Title of Invention

A SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING MARINE 3D SEISMIC DATA

Abstract The present invention discloses a system for processing marine 3D seismic data, the device comprises : a recording unit (10) on a seismic recording vessel (12) connected to a cable, the cable comprising seismic receivers, whereby a set of received data is defined ; a computer (16) for applying time migration to the received data on the seismic recording vessel (12), whereby a time-migrated data is defined ; memory (21) for storing the received data on the seismic recording vessel (12) ; and memory (23) for recording the time- migrated data on the seismic recording vessel.
Full Text Background of the Invention
This invention relates to marine seismic data acquisition and processing and
more particularly to three dimensional processing.
In acquiring three dimensional marine seismic data, equipment problems and
noise can cause unacceptable data to be received at locations along a seismic survey.
If this unacceptable data is not detected, serious quality problems in the processed
data will occur. Since many of the problems that occur during seismic data
acquisition are not detected until after the data is transported to a land-based
processing center and the seismic recording vessel has left the survey area, returning
to re-acquire the data is very time-consuming and expensive. Accordingly, there is a
need to detect errors in the data as it is being acquired.
Many of the problems cannot be detected until the raw data received from the
seismic receivers is migrated or imaged. As conducted currently and in the past, this
is a very time-intensive process. Much discussion among those published in the area
revolves around dealing with the inaccuracy of using time migration and the need to
perform accurate velocity analysis in order to have well-imaged data.
Velocity analysis is known to be a time consuming iterative process, requiring
some months of work to perform. As noted, the velocity analysis requires a starting
assumption for. the work, which is revised after the person conducting the velocity
analysis sees a set of migrated data. This need to see migrated data before being able
to conduct proper velocity analysis makes the iterative process quite long.
Additionally, interpretation of data, independent of velocity analysis and depth
migration, currently must wait for depth migration. Since the time from acquisition to
fully migrated data is about three to four months, the seismic data is not available in
time to modify drilling or production activities in the acquisition area.
Accordingly, there is a need for a more real-time method of reviewing the
quality of data and to reduce the number of iterations needed in velocity analysis
before performing depth migration, as well as to provide a real-time interpretation
tool for drilling and field management.
Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to address the above-described
needs. It has been found that, rather then merely recording raw data on the
seismic vessel for processing on shore, the performance of certain
processing on the vessel at a particular time addresses the problems.
Specifically, performing pre-stack time migration on raw data as it is being
recorded on a seismic ship provides the information needed for quality control
of the acquisition process, as well as providing a starting point for velocity
analysis in preparation for later depth migration.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for processing
marine 3D seismic data, the device comprising :
a recording unit on a seismic recording vessel connected to a cable,
the cable comprising seismic receivers, whereby a set of received data is
defined ;
a computer for applying time migration to the received data on the
seismic recording vessel, whereby a time-migrated data is defined ;
memory for storing the received data on the seismic recording vessel ;
and
memory for recording the time-migrated data on the seismic recording
vessel.
In one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for processing
marine 3D seismic data. This method comprises :
receiving data on a seismic recording vessel, whereby a set of
received data is defined ;
applying time migration to the received data on the seismic recording
vessel, whereby a time-migrated set of data is defined ;
recording the received data on the seismic recording vessel; and
recording the time-migrated data on the seismic recording vessel.
-2-
According to a further aspect of the invention, a method for acquiring
marine seismic data is provided comprising :
receiving data on a seismic recording vessel, whereby a set of
received data is defined ;
applying time migration to the received data on the seismic recording
vessel, whereby a time-migrated set of data is defined ; and
detecting an unacceptable portion of the time-migrated data.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a system is provided for
processing marine 3D seismic data, wherein the system comprises :
means for receiving data on a seismic recording vessel, whereby a set
of received data is defined ;
means for applying time migration to the received data on the seismic
recording vessel, whereby a time-migrated set of data is defined ;
means for recording the received data on the seismic recording vessel;
and
means for recording the time-migrated data on the seismic recording
vessel.
According to still a further aspect of the present invention, a system is
provided for acquiring marine seismic data comprising:
means for receiving data on a seismic recording vessel, whereby a set of
received datais defined;
means for applying time migration to the received data on the seismic
recording vessel, whereby a time-migrated set of data is defined; and
means for detecting an unacceptable poition of the time-migrated data.
According to an even further aspect of the present invention, a system for
processing marine 3D seismic data, is provided, the system comprising:
a recording unit on a seismic recording vessel connected to a cable, the cable
including seismic receivers, whereby a set of received data is defined;
a computer for applying time migration to the received data on the seismic
recording vessel, whereby a time-migrated set of data is defined;
memory for storing the received data on the seismic recording vessel; and
memory for recording the time-migrated data on the seismic recording vessel.
According to still a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a system
for acquiring marine seismic data comprising:
a recording unit on a seismic recording vessel connected to a cable, the cable
including seismic receivers, whereby a set of received data is defined;
a computer for applying time migration to the received data on the seismic
recording vessel, whereby a time-migrated set of data is defined;
a detector of an unacceptable portion of the time-migrated data.
Further aspects and embodiments of the invention will occur to those of skill
in the art which do not depart from the spirit of the invention.
Brief Descriptin of the Accompanying Drawings:
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further
advantages thereof, reference is made to the following Description of Example
Embodiments of the Invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a view of an example of a computer architecture useful according to
an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 3 is a view of an example of a computer architecture useful according to
an embodiment of the invention.
Fig. 4 is a view of an observer station usefiil according to an embodiment of
the invention.
Fig. 5 is a view of an on-shore processing station useful according to an
embodiment of the invention.
It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only example
embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its
scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
Description of Example Embodiments of th Invention
Referring now to Fig. 1 (not to scale), a recording unit 10 on a seismic
recording vessel 12 is seen, wherein the recording unit 10 is connected to a cable 14
(in this case a streamer, although the invention also applies to ocean bottom cable and
other marine receiver cables that will occur to those of skill in the art). The cable 14
includes seismic receivers (not shown) which comprise, for example, hydrophones
(e.g. in embodiments using towable streamers) and/or geophones (e.g. in ocean
bottom cables). In some embodiments, the cable 14 includes multiple receivers at
each receiver location, and in other embodiment, only one receiver is located at each
receiver location. The present invention, in its broadest dellnition, is not therefore
limited by the type of marine cable used. Further, those of skill in the art will
understand that multiple cables 14 are used in most embodiments, which detect
reflections and refractions from the earth 11. Only one is shown for simplicity.
The recording unit 10 receives signals from the receivers for use by the rest of
the system. Examples of acceptable recording units are made by Syntron Recording
Systems and Input-Output, Inc. and are known to those of skill in the art. Other
acceptable recording units will also occur to those of skill in the art. Again, the
present invention is not limited in its broadest definition by the type of recording unit
used. In some embodiments, recording unit 10 records the data to t'lpe, and the tape is
then lemovcd and input into computer 16. In other embodiments, the computer 16
receives the data directly from recording unit 10 as the recording unit 10 is recording
to tape. While these two embodiments are the ones most feasible commercially at the
present time, according to still another embodiment, computer 16 would receive the
data independently of recording unit 10.
Also seen in Fig. 1 is a computer 16 for applying time migration to the
received data on the seismic recording vessel, whereby a time-migrated set of data is
defined. The computer includes sufficient memory 21 (Fig. 2) for storing the received
data on the seismic recording vessel; and sufficient memory 23 for storing the time-
migrated data on the seismic recording vessel.
Referring still to Fig. 2, according to one embodiment of the invention, the
received data from cable 14 is stored in memory 21 while the time migration is being
applied to the data to generate the time-migrated set of data. In some embodiments.
the memory for storing the received data and the time-migrateddata comprises a non-
volatile memory (e.g., a hard drive). In other embodiments, it comprises volatile
memory, the contents of which is written to some form of non-volatile memory atlcr
processing.
Examples of acceptable computers include: MPP (Massively Parallel
Processing) machines, for example, the IBM SP2, Intel Paragon, Silicon Graphics
Power Challenge, and others that will occur to those of ordinary skill. Other types of
computers (e.g. special purpose computers), which are also acceptable, will occur to
those of ordinary skill. These other types do not depart from the spirit of the
invention.
In a more specific embodiment, an MPP system is used, running PGS CUBE
MANAGERS" software. Other seismic migration software with migration algorithms
are also acceptable. As with the cable and recording unit, the present invention is not
limited in its broadest definition by the type of computer or software.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the computer 16 applies
the time-migration by application of a migration factor "a" from a stored table 22 to
the received data. The migrated data is then stored in memory 23. In some
embodiments of the invention, the stored table 22 represents f-k migration factors a-n
and mapping relationships for mapping one location to another as will be understood
by those of skill in the art. In other embodiments, the factors a-n represent KirchhofF
summation factors. ITie number of factors to be applied and the number of
dimensions of the factors are dependent upon the type of time migration applied, as
will be understood by a person of skill in the art upon review of this disclosure.
According to some embodiments of the invention, the computer 16 applies
single pass migration, while, according to other embodiments, the computer applies
multiple pass migiation. In general, the type of time migration applied is not
considered important to the invention, as different time migration methods will be
appropriate in different situations, as will occur to those of skill in the art after review
of this disclosure.
However, in general, it is preferred that the following migration methods be used
under the following conditions:
Further, it has been found that migration tlirough use of a single velocity
factor, known to be less than the velocity at a depth of interest, will result in images
sufficient for quality control review during acquisition, while supplying a good first
approximation for later depth migration and velocity analysis. Therefore, according
to a further embodiment of the invention, the computer 16 applies the time migration
by application of a factor from a stored table 25 to the data, with a water velocity.
According to an alternative embodiment, the near surface velocity (defined as
anything less than actual sediments, but greater than the water velocity) is used.
Referring still to Fig. 2, a detector 28 is seen for aid in quality control of the
data acquisition. According to tliis embodiment of the invention, the detector 28
detects the occurrence and location of unacceptable portions of the tinic-migratcd data
(e.g. from a bad shot, swell noise, interference from other sources in the area, etc.).
According to one embodiment, (seen in Fig. 3) detector 28 comprises a
comparator 28a of the data (seen as input bus 28c) to a set of attribute parameters 29a-
29n stored in the computer memory section 29 (Fig. 2). Referring again to Fig. 3, the
detector 28 further comprises ^ marker 28b of portions of the data outside of the
attribute parameters 29a-29n. Examples of attribute parameters stored in memory
section 29 include amplitude, residual movcout on the gatlicr, water depth, rellector
fold and in-fill requirements, ollset azimuth coverage, and illumination coverage.
Further, maikcr 28b. according to one embodiment, returns (1) an identification code
IC of the cable from which the unacceptable data was received (in many
embodiments, multiple cables will be used) and (2) a geographic location signal GLS
of the vessel (e.g. a GPS signal) at the time the shot from which the unacceptable data
originated was initiated. These data are provided to marker 28b from the vessel's
traditional navigation and recording systems (not shown) as will occur to those of
skill in the art.
According to an alternative nibodimcnt of the invention, seen in Fig. 4, as the
data is received and migrated, the migrated data is displayed on a display 40, and
observed by observer 42. In the event observer 42 determines that unacceptable data
has been acquired, based on the observer's judgment, input device 44 (e.g. a keyboard
connected to computer 46, which is displaying the migrated data and keeping a record
of the identity of the cables and the vessel position associated with the displayed
information) is used to input a signal for identification of the unacceptable data.
According to some embodiments of the invention, computer 46, used for
marking the cable and geographic location of the unacceptable data, comprises the
same computer 16 of Fig. 2. According to an alternative embodiment, computer 46 is
separate, receiving migrated data from buss 48. Buss 48 is connected, in alternative
embodiments, to read the migrated data from memory 23 or directly from the CPU of
computer 16 as the data is being recorded in memory 28.
It should be noted that the embodiment shown in the above-described figures
that the computer architecture shown is given by way of example, only, and any
architecture and CPU structure, whether single CPU, parallel processing, or other
multiple processors, which allows for the data flow and storage described is
considered to be an equivalent.
Detection of unacceptable data while acquisition is occurring allows the vessel
to return to the position where the unacceptable data occurred and re-acquire the data
before leaving the area, unlike in the earlier practice when the existence of
unacceptable data was not detected until perhaps moths allcr the acquisition.
According to a further aspect of the invention, a method of processing seismic
data is provided, wherein the time migration discussed above is followed by stacking
and depth migration. Depth migration requires velocity analysis, wliich is a very time
consuming, iterative process, as discussed above. With the initial time migration
described herein, using the velocity assumptions discussed above, the depth migration
process is considerably shorter. This results from the fact that after the initial time
migration described above, all that is required is the residual velocity analysis and
residual migration. In one such embodiment, the time-migrated data is removed from
the vessel 12 and transported to a processing location 50, as seen in Fig. 5, including
another computer 52 for applying the more computationally intense processing

velocity analysis is performed, using the information gathered from the time

Further processing will occur to those of skill in the art which will not depart
from the spirit of the present invention.
Finally, further aspects and embodiments of the invention will occur to those
of skill in the art which do not depart from the spirit of the invention.
WE CLAIM:
1. A system for processing marine 3D seismic data, the device comprising:
a recording unit on a seismic recording vessel connected to a cable, the cable
comprising seismic receivers, whereby a set of received data is defined;
a computer for applying time migration to the received data on the seismic
recording vessel, whereby a time-migrated set of data is defined;
memory for storing the received data on the seismic recording vessel; and
memory for recording the time-migrated data on the seismic recording vessel.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cable comprises a towable streamer.
3. A system as claimed in claim I, wherein said cable comprises an ocean bottom
cable.
4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ocean bottom cable comprises at
least two sensors at each receivers location.
5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least two sensors
comprises a particle velocity detector.
6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least two sensors
comprises a pressure detector.
7. A system as claimed in claim I, wherein said received data is stored in said
memory for storing the received data during while the time migration is being applied to
said data to generate the time-migrated set of data.
8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer applies the time migration
by application of a factor from a stored table to the data, wherein the stored table
represents f-k migration factors.
9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer applies the time migration
by application of a factor from a stored table to the data, wherein the stored table
represents Kirchhoff summation factors.
10. A system as claimed in claim I, wherein said computer applies single pass
migration.
11. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer appUes multiple pass
migration.
12. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer applies the time migration
by application of a factor from a stored table to the data, with a velocity known to be less
than the velocity at a depth of interest.
13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said computer applies the time
migration by application of a factor from a stored table to the data, with a water velocity.
14. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said computer applies the time
migration by application of a factor from a stored table to the data, with a near surface
velocity.
15. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said computer includes a detector of an
unacceptable portion of the time-migrated data.
16. Asystem as claimed in claim 15, wherein said detector comprises a display of the
time migrated set of data in a human-observable form and input device for marking
instructions from an observer reviewing the display.
17. Asystem as claimed in claim 15, wherein said detector comprises a comparator of
the data to a set of attribute parameters stored in the computer memory and marker of
portions of the data outside of the attribute parameters.
18. A system as claimed in claim ,15, wherein said attribute parameters are
selected from a group consisting of amplitude, residual moveout on the gather,
water depth, reflector fold and in-fill requirements, offset azimuth coverage, and
illumination coverage.
19. A systemfor processing marine 3D seismic data, substantially as herein
described, particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings.


The present invention discloses a system for processing marine 3D seismic data, the device comprises : a recording unit (10) on a seismic recording vessel (12) connected to a cable, the cable comprising seismic receivers, whereby a set of received data is defined ; a computer (16) for applying time migration to the received data on the seismic recording vessel (12), whereby a time-migrated data is defined ; memory (21) for storing the received data on the seismic recording vessel (12) ; and memory (23) for recording the time- migrated data on the seismic recording vessel.

Documents:

2474-cal-1997-granted-abstract.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-claims.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-correspondence.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-description (complete).pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-drawings.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-examination report.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-form 1.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-form 2.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-form 3.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-form 5.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-gpa.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-pa.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-priority document.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

2474-cal-1997-granted-specification.pdf


Patent Number 237044
Indian Patent Application Number 2474/CAL/1997
PG Journal Number 49/2009
Publication Date 04-Dec-2009
Grant Date 02-Dec-2009
Date of Filing 30-Dec-1997
Name of Patentee PGS TENSOR, INC.
Applicant Address 10550, RICHMOND, SUITE 300, HOUSTON, TX
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 MATTHEW ADAM BROZOSTOWSKI 9060, SMOKE HOLLOW, HOUSTON, TX 77064
PCT International Classification Number G06F 17/40
PCT International Application Number N/A
PCT International Filing date
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 08/794,292 1997-02-03 U.S.A.