US4592032A
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US
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Methods of processing geophysical data and displays of geophysical data
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1984-05-24
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Granted: 1986-05-27
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Expires: 2004-05-24
Abstract
Abstract Seismic signals are processed to determine relative location error. In a further aspect, the relative location errors are corrected and the corrected seismic signals are processed to give information on subsurface structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary M. Ruckgaber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:48
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V1/00; G01V1/28; G01V1/288; G01V1/36; G01V1/362; G01V2210/00; G01V2210/50; G01V2210/53
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for processing one or more seismic signals to determine error in specifying the locations of sources relative to receivers comprising: generating one or more first signals having a selected first time pulse event representative of assumed locations of sources relative to receivers according to a model of the assumed locations of sources relative receivers; and determining error in specifying the assumed locations of sources relative to receivers by comparing one or more of said signals with one or more seismic signals having a second time pulse event representative of the location of sources relative to receivers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
98 words
A method for processing one or more seismic signals to determine error in specifying the locations of sources relative to receivers comprising: generating one or more first signals having a selected first time pulse event representative of assumed locations of sources relative to receivers according to a model of the assumed locations of sources relative receivers; and determining error in specifying the assumed locations of sources relative to receivers by comparing one or more of said signals with one or more seismic signals having a second time pulse event representative of the location of sources relative to receivers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein: the first time pulse event is first arrival time; and the second time pulse event is representative of the first arrival time of the one or more seismic signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein: the first time pulse event is generated according to: T=D/V where T=arrival time of signal time pulse event; D=assumed offset distance between seismic sources and receivers; and V=velocity of seismic signal time pulse event.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein: each of the one or more seismic signals has a trace header on which data representative of assumed relative locations are recorded.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as in claim 4 further comprising: correcting the data representative of the assumed relative locations in said trace header by at least one amount representative of error in specifying the locations of sources relative to receivers of a respective trace to produce a trace having corrected relative location data.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for processing one or more seismic signals to determine error in specifying the locations of sources relative to receivers comprising: generating one or more first signals having a time pulse event representative of relative location between sources and receivers according to a model of the assumed location of sources relative to receivers; placing the thus generated first signals in the respective seismic signals; and displaying the resulting set of seismic signals and first signals in a seismographic display.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for processing one or more seismic signals to determine error in specifying the locations of sources relative to receivers comprising: generating one or more first signals having a time pulse event representative of relative location between sources and receivers according to a model of the assumed location of sources relative to receivers; placing the thus generated first signals in the respective seismic signals; and displaying the resulting set of seismic signals and first signals in a seismographic display.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein: the time pulse event is first arrival time, and is representative of the first arrival time of a time pulse event on the one or more seismic signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein: the seismic signal is delayed for a predetermined interval to place a zone of zeroed signal at the start of each seismic signal; and the first signal is an electrical pulse which is inserted into said seismic signal at a time given by the model for each respective seismic signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein: each of the one or more seismic signals has a trace header on which data representative of assumed relative location are recorded.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as in claim 9 further comprising correcting the data representative of the relative location in said trace header by at least one amount representative of error in specifying the location of sources relative to receivers of a respective trace to produce a trace having corrected relative location data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 9 further comprising: further processing the one or more seismic traces to produce a seismogram representative of subsurface structure of the area being prospected.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
10 words
A display produced according to the method of claim 6.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
10 words
A display produced according to the method of claim 11.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for determining error in assumed seismic source and receiver relative locations comprising: recording a measure of the seismic source and receiver assumed absolute locations; generating a signal time pulse event representative of the seismic source and receiver assumed relative locations from said measure of the seismic source and receiver assumed absolute locations; generating a seismic signal with the receiver in response to seismic energy imparted into the earth with the seismic source having a time pulse event representative of seismic source and receiver relative locations; and determining relative location error in the seismic source and receiver assumed relative locations by comparing said signal time pulse event with said seismic signal time pulse event.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for determining error in assumed seismic source and receiver relative locations comprising: recording a measure of the seismic source and receiver assumed absolute locations; generating a signal time pulse event representative of the seismic source and receiver assumed relative locations from said measure of the seismic source and receiver assumed absolute locations; generating a seismic signal with the receiver in response to seismic energy imparted into the earth with the seismic source having a time pulse event representative of seismic source and receiver relative locations; and determining relative location error in the seismic source and receiver assumed relative locations by comparing said signal time pulse event with said seismic signal time pulse event.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of claim 14 further including: correcting said recorded measure of the assumed absolute locations of the seismic source with said relative location error.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14 further including: correcting said recorded measure of the assumed absolute locations of the seismic receiver with said relative location error.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 further including: compensating for said relative location error in seismic traces representative of the seismic signal.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for processing seismic signals to determine error in assumed locations of seismic sources relative to receivers, comprising: (a) means for generating a signal having a time pulse event representative of assumed offset distance between seismic sources and receivers according to a model of the assumed locations of seismic sources and receivers; (b) means for determining offset distance between seismic sources and receivers from seismic signals generated with the receiver in response to seismic energy imparted into the earth with the seismic source having a time pulse event representative of the offset distance between seismic sources and receivers according to the model; and (c) means for determining error in the assumed offset distance betwen seismic sources and receivers by comparing the signal time pulse event with the seismic signal time pulse event.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
133 words
An apparatus for processing seismic signals to determine error in assumed locations of seismic sources relative to receivers, comprising: (a) means for generating a signal having a time pulse event representative of assumed offset distance between seismic sources and receivers according to a model of the assumed locations of seismic sources and receivers; (b) means for determining offset distance between seismic sources and receivers from seismic signals generated with the receiver in response to seismic energy imparted into the earth with the seismic source having a time pulse event representative of the offset distance between seismic sources and receivers according to the model; and (c) means for determining error in the assumed offset distance betwen seismic sources and receivers by comparing the signal time pulse event with the seismic signal time pulse event.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein (a) comprises means for generating a signal having a time pulse event according to: T=D/V where T=arrival time of signal time pulse event; D=assumed offset distance between seismic sources and receivers; and V=velocity of seismic signal time pulse event.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein (b) comprises means for determining the offset distance between the seismic sources and receivers according to: D'=T'·V where D'=offset distance between the seismic sources and receivers; T'=arrival time of seismic signal time pulse event; and V=velocity of seismic signal time pulse event.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein (c) comprises means for determining error in the assumed offset distance between seismic sources and receivers according to: ΔD=ΔT·V where ΔD=difference in the assumed offset distance between seismic sources and receivers and D is the offset distance between seismic sources and receivers D'; and ΔT=difference in arrival times of signal time pulse event T and seismic signal time pulse event T'.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further including means for correcting the assumed offset distance according to the error determined in the assumed offset distance between seismic sources and receivers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further including means for displaying the resulting set of signal time pulse events and seismic signal time pulse events as shown in FIG. 1(b).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further including means for offsetting the signal time pulse event a predetermined amount; and means for displaying on a seismographic display the seismic signal time pulse event and the offset signal time pulse event.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-26 | 1989-11-25 | 1990-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-26 | 1993-11-25 | 1994-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-26 | 1997-11-25 | 1998-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |