Seismic acquisition system and technique

• US 10,078,146 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WesternGeco LLC
• Original Assignee: WesternGeco LLC
• Inventors: Muijzert, Everhard Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Breier, Krystine E
• Application Number:
  US15/047,719
• Publication Number:
  US 20160170052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/003 Seismic data acquisition in general, e.g. survey design G01V1/3808, G01V1/42 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/18 Receiving elements, e.g. seismometer, geophone or torque detectors, for localised single point measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/20 Arrangements of receiving elements, e.g. geophone pattern
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/301 for determining seismic cross-sections or geostructures
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/34 Displaying seismic recordings or visualisation of seismic data or attributes
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/36 Effecting static or dynamic corrections on records, e.g. correcting spread; Correlating seismic signals; Eliminating effects of unwanted energy
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/57 Trace interpolation or extrapolation, e.g. for virtual receiver; Anti-aliasing for missing receivers

Abstract

An apparatus includes an array of seismic sensor units that are adapted to acquire measurements in connection with a land surface-based seismic survey. Each seismic sensor unit includes a particle motion sensor and a rotation sensor.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an array of seismic sensor units adapted to acquire measurements in connection with a land surface-based seismic survey having an obstruction, wherein a first seismic sensor unit is located farther from the obstruction than a second seismic sensor unit located nearer the obstruction, the first seismic sensor unit including a particle motion sensor and no rotation sensor, and wherein the second seismic sensor unit includes a particle motion sensor and at least two rotation sensors, wherein a first rotation sensor is configured to measure a crossline rate of rotation about an inline and a second rotation sensor configured to measure an inline rate of rotation about a crossline.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the particle motion sensor comprises a geophone or an accelerometer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotation sensor is adapted to provide a signal indicative of a rate of horizontal rotation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each rotation sensor of the sensor unit is oriented along a different orthogonal horizontal axis.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor units are spaced apart pursuant to a spacing distance of at least approximately three quarters to one wavelength of a slowest velocity of interest.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the slowest velocity of interest comprises a velocity associated with a ground roll.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the array of seismic sensor units is adapted to measure a one-dimensional survey geometry.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the array of seismic sensor units is adapted to measure a two-dimensional survey geometry.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the array of seismic units further comprises:

additional seismic units, each additional sensor unit comprising a particle motion sensor and not including any rotation sensors.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the seismic sensor units comprising particle motion sensors and rotation sensors are distributed in the vicinity of an obstruction and the additional seismic sensor units are distributed in a region away from the obstruction.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

packages, each package being associated with one of the seismic sensor units and containing the particle motion and rotation sensor of the unit.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the array of sensor units is located on a land surface or located in a borehole.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the seismic sensor units comprises:

a housing having a feature to enhance seismic coupling of the particle motion sensor and the rotation sensor.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the housing comprises a curved base plate.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the housing comprises at least three pins adapted to extend into the earth'"'"'s surface.