US4935903A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reinforcement of surface seismic wavefields
Assignee: Westerngeco LLC
•
Filing: 1989-08-25
•
Granted: 1990-06-19
•
Expires: 2009-08-25
Abstract
Abstract A marine seismic reflection prospecting system attenuates coherent noise through reinforcement of primary reflection data by the addition of corrected ghost reflection data. The system includes a seismic energy source, a detector, a wavefield separator, a time-shift element, and an element for generating an output signal representative of an additive linear combination of time-aligned primary and ghost signal components. The system's output is suitable for further pre-stack processing, e.g., NMO correction.
Inventors
- 👤 Joe I. Sanders
- 👤 Edward L. Shuck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/38; G01V1/3808; G01V1/28; G01V1/36; G01V1/364; G01V2210/00; G01V2210/30; G01V2210/32; G01V2210/324; G01V2210/3246
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
An improved system for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, comprising A. energy source means for generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B B. detection means for detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. wavefield separation means coupled to said detection means and responsive to said resultant seismic wave-representative signal for generating (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shift means coupled with said wavefield separation means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, and E. signal enhancement means coupled to said wavefield separation means for generating an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal representative of an additive linear combination of said first and second time-aligned signals, thus attenuating coherent noise in said resultant seismic wave-representative signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
An improved system for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, comprising A. energy source means for generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B B. detection means for detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. wavefield separation means coupled to said detection means and responsive to said resultant seismic wave-representative signal for generating (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shift means coupled with said wavefield separation means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, and E. signal enhancement means coupled to said wavefield separation means for generating an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal representative of an additive linear combination of said first and second time-aligned signals, thus attenuating coherent noise in said resultant seismic wave-representative signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said time-shift means comprises A. geometric analysis means for generating a signal representative of a time associated with travel of said resultant seismic wave between said detection means and a surface of said water, and B. means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of said travel-associated signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system according to claim 1, wherein said time-shift means includes A. cross correlation means for generating a signal representative of a cross correlation of said first and second signal components, and B. means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of a selected maximization of said crosscorrelation-representative signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said detection means comprises a plurality of vertically-spaced seismic detectors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said detection means comprises A. pressure detector means for detecting a pressure wave associated with propagation of said resultant seismic wave through said water and for generating a signal representative thereof, and B. velocity detector means for detecting a particle velocity of said water associated with propagation of said resultant seismic wave therethrough and for generating a signal representative thereof, said velocity detector means being positioned in close proximity to said pressure detector.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
A system according to claim 3, wherein said wavefield separation means includes A. means for generating said first signal component to be representative of substantially upward propagation of said seismic wave through said water, and B. means for generating said second signal component to be representative of substantially downward propagation of said resultant seismic wave through said water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 3 wherein said signal enhancement means includes means for deriving said enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal in the angle of emergence domain.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
244 words
An improved system for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, comprising A. energy source means for generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B. detection means for detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. wavefield separation means coupled to said detection means and responsive to said resultant seismic wave-representative signal for generating (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shift means coupled with said wavefield separation means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, said time-shift means including (i) geometric analysis means for generating a signal representative of a time associated with travel of said resultant seismic wave between said detection means and a surface of said water, (ii) means coupled with said geometric analysis means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of said travel-associated signal; and E. signal enhancement means coupled to said wavefield separation means for generating an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal representative of an additive linear combination of said first and second time-aligned signals, thus attenuating coherent noise in said detected resultant seismic wave representative signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
244 words
An improved system for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, comprising A. energy source means for generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B. detection means for detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. wavefield separation means coupled to said detection means and responsive to said resultant seismic wave-representative signal for generating (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shift means coupled with said wavefield separation means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, said time-shift means including (i) geometric analysis means for generating a signal representative of a time associated with travel of said resultant seismic wave between said detection means and a surface of said water, (ii) means coupled with said geometric analysis means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of said travel-associated signal; and E. signal enhancement means coupled to said wavefield separation means for generating an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal representative of an additive linear combination of said first and second time-aligned signals, thus attenuating coherent noise in said detected resultant seismic wave representative signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
An improved method for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, comprising A. generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata beneath said water, B. detecting a resultant seismic wave travelling through said water and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. separating said resultant seismic wave into (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, and E. additively linearly combining said first and second time-aligned signals to generate an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal and, thus, attenuating coherent noise in said resultant seismic wave-representative signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
146 words
An improved method for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, comprising A. generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata beneath said water, B. detecting a resultant seismic wave travelling through said water and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. separating said resultant seismic wave into (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, and E. additively linearly combining said first and second time-aligned signals to generate an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal and, thus, attenuating coherent noise in said resultant seismic wave-representative signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said time-shifting step comprise the steps of A. generating a signal representative of a time associated with travel of said resultant seismic wave between said detection means and a surface of said water, and B. time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of said travel path-associated signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said time-shifting step comprises the steps of A. generating a signal representative of a crosscorrelation of said first and second signal components, and B. time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of a selected maximization of said crosscorrelation-representative signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said detecting step comprises the step detecting said resultant seismic wave with a plurality of vertically-spaced seismic detectors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said detecting step comprises the steps of A. detecting a pressure wave associated with propagation of said resultant seismic wave through said water and for generating a signal representative thereof, and B. detecting a particle velocity of said water associated with propagation of said resultant seismic wave therethrough and for generating a signal representative thereof, said velocity detector means being positioned in close Proximity to said pressure detector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said wavefield separating step includes the steps of A. generating said first signal component to be representative of substantially upward propagation of said seismic wave through said water, and B. generating said second signal component to be representative of substantially downward propagation of said resultant seismic wave through said water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said enhanced pre-stack seismic signal generating step includes the step of deriving said enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal in the angle of emergence domain.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
200 words
An improved method for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, comprising the steps of A. generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B. detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. separating said resultant seismic wave into (i) a first signal component representative of Propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a second direction through said water, and generating signals representative thereof, D. time-shifting said first and second signal component relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, said time-shifting step including the steps of (i) generating a signal representative of time associated with travel of said seismic wave between said detection means and a surface of said water, (ii) time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of said travel-associated signal; and E. additively linearly combining said first and second time-aligned signals to generate an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal and, thus, to attenuate coherent noise in said detected resultant seismic signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
200 words
An improved method for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, comprising the steps of A. generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B. detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. separating said resultant seismic wave into (i) a first signal component representative of Propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a second direction through said water, and generating signals representative thereof, D. time-shifting said first and second signal component relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, said time-shifting step including the steps of (i) generating a signal representative of time associated with travel of said seismic wave between said detection means and a surface of said water, (ii) time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of said travel-associated signal; and E. additively linearly combining said first and second time-aligned signals to generate an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal and, thus, to attenuate coherent noise in said detected resultant seismic signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
205 words
An improved system for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, said system being free of filter means including a deconvolution operation for changing the frequency content of any one of pressure-detecting and velocity-detecting elements, said system comprising A. energy source means for generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B. detection means for detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. wavefield separation means coupled to said detection means and responsive to said resultant seismic wave-representative signal for generating (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shift means coupled with said wavefield separation means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, and E. signal enhancement means coupled to said wavefield separation means for generating an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal representative of an additive linear combination of said first and second time-aligned signals, thus attenuating coherent noise in said resultant seismic wave-representative signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
205 words
An improved system for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, said system being free of filter means including a deconvolution operation for changing the frequency content of any one of pressure-detecting and velocity-detecting elements, said system comprising A. energy source means for generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B. detection means for detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. wavefield separation means coupled to said detection means and responsive to said resultant seismic wave-representative signal for generating (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shift means coupled with said wavefield separation means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, and E. signal enhancement means coupled to said wavefield separation means for generating an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal representative of an additive linear combination of said first and second time-aligned signals, thus attenuating coherent noise in said resultant seismic wave-representative signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
285 words
An improved system for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, said system being free of filter means including a deconvolution operation having a predetermined amount of white noise added to the zero lag of the autocorrelation for changing the frequency content of any one of pressure-detecting and velocity-detecting elements, said system comprising A. energy source means for generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B. detection means for detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. wavefield separation means coupled to said detection means and responsive to said resultant seismic wave-representative signal for generating (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shift means coupled with said wavefield separation means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, said time-shift means including (i) geometric analysis means for generating a signal representative of a time associated with travel of said resultant seismic wave between said detection means and a surface of said water, (ii) means coupled with said geometric analysis means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of said travel-associated signal; and E. signal enhancement means coupled to said wavefield separation means for generating an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal representative of an additive linear combination of said first and second time-aligned signals, thus attenuating coherent noise in said detected resultant seismic wave representative signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
285 words
An improved system for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, said system being free of filter means including a deconvolution operation having a predetermined amount of white noise added to the zero lag of the autocorrelation for changing the frequency content of any one of pressure-detecting and velocity-detecting elements, said system comprising A. energy source means for generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B. detection means for detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. wavefield separation means coupled to said detection means and responsive to said resultant seismic wave-representative signal for generating (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shift means coupled with said wavefield separation means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, said time-shift means including (i) geometric analysis means for generating a signal representative of a time associated with travel of said resultant seismic wave between said detection means and a surface of said water, (ii) means coupled with said geometric analysis means for time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of said travel-associated signal; and E. signal enhancement means coupled to said wavefield separation means for generating an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal representative of an additive linear combination of said first and second time-aligned signals, thus attenuating coherent noise in said detected resultant seismic wave representative signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
175 words
An improved method for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, said method being free of filter means including a deconvolution operation for changing the frequency content of any one of pressure-detecting and velocity-detecting elements, said method comprising the steps of A. generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata beneath said water, B. detecting a resultant seismic wave travelling through said water and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. separating said resultant seismic wave into (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, and E. additively linearly combining said first and second time-aligned signals to generate an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal and, thus, attenuating coherent noise in said resultant seismic wave-representative signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
175 words
An improved method for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, said method being free of filter means including a deconvolution operation for changing the frequency content of any one of pressure-detecting and velocity-detecting elements, said method comprising the steps of A. generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata beneath said water, B. detecting a resultant seismic wave travelling through said water and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. separating said resultant seismic wave into (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said seismic wave in a second direction through said water, D. time-shifting said first and second signal components relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, and E. additively linearly combining said first and second time-aligned signals to generate an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal and, thus, attenuating coherent noise in said resultant seismic wave-representative signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
241 words
An improved method for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, said method being free of filter means including a deconvolution operation having a predetermined amount of white noise added to the zero lag of the autocorrelation for changing the frequency content of any one of pressure-detecting and velocity-detecting elements, said method comprising the steps of A. generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B. detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. separating said resultant seismic wave into (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a second direction through said water, and generating signals representative thereof, D. time-shifting said first and second signal component relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, said time-shifting step including the steps of (i) generating a signal representative of time associated with travel of said seismic wave between said detection means and a surface of said water, (ii) time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of said travel-associated signal; and E. additively linearly combining said first and second time-aligned signals to generate an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal and, thus, to attenuate coherent noise in said detected resultant seismic signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
241 words
An improved method for generating pre-stack seismic reflection data for use in geophysical prospecting of water covered areas, said method being free of filter means including a deconvolution operation having a predetermined amount of white noise added to the zero lag of the autocorrelation for changing the frequency content of any one of pressure-detecting and velocity-detecting elements, said method comprising the steps of A. generating a seismic wave for reflection from earth strata, B. detecting a resultant seismic wave and for generating a signal representative thereof, C. separating said resultant seismic wave into (i) a first signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a first direction through said water, (ii) a second signal component representative of propagation of said resultant seismic wave in a second direction through said water, and generating signals representative thereof, D. time-shifting said first and second signal component relative one another and for generating, respectively, first and second time-aligned signals representative thereof, said time-shifting step including the steps of (i) generating a signal representative of time associated with travel of said seismic wave between said detection means and a surface of said water, (ii) time-shifting said first and second signal components relative to one another as a function of said travel-associated signal; and E. additively linearly combining said first and second time-aligned signals to generate an enhanced pre-stack seismic wave signal and, thus, to attenuate coherent noise in said detected resultant seismic signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-18 | 1993-12-18 | 1994-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-18 | 1997-12-18 | 1998-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-18 | 2001-12-18 | 2002-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |