seismic signals, and so that for two frequency segments contiguous in frequency content among said plurality of frequency segments, the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering one of said two frequency segments sweeps in an ascending order of frequency, and the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering the other of said two frequency segments sweeps in a descending order of frequency; and correlating the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals with the sum of the reflections of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 150 words
A method of generating seismic signals to investigate subsurface structures, comprising: selecting a plurality of substantially nonoverlapping frequency segments; generating successively from substantially the same location a plurality of swept sine wave seismic signals so that each of said plurality of frequency segments is substantially covered by at least one of said plurality of swept sine wave seismic signals, and so that for two frequency segments contiguous in frequency content among said plurality of frequency segments, the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering one of said two frequency segments sweeps in an ascending order of frequency, and the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering the other of said two frequency segments sweeps in a descending order of frequency; and correlating the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals with the sum of the reflections of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 160 words
A method of generating a seismic signal of selected frequency content to investigate subsurface structures comprising: generating successively from substantially the same location a plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals covering selected frequency segments within the frequency spectrum of said seismic signal of selected frequency content wherein said selected frequency segments do not substantially overlap in frequency content, said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals including at least two signals substantially covering two frequency segments which are substantially contiguous in frequency content, the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering one of said two frequency segments sweeping in an ascending order of frequency and the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering the other of said two frequency segments sweeping in a descending order of frequency; and correlating the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals with the sum of the reflections of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 160 words
A method of generating a seismic signal of selected frequency content to investigate subsurface structures comprising: generating successively from substantially the same location a plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals covering selected frequency segments within the frequency spectrum of said seismic signal of selected frequency content wherein said selected frequency segments do not substantially overlap in frequency content, said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals including at least two signals substantially covering two frequency segments which are substantially contiguous in frequency content, the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering one of said two frequency segments sweeping in an ascending order of frequency and the swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering the other of said two frequency segments sweeping in a descending order of frequency; and correlating the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals with the sum of the reflections of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 109 words
A method of generating seismic signals having frequencies over a selected frequency spectrum, comprising: dividing said selected frequency spectrum into a plurality of consecutive segments; generating simultaneously from each of a plurality of vibratory sources placed in close proximity, a component swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering a different one of said plurality of consecutive frequency segments, so that said component swept sine wave seismic signals alternate as upsweeps and downsweeps for consecutive segments over said frequency spectrum; and correlating the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals with the sum of the reflections of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 109 words
A method of generating seismic signals having frequencies over a selected frequency spectrum, comprising: dividing said selected frequency spectrum into a plurality of consecutive segments; generating simultaneously from each of a plurality of vibratory sources placed in close proximity, a component swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering a different one of said plurality of consecutive frequency segments, so that said component swept sine wave seismic signals alternate as upsweeps and downsweeps for consecutive segments over said frequency spectrum; and correlating the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals with the sum of the reflections of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 11
Independent Claim 126 words
A method of generating seismic signals having frequencies over a selected frequency spectrum to investigate subsurface structures, comprising: dividing said selected frequency spectrum into a plurality of consecutive segments; generating successively from at least one vibratory source placed at substantially the same location, a component swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering a different one of said plurality of consecutive frequency segments, so that said component swept sine wave seismic signals alternate as upsweeps and downsweeps for consecutive segments over said frequency spectrum; recording the reflection of each of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals from the subsurface structures so that said reflections are stacked; and correlating the stacked reflections with the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 12
Independent Claim 126 words
A method of generating seismic signals having frequencies over a selected frequency spectrum to investigate subsurface structures, comprising: dividing said selected frequency spectrum into a plurality of consecutive segments; generating successively from at least one vibratory source placed at substantially the same location, a component swept sine wave seismic signal substantially covering a different one of said plurality of consecutive frequency segments, so that said component swept sine wave seismic signals alternate as upsweeps and downsweeps for consecutive segments over said frequency spectrum; recording the reflection of each of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals from the subsurface structures so that said reflections are stacked; and correlating the stacked reflections with the sum of said plurality of component swept sine wave seismic signals.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 30 words
A method of generating seismic signals as in claims 5 or 6, wherein said selected frequency spectrum has two ends and extends continuously from one end to the other end.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 23 words
A method of generating seismic signals as in claims 5 or 6, wherein said selected frequency spectrum has at least one gap therein.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

SU195138A1 Cited
US3332511A Cited
US3326320A Cited
DE1913875A1 Cited
US3885225A Cited
US4159463A Cited
US4014403A Cited
US4037190A Cited
FR2338499A1 Cited
US4156876A Cited
DE2728373A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-10-12 1985-04-13 1985-10-13 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-10-12 1989-04-13 1989-10-13 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-10-12 1993-04-13 1993-10-13 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag