Patent US6178381B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6178381B1
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Method of geophysical exploration
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1999-01-27
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Granted: 2001-01-23
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Expires: 2019-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for processing three dimensional seismic data, acquired with land-like geometies. The method comprises sorting the seismic data into single fold data sets which approximate minimal data sets and DMOing or migrating the single fold data sets to form minimal data set images. In some aspects the method further comprises sorting the minimal data set images obtained into gathers which are sorted by surface location, and also may be sorted by pseudo offset.
Inventors
- 👤 Trilochan Padhi
- 👤 Thomas Kennedy Holley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:03
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/28; G01V2210/00; G01V2210/20; G01V2210/50; G01V2210/51
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A method for processing 3D seismic data acquired with land-like geometries, the method comprising: (a) sorting the seismic data into single fold data sets which approximate minimal data sets; and (b) DMO or migrating the single fold data sets to form minimal data set images.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
45 words
A method for processing 3D seismic data acquired with land-like geometries, the method comprising: (a) sorting the seismic data into single fold data sets which approximate minimal data sets; and (b) DMO or migrating the single fold data sets to form minimal data set images.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: (c) sorting the minimal data set images obtained in step (b) into gathers by surface location; and (d) determining a residual moveout using the gathers formed in step (c).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: (c) sorting the minimal data set images obtained in step (b) into gathers by surface location and pseudo offset. (d) using the gathers formed in step (c) to update a migration velocity utilized in step (b), and repeating steps (b), (c) and (d).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2 , comprising the additional step of: (e) using the residual moveout determined in step (d) to update a migration velocity utilized in step (b), and repeating steps (b), (c) and (d).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for processing seismic data, the method comprising: (a) sorting the seismic data into single fold data sets which approximate minimal data sets; (b) migrating the single fold data sets to form minimal data set images; (c) sorting the minimal data set images obtained in step (b) into gathers by surface location and pseudo offset; and (d) determining a residual moveout using the gathers formed in step (c).
Claim 7
Independent Claim
69 words
A method for processing seismic data, the method comprising: (a) sorting the seismic data into single fold data sets which approximate minimal data sets; (b) migrating the single fold data sets to form minimal data set images; (c) sorting the minimal data set images obtained in step (b) into gathers by surface location and pseudo offset; and (d) determining a residual moveout using the gathers formed in step (c).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 5 , comprising the additional step of (e) using the residual moveout determined in step (d) to update a migration velocity utilized in step (b), and repeating steps (b), (c), and (d).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein steps (e), (b), (c), and (d) are repeated until a desired value for residual moveout is obtained.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein the final gathers from step (c) are stacked to form a final image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the seismic data was acquired using a slash cross spread acquisition geometry.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8 , comprising the additional step of tapering the seismic data in the single fold data sets prior to the single fold data sets being migrated in step (b).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 8 , comprising the additional step of infilling additional seismic data into the single fold data sets, prior to the single fold data sets being migrated in step (b).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 , comprising the additional step of filtering the single fold minimal data sets to remove organized noise.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for processing seismic data acquired using land like geometries, the method comprising: (a) acquiring a three dimensional seismic data set; (b) sorting the seismic data into single fold data sets which approximate minimal data sets; (c) migrating the single fold data sets to form minimal data set images; (d) sorting the minimal data set images obtained in step (c) into gathers by surface location and pseudo offset; and (e) determining a residual moveout using the gathers formed in step (d).
Claim 16
Independent Claim
82 words
A method for processing seismic data acquired using land like geometries, the method comprising: (a) acquiring a three dimensional seismic data set; (b) sorting the seismic data into single fold data sets which approximate minimal data sets; (c) migrating the single fold data sets to form minimal data set images; (d) sorting the minimal data set images obtained in step (c) into gathers by surface location and pseudo offset; and (e) determining a residual moveout using the gathers formed in step (d).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the seismic data was acquired using a slash cross spread acquisition geometry.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the seismic data was acquired using a rectangular patch acquisition geometry.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the seismic data was acquired using a orthogonal cross spread acquisition geometry.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for determining to what extent an acquired seismic survey, comprised of traces, each trace having a corresponding shot and receiver, can be decomposed into approximate minimal data sets, the method comprising the steps of: (a) subdividing the survey into subsets; (b) plotting the shot coordinates and receiver coordinates for each trace within a subset formed in step (a) within a four dimensional coordinate space; and (c) evaluating whether a subset formed in step (a) approximate minimal data sets.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for determining to what extent an acquired seismic survey, comprised of traces, each trace having a corresponding shot and receiver, can be decomposed into approximate minimal data sets, the method comprising the steps of: (a) subdividing the survey into subsets; (b) plotting the shot coordinates and receiver coordinates for each trace within a subset formed in step (a) within a four dimensional coordinate space; and (c) evaluating whether a subset formed in step (a) approximate minimal data sets.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein a subset approximates a minimal data set when the traces are sufficiently dense and the trace coordinates lie on a surface that undulates slowly at wavelengths long compared to the Fresnel zone.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising repeating step (b), until the coordinates for the traces within all subsets formed in step (a) have been plotted.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein step (c) is repeated until all the subsets formed in step (a) have been evaluated.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein it is determined that a subset does not approximate a minimal data set, and the method further comprises the step of: (d) acquiring additional seismic data that when used with the acquired seismic survey will result in a new seismic survey that can be decomposed into approximate minimal data sets.
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) | 2004-01-23 | 2004-07-24 | 2005-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-23 | 2008-07-24 | 2009-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-23 | 2012-07-24 | 2013-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |