US4803666A — Multisource multireceiver method and system for g…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 72 words

A method for geophysical exploration of the earth's subterranean formations comprising the steps of: imparting seismic wave energy into the earth's subterranean formations with a seismic source having at least two linearly independent lines of action; and detecting at least two linearly independent components of the seismic wave energy imparted by the seismic source along each individual line of action after the seismic wave energy has interacted with the earth's subterranean formations.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 72 words

A method for geophysical exploration of the earth's subterranean formations comprising the steps of: imparting seismic wave energy into the earth's subterranean formations with a seismic source having at least two linearly independent lines of action; and detecting at least two linearly independent components of the seismic wave energy imparted by the seismic source along each individual line of action after the seismic wave energy has interacted with the earth's subterranean formations.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

Method of claim 1 wherein: the seismic wave energy is imparted with the seismic source having at least two substantially mutually perpendicular lines of action.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 1 wherein: at least two substantially mutually perpendiculwar components of the seismic wave energy imparted along each line of action are detected.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 1 wherein: at least one of the lines of action of the seismic source and at least one of the components of the seismic wave energy detected have substantially the same lines of action.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 1 wherein: at least two of the lines of action of the seismic source and at least two of the components of the seismic wave energy detected have substantially the same lines of action.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 5 wherein: the lines of action of the seismic source and the components of seismic wave energy detected are substantially mutually perpendicular.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 1, wherein: the seismic wave energy is imparted at selected locations in a seismic survey; and the seismic wave energy is detected at selected locations in the seismic survey.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 7 wherein: the seismic wave energy is imparted with the seismic source having a first line of action at every other source location; and the seismic wave energy is imparted with the seismic source having a second line of action at the balance of the alternating source locations.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 7 wherein: a first component of the seismic wave energy imparted along each line of action is detected at every other receiver location; and a second component of the seismic wave energy imparted along each line of action is detected at the balance of the receiver locations.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 1 further including the step of: forming at least one concord of seismic signals from the seismic wave energy detected.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 1 wherein: the seismic wave energy is imparted with the seismic source having linearly independent lines of action selected from the group including horizontal shear wave, vertical shear wave and compressional wave.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 1 wherein: the two linearly independent components of the seismic wave energy detected are selected from the group including horizontal shear wave, vertical shear wave and compressional wave.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 1 wherein: the seismic wave energy is independently imparted into the earth's subterranean formations along each linearly independent line of action at selected locations in a seismic survey.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 78 words

A method for a geophysical exploration of the earth's subterranean formations including the steps of: imparting shear wave seismic energy into the earth's subterranean formations with a shear wave seismic source having two linearly independent lines of action; and detecting at least two linearly independent componnets of the shear wave seismic energy imparted by the shear wave seismic source along each individual line of action after the shear wave seismic energy has interacted with the earth's subterranean formations.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 78 words

A method for a geophysical exploration of the earth's subterranean formations including the steps of: imparting shear wave seismic energy into the earth's subterranean formations with a shear wave seismic source having two linearly independent lines of action; and detecting at least two linearly independent componnets of the shear wave seismic energy imparted by the shear wave seismic source along each individual line of action after the shear wave seismic energy has interacted with the earth's subterranean formations.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 14 further including the step of: forming concords of seismic signals from the components of the shear wave seismic energy detected.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 15 further including the step of: transforming the concord of seismic signals into a synthetic concord of seismic signals.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 55 words

The method of claim 14 further including the steps of: imparting seismic energy into the earth's subterranean formations with a compressional wave seismic source having a third linearly independent line of action; and detecting horizontal shear, vertical shear and compressional components of the imparted seismic energy after it has interacted with the earth's subterranean formations.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 103 words

A method of conducting geophysical exploration of the earth's subterranean formations including the steps of: imparting seismic energy into the earth's subterranean formations at selected locations in a seismic survey with a shear wave source having SH orientation; detecting horizontal shear and vertical shear wave components of the imparted seismic energy at selected locations in the seismic survey; imparting seismic energy into the earth's subterranean formations at selected locations in the seismic survey with a shear wave source having SV orientation; and detecting horizontal shear wave and vertical shear wave components of the imparted seismic energy at selected locations in the seismic survey.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 103 words

A method of conducting geophysical exploration of the earth's subterranean formations including the steps of: imparting seismic energy into the earth's subterranean formations at selected locations in a seismic survey with a shear wave source having SH orientation; detecting horizontal shear and vertical shear wave components of the imparted seismic energy at selected locations in the seismic survey; imparting seismic energy into the earth's subterranean formations at selected locations in the seismic survey with a shear wave source having SV orientation; and detecting horizontal shear wave and vertical shear wave components of the imparted seismic energy at selected locations in the seismic survey.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 18 further including the steps of: imparting seismic energy into the earth's subterranean formations at selected locations in the seismic survey with a compressional wave source having P orientation; and detecting horizontal shear wave, vertical shear wave and compressional wave components of the imparted seismic energy at selected locations in the seismic survey.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 90 words

A method of geophysical exploration for collecting a concord of seismic signals comprising the steps of: imparting seismic wave energy into the earth's subterranean formations at selected source locations in a seismic survey with a seismic source having at least two linearly independent lines of action; and detecting at least two linearly independent components of the seismic wave energy imparted by the seismic source along each individual line of action at selected receiver locations in the seismic survey after the seismic wave energy has interacted with the earth's subterranean formations.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 90 words

A method of geophysical exploration for collecting a concord of seismic signals comprising the steps of: imparting seismic wave energy into the earth's subterranean formations at selected source locations in a seismic survey with a seismic source having at least two linearly independent lines of action; and detecting at least two linearly independent components of the seismic wave energy imparted by the seismic source along each individual line of action at selected receiver locations in the seismic survey after the seismic wave energy has interacted with the earth's subterranean formations.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 20 wherein: imparting seismic wave energy includes imparting seismic wave energy with the seismic source having at least two substantially mutually perpendicular lines of action.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 20 wherein: detecting at least two components of the imparted seismic wave energy includes detecting at least two substantially perpendicular components of the imparted seismic wave energy.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 20 wherein: at least one of the lines of action of the seismic source and at least one of the components of the seismic wave energy detected have the same orientation with respect to the seismic line of survey.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 20 wherein: at least two of the lines of action of the seismic source and at least two of the components of the received seismic wave energy detected have the same orientation with respect to the seismic line of survey.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 24 wherein: the lines of action of the seismic source and the components of the seismic wave energy detected are substantially mutually perpendicular.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 20 wherein: seismic wave energy imparted by the seismic source along two linearly independent lines of action is selected from the group including horizontal shear wave, vertical shear wave and compressional wave.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 20 wherein: the two linearly independent components of the seismic wave energy detected are selected from the group including horizontal shear wave, vertical shear wave and compressional wave.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 20 wherein the step of imparting seismic wave energy includes: independently imparting seismic wave energy into the earth's subterranean formations at selected source locations by the seismic source along each linearly independent line of action.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 95 words

A system for collecting a concord of seismic signals comprising: sets of seismic sources deployed at selected locations in a seismic survey; at least two source elements in each set of seismic sources having linearly independent lines of action for imparting seismic energy; sets of seismic receivers deployed at selected locations in the seismic survey; and at least two receiver elements in each set of seismic receivers having linearly independent lines of action, each receiver element being adapted to detect the seismic wave energy imparted by each source element in the sets of seismic sources.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 95 words

A system for collecting a concord of seismic signals comprising: sets of seismic sources deployed at selected locations in a seismic survey; at least two source elements in each set of seismic sources having linearly independent lines of action for imparting seismic energy; sets of seismic receivers deployed at selected locations in the seismic survey; and at least two receiver elements in each set of seismic receivers having linearly independent lines of action, each receiver element being adapted to detect the seismic wave energy imparted by each source element in the sets of seismic sources.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 29 wherein: the lines of action of each element in the sets of seismic receivers are substantially mutually perpendicular.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system of claim 30 wherein: the lines of action of each element in the sets of seismic receivers are substantially mutually perpendicular.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 53 words

The system of claim 29 wherein: at least one of the lines of action of the element in the sets of seismic sources and at least one of the lines of action in the element of sets of seismic receivers have substantially the same orientation with respect to the seismic line of survey.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 54 words

The system of claim 29 wherein: at least two of the lines of action for the elements in the sets of seismic receivers and at least two of the lines of action of the elements in the sets of seismic sources have substantially the same orientation with respect to the seismic line of survey.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 33 wherein: the lines of action of the elements of the sets of seismic sources and the lines of action of the element of the sets of seismic receivers are substantially mutually perpendicular.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 29 wherein: the lines of action of the elements in the sets of seismic sources are selected from the group including horizontal shear wave, vertical shear wave and compressional wave.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 29 wherein: the lines of action of the elements in the sets of seismic receivers are selected from the group including horizontal shear wave, vertical shear wave and compressional wave.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 41 words

The system of claim 29 further including: an orientation module adapted to synthetically rotate the lines of action of the elements in the sets of seismic sources and the lines of action of the elements in the sets of seismic receivers.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 37 wherein: the orientation module being adpated to synthetically rotate the lines of action of the elements in the sets of seismic sources and seismic receivers as a function of time.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system of claim 37 wherein: the orientation module is adapted to synthetically rotate the lines of action of the elements in the sets of seismic sources and seismic receivers as a function of spatial location.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 37 wherein: the orientation module being adapted to synchronously rotate the lines of action of the elements in the sets of seismic sources and seismic receivers.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 29 further including: an orientation module adapted to synthetically rotate the lines of action of the elements in the sets of seismic sources.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 29 further including: an orientation module adapted to synthetically rotate the lines of action of the elements in the sets of seismic receivers.

Claim 48

Independent Claim 134 words

A method of seismic exploration employing seismic sources s j having at least two linearly independent lines of action j with respect to a survey line and seismic receivers r i having at least two linearly independent lines of action i with respect to the survey line, comprising the steps of: imparting seismic energy into the earth with seismic sources s j ; recording the earth's respnse to the imparted seismic energy with receivers r i ; and collecting a concord of seismic signals φ ij , wherein the seismic signal φ ij represents the earth's response to the seismic energy imparted by seismic source s j and recorded by seismic receiver r i and the concord of seismic signals φ ij comprises at least the seismic signals: ______________________________________ φ.sub.11 φ.sub.12 φ.sub.21 φ.sub.22 ______________________________________

Claim 49

Independent Claim 134 words

A method of seismic exploration employing seismic sources s j having at least two linearly independent lines of action j with respect to a survey line and seismic receivers r i having at least two linearly independent lines of action i with respect to the survey line, comprising the steps of: imparting seismic energy into the earth with seismic sources s j ; recording the earth's respnse to the imparted seismic energy with receivers r i ; and collecting a concord of seismic signals φ ij , wherein the seismic signal φ ij represents the earth's response to the seismic energy imparted by seismic source s j and recorded by seismic receiver r i and the concord of seismic signals φ ij comprises at least the seismic signals: ______________________________________ φ.sub.11 φ.sub.12 φ.sub.21 φ.sub.22 ______________________________________

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 43 wherein the step of collecting a concord of seismic signals φ ij comprises collecting the seismic signals: ______________________________________ φ.sub.11 φ.sub.12 φ.sub.13 φ.sub.21 φ.sub.22 φ.sub.23 φ.sub.31 φ.sub.32 φ.sub.33 ______________________________________

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 43 further including the step of producing a synthetic concord of seismic signals φ cm from the concord of seismic signals φ ij .

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 69 words

The method of claim 45 wherein the step of producing a synthetic concord of seismic signals φ cm comprises rotating the concord of seismic signals φ ij according to: C.sub.ci (φ.sub.ij)M.sub.jm =φ.sub.cm where C ci is an operator for synthetically rotating the lines of action of the receivers r i and M jm is an operator for synthetically rotating the lines of action of the source s j .

Claim 53

Independent Claim 123 words

A method of processing a concord of seismic signals φ ij collected from imparting seismic energy into the earth with a seismic source s j having at least two linearly independent lines of action j and recording the earth's response with seismic receivers r i having at least two linearly independent lines of action i, comprising the steps of: operating on the concord of seismic signals φ ij to form a synthetic concord of seismic signals φ cm with an orientation module, wherein the orientation module includes a receiver operator C ci for synthetically rotating the lines of action of the receiver r i and a source operator M jm for synthetically rotating the lines of action of the source s j .

Claim 54

Independent Claim 123 words

A method of processing a concord of seismic signals φ ij collected from imparting seismic energy into the earth with a seismic source s j having at least two linearly independent lines of action j and recording the earth's response with seismic receivers r i having at least two linearly independent lines of action i, comprising the steps of: operating on the concord of seismic signals φ ij to form a synthetic concord of seismic signals φ cm with an orientation module, wherein the orientation module includes a receiver operator C ci for synthetically rotating the lines of action of the receiver r i and a source operator M jm for synthetically rotating the lines of action of the source s j .

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 68 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the orientation module operates on the concord of seismic signals φ ij to form a synthetic concord of seismic signals according to: C.sub.ci (φ.sub.ij)M.sub.jm =φ.sub.cm where C ci is the receiver operator for synthetically rotating the lines of action of receivers r i and M jm is the source operator for synthetically rotating the lines of action of sources s j .

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 47 further including varying operators C ci and M jm as a function of time.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method of claim 47 further including varying operators C ci and M jm as a function of spatial location.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the concord of seismic signals φ ij are common depth point gathers of seismic signals.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the concord of seismic signals φ ij are common depth point stacks of seismic signals.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the step of operating on the concord of seismic signals φ ij includes: synthetically rotating only the lines of action of at least one seismic source s j with the source operator M jm .

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the step of operating on the seismic signals φ ij includes: synthetically rotating only the lines of action of at least one sesimic receiver r i with the receiver operator C ci .

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the step of operating on the concord seismic signal φ ij includes: synthetically rotating the lines of action of the seismic sources s j with the source operator M jm as a function of time.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the step of operating on the concord seismic signals φ ij includes: synthetically rotating the lines of action of the seismic sources s j with the seismic source operator M jm as a function of spatial location in a seismic survey.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the step of operating on the concord seismic signal φ ij includes: synthetically rotating the lines of action of the seismic receivers r i with the receiver operator C ci as a function of time.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the step of operating on the concord seismic signal φ ij includes: synthetically rotating the lines of action of the seismic receivers r i with the receiver operator C ci as a function of spatial location in a seismic survey.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the step of operating on the concord seismic signal φ ij includes: operating on a concord of stacked seismic signals and obtaining a synthetic concord of stacked seismic signals.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the step of operating on the concord seismic signal φ ij includes: operating on a concord of gathers of seismic signals and obtaining a synthetic concord of gathers of seismic signals.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 86 words

The method of claim 47 for processing a concord of seismic signals acquired along a curvilinear seismic survey line includes the steps of: synthetically rotating the lines of action of the seismic receivers r i and seismic sources s j with the source operator M jm and the receiver operator C ci , respectively, to obtain a synthetic concord of seismic signals whereby the lines of action of the seismic sources and seismic receivers have a substantially uniform orientation with respect to the earth's horizontal surface.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 85 words

The method of claim 47 for processing a concord of seismic signals acquired along a curvilinear line of seismic survey including the steps of: synthetically rotating the lines of action of the seismic sources s j and seismic receivers r i the source operator M jm and the receiver operator C ci , respectively, to obtain a synthetic concord of seismic signals whereby lines of action of the seismic sources and seismic receivers have a substantially uniform orientation with respect to the earth's subterranean formation.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 47 further including the step of: plotting a concord of seismic sections for each seismic signal contained within the concord of seismic signals φ ij .

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 47 further including the step of: plotting a synthetic concord of seismic sections obtained from the synthetic rotation of the concord of seismic signals φ ij .

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 47 further including the step of: plotting each seismic signal of the concord of seismic signals φ ij as seismic sections adjacent one another.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 47 further including the step of: plotting seismic sections of the concord of seismic signals φ ij for a plurality of incremental angles of rotation of the lines of action of the seismic sources and seismic receivers.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the step of operating on a concord of seismic signals φ ij includes: synthetically rotating the lines of action of the seismic receivers r i with the receiver operator C ci for a plurality of incremental angles of rotation.

Claim 75

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of claim 47 wherein the step of operating on a concord of seismic signals φ ij includes: synthetically rotating the lines of action of the seismic sources s j with the source operator M jm for a plurality of incremental angles of rotation.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1992-02-07	1992-08-08	1993-02-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1996-02-07	1996-08-08	1997-02-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2000-02-07	2000-08-08	2001-02-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multisource multireceiver method and system for geophysical exploration

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