Method for bin, moveout correction and stack of offset vertical seismic profile data in media with dip

Claim 1

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in a borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver or receiving vertical seismic profile data from acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface horizontally offset from a borehole containing an acoustic pulse generator causing acoustic pulses reflected by said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data according to the following bin range criteria; ##EQU81## where η=angle of dip for said media, x=horizontal coordinate of VSP reflection loci, x s =source-wellhead offset distance on the surface, z G =the depth of the geophone in a borehole, k=geophones 1, 2, . . . , k, and p=shotpoints 1, 2, . . . , p; (c) placing said received vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver common reflection point bins determining a normal incidence two-way reflector time for said dipping media to provide boundaries for the time intervals of said zero source receiver common reflection point bins; (d) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (e) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins; and (f) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.

Claim 2

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in a borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver or receiving vertical seismic profile data from acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface horizontally offset from a borehole containing an acoustic pulse generator causing acoustic pulses reflected by said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data according to the following bin range criteria; ##EQU81## where η=angle of dip for said media, x=horizontal coordinate of VSP reflection loci, x s =source-wellhead offset distance on the surface, z G =the depth of the geophone in a borehole, k=geophones 1, 2, . . . , k, and p=shotpoints 1, 2, . . . , p; (c) placing said received vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver common reflection point bins determining a normal incidence two-way reflector time for said dipping media to provide boundaries for the time intervals of said zero source receiver common reflection point bins; (d) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (e) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins; and (f) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.

Claim 4

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in a borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver or receiving vertical seismic profile data from acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface horizontally offset from a borehole containing an acoustic pulse generator causing acoustic pulses reflected by said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data; (c) determining a normal incidence two-way reflector time for said dipping media to provide boundaries for the time intervals of said zero source receiver common reflection point bins; (d) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (e) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins; and (f) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.

Claim 5

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in a borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver or receiving vertical seismic profile data from acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface horizontally offset from a borehole containing an acoustic pulse generator causing acoustic pulses reflected by said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data; (c) determining a normal incidence two-way reflector time for said dipping media to provide boundaries for the time intervals of said zero source receiver common reflection point bins; (d) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (e) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins; and (f) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.

Claim 7

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in a borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver or receiving vertical seismic profile data from acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface horizontally offset from a borehole containing an acoustic pulse generator causing acoustic pulses reflected by said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data; (c) determining a stacking velocity for said formation; (d) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from said acoustic pulse receiver to said surface along a path normal to aid dipping reflector; (e) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from the source to said dipping reflector along a path normal to said dipping reflector; (f) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from the source to a hypothetical reflector passing through said acoustic pulse receiver, said hypothetical reflector having the same dip angle as said dipping reflector, along a path normal to the said hypothetical reflector; (g) determining a two way zero source-receiver travel time; (h) determining a data set corresponding to said vertical seismic profile and placing said data set in said bins having boundaries determined by said two way zero source-receiver travel time, and (i) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (j) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins, and (k) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.

Claim 8

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in a borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver or receiving vertical seismic profile data from acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface horizontally offset from a borehole containing an acoustic pulse generator causing acoustic pulses reflected by said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receivers located on the earth's surface; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data; (c) determining a stacking velocity for said formation; (d) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from said acoustic pulse receiver to said surface along a path normal to aid dipping reflector; (e) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from the source to said dipping reflector along a path normal to said dipping reflector; (f) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from the source to a hypothetical reflector passing through said acoustic pulse receiver, said hypothetical reflector having the same dip angle as said dipping reflector, along a path normal to the said hypothetical reflector; (g) determining a two way zero source-receiver travel time; (h) determining a data set corresponding to said vertical seismic profile and placing said data set in said bins having boundaries determined by said two way zero source-receiver travel time, and (i) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (j) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins, and (k) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.

Claim 9

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking for offset vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media acquired by seismic exploration conducted with a deviated borehole comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in said deviated borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data according to the following bin range criteria; ##EQU83## where: θ=angle of dip for said media, x=horizontal coordinate of VSP reflection loci, x s =source-wellhead offset distance on the surface, z G =the depth of the geophone in a borehole, k=geophones 1, 2, . . . , k, and p=shotpoints 1, 2, . . . , p; (c) placing said received vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver common reflection point bins; (d) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (d) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (e) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins, and (f) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.

Claim 10

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking for offset vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media acquired by seismic exploration conducted with a deviated borehole comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in said deviated borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data according to the following bin range criteria; ##EQU83## where: θ=angle of dip for said media, x=horizontal coordinate of VSP reflection loci, x s =source-wellhead offset distance on the surface, z G =the depth of the geophone in a borehole, k=geophones 1, 2, . . . , k, and p=shotpoints 1, 2, . . . , p; (c) placing said received vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver common reflection point bins; (d) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (d) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (e) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins, and (f) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.

Claim 12

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking for offset vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media acquired by seismic exploration conducted with a deviated borehole comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in said deviated borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data; (c) determining a normal incidence two-way reflector time for said dipping media to provide boundaries for the time intervals of said zero source receiver common reflection point bins; (d) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (e) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins; and (f) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.

Claim 13

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking for offset vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media acquired by seismic exploration conducted with a deviated borehole comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in said deviated borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data; (c) determining a normal incidence two-way reflector time for said dipping media to provide boundaries for the time intervals of said zero source receiver common reflection point bins; (d) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (e) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins; and (f) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.

Claim 15

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking for offset vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media acquired by seismic exploration conducted with a deviated borehole comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in said deviated borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data; (c) determining a stacking velocity for said formation; (d) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from said acoustic pulse receiver located in said deviated borehole to said surface along a path normal to said dipping reflector; (e) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from the source to said dipping reflector along a path normal to said dipping reflector; (f) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from the source to a hypothetical reflector passing through said acoustic pulse receiver located in said deviated borehole, said hypothetical reflector having the same dip angle as said dipping reflector, along a path normal to the said hypothetical reflector; (g) determining a two way zero source-receiver travel time; (h) determining a data set corresponding to said vertical seismic profile data and placing in said bins having boundaries determined by said two way zero source-receiver travel time; (i) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (j) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins; and (k) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.

Claim 16

A method for binning, moveout correcting and stacking for offset vertical seismic profile data for a dipping media acquired by seismic exploration conducted with a deviated borehole comprising the steps of: (a) receiving vertical seismic profile data from an acoustic pulse receiver located in said deviated borehole beneath the earth's surface and horizontally offset from any acoustic pulse generator on the surface causing acoustic pulses reflected from said dipping media to be received by said acoustic pulse receiver; (b) selecting zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins for said received vertical seismic profile data; (c) determining a stacking velocity for said formation; (d) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from said acoustic pulse receiver located in said deviated borehole to said surface along a path normal to said dipping reflector; (e) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from the source to said dipping reflector along a path normal to said dipping reflector; (f) determining the time required for said vertical seismic profile data to propagate from the source to a hypothetical reflector passing through said acoustic pulse receiver located in said deviated borehole, said hypothetical reflector having the same dip angle as said dipping reflector, along a path normal to the said hypothetical reflector; (g) determining a two way zero source-receiver travel time; (h) determining a data set corresponding to said vertical seismic profile data and placing in said bins having boundaries determined by said two way zero source-receiver travel time; (i) moveout correcting said binned vertical seismic profile data; (j) stacking said moveout corrected vertical seismic profile data in said zero source-receiver, common reflection point bins; and (k) displaying said moveout corrected, zero source-receiver binned, vertical seismic profile data.