Patent US3638176A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3638176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Seismic diffraction scan
Assignee: Marathon Oil Co
•
Filing: 1970-01-05
•
Granted: 1972-01-25
•
Expires: 1990-01-05
Abstract
Abstract Diffractive elements which are reported by acoustical waves in seismic exploration can be defined by a process wherein seismic traces from a plurality of seismic receivers are shifted by T (T the travel time from a particular acoustical wave source to a diffractive element and thence to a particular seismic receiver), whereupon the seismic traces are added and the summation of the added seismic traces is indicative of the diffractive power of each diffractive element. The invention further comprises the shifting of seismic traces produced by a plurality of receivers by T and thence adding cross-correlations (the product of multiplying one member of a pair of seismic traces by the other member of the pair) among pairs of seismic traces wherein the summation is indicative of the diffractive power of each diffractive element.
Inventors
- 👤 James E White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:31
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/28; G01V1/30; G01V1/306
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
In a process for geophysical exploration wherein various discontinuous diffractive elements having various diffractive powers which can be indicated by adding or cross-correllating the traces diffracted by each such diffractive element are reported by acoustical waves transmitted from a source to the element and thence to the receiver, the improvement comprising in combination, (a) producing for a given diffractive element a plurality of seismic traces by a plurality of combinations of sources and receivers, (b) shifting each trace by the wave travel time from a particular source to the diffractive element and thence to the particular receiver said travel time being represented by approximately the following formula: wherein T is the total time of travel from a source of acoustical waves at point A to a diffractive element at point B and thence to an acoustic wave receiver at point C; AD is the distance between the source and that point on the surface which is directly above the diffractive element, at D; V is the velocity of an acoustical wave; Tv is the travel time of an acoustical wave from the diffractive element at point B to point D and CD is the distance between the surface point D and the seismic receiver located at point C, (c) adding the shifted seismic traces to obtain a summation trace indicative of the diffractive power of the diffractive element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
In a process for geophysical exploration wherein various discontinuous diffractive elements having various diffractive powers which can be indicated by adding or cross-correllating the traces diffracted by each such diffractive element are reported by acoustical waves transmitted from a source to the element and thence to the receiver, the improvement comprising in combination, (a) producing for a given diffractive element a plurality of seismic traces by a plurality of combinations of sources and receivers, (b) shifting each trace by the wave travel time from a particular source to the diffractive element and thence to the particular receiver said travel time being represented by approximately the following formula: wherein T is the total time of travel from a source of acoustical waves at point A to a diffractive element at point B and thence to an acoustic wave receiver at point C; AD is the distance between the source and that point on the surface which is directly above the diffractive element, at D; V is the velocity of an acoustical wave; Tv is the travel time of an acoustical wave from the diffractive element at point B to point D and CD is the distance between the surface point D and the seismic receiver located at point C, (c) adding the shifted seismic traces to obtain a summation trace indicative of the diffractive power of the diffractive element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
224 words
In a process for geophysical exploration wherein various discontinuous diffractive elements having various diffractive powers which can be indicated by adding or cross-correlating the traces diffracted by each such diffractive element are reported by acoustical waves transmitted from a source to the element and thence to the receiver, the improvement comprising in combination, (a) producing for a given diffractive element a plurality of seismic traces by a plurality of combinations of sources and receivers, (b) shifting each trace by the acoustical wave travel time from a particular source to the diffractive element and thence to the particular receiver, said travel time being represented by approximately the following formula: wherein T is the total time of travel from a source of acoustical waves to a diffractive element and thence to an acoustic wave receiver; AD is the distance between the source and that point on the surface directly above the diffractive element; V is the velocity of the wave; Tv is the travel time of the acoustical wave from the diffractive element to that point directly above the diffractive element and CD is the distance between the acoustic wAve receiver and that point directly above the diffractive element, (c) correlating selected pairs of shifted seismic traces, and (d) adding the correlations to obtain a summation trace indicative of the diffractive power of the diffractive element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
224 words
In a process for geophysical exploration wherein various discontinuous diffractive elements having various diffractive powers which can be indicated by adding or cross-correlating the traces diffracted by each such diffractive element are reported by acoustical waves transmitted from a source to the element and thence to the receiver, the improvement comprising in combination, (a) producing for a given diffractive element a plurality of seismic traces by a plurality of combinations of sources and receivers, (b) shifting each trace by the acoustical wave travel time from a particular source to the diffractive element and thence to the particular receiver, said travel time being represented by approximately the following formula: wherein T is the total time of travel from a source of acoustical waves to a diffractive element and thence to an acoustic wave receiver; AD is the distance between the source and that point on the surface directly above the diffractive element; V is the velocity of the wave; Tv is the travel time of the acoustical wave from the diffractive element to that point directly above the diffractive element and CD is the distance between the acoustic wAve receiver and that point directly above the diffractive element, (c) correlating selected pairs of shifted seismic traces, and (d) adding the correlations to obtain a summation trace indicative of the diffractive power of the diffractive element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sources and the plurality of receivers are aligned in a straight line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 3 wherein at least one off-line source is utilized to produce seismic traces which are indicative of the lateral position of the diffractive element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 2 wherein the plurality of sources and the plurality of receivers are aligned in a straight line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 5 wherein at least one off-line source is utilized to produce seismic traces which are indicative of the lateral position of the diffractive element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3040833A
Cited
US3472334A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-24 | 1975-07-26 | 1976-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-24 | 1979-07-26 | 1980-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-24 | 1983-07-26 | 1984-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |