TECHNIQUE AND SYSTEM TO PROCESS A SEISMIC SIGNAL TO DETERMINE AN ATTRIBUTE OF A GEOLOGICAL LAYER

• US 20100235102A1
• Filed: 03/12/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Pierle, Thomas Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,073,624 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/14
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/30 Analysis G01V1/50 takes precedence

Abstract

A technique includes receiving seismic data indicative of a signal, which is produced by the interaction of reflection interfaces with a source wavelet. The reflection interfaces are associated with boundaries of a geological layer. The technique includes processing the seismic data to determine at least one slope change in the source wavelet caused by the interaction. The technique includes determining an attribute of the layer based at least in part on the determined slope change(s).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving seismic data indicative of a signal produced by the interaction of reflection interfaces with a source wavelet, the reflection interfaces being associated with boundaries of a geological layer; and

processing the seismic data to determine at least one slope change in the source wavelet caused by the interaction; and

determining an attribute of the layer based at least in part on said at least one determined slope change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute comprises a thickness of the layers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the act of processing comprises processing the seismic data to determine at least one timing change in a slope of the source wavelet, and

the act of determining comprises determining the attribute based at least in part on the said at least one timing change.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

the act of processing comprises processing the seismic data to determine at least one magnitude change in a slope of the source wavelet, and

the act of determining comprises determining the attribute based at least in part on the said at least one magnitude change.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

the act of processing comprises processing the seismic data to determine a change in a difference between slopes of the source wavelet, and

the act of determining comprises determining the attribute based at least in part on the difference.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

the source wavelet has a wavelength, and

a thickness of the layer is less than one quarter of the wavelength of the source wavelet.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the source wavelet comprises a Ricker wavelet.

8. An apparatus comprising:

an interface to receive seismic data indicative of a signal produced by the interaction of reflection interfaces with a source wavelet, the reflection interfaces being associated with boundaries of a geological layer; and

a processor to process the seismic data to generate an indication of at least one slope change in the source wavelet caused by the interaction to indicate an attribute of the layer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the attribute comprises a thickness of the layer.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor processes the seismic data to generate an indication of at least one timing change in a slope of the source wavelet.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor processes the seismic data to generate an indication of at least one magnitude change in a slope of the source wavelet.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor processes the seismic data to generate an indication of a change in a difference between slopes of the source wavelet.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein

the source wavelet has a wavelength, and

a thickness of the layer is less than one quarter of the wavelength of the source wavelet.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the source wavelet comprises a Ricker wavelet.

15. An article comprising a computer-readable storage medium to store instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to:

receive seismic data indicative of a signal produced by the interaction of reflection interfaces with a source wavelet, the reflection interfaces being associated with boundaries of a geological layer; and

process the seismic data to generate an indication of at least one slope change in the source wavelet to indicate an attribute of the layer.

16. The article of claim 15, wherein the attribute comprises a thickness of the layer.

17. The article of claim 15, the storage medium to store instructions that when executed by the computer cause the computer to process the seismic data to generate an indication of at least one timing change in a slope of the source wavelet.

18. The article of claim 15, the storage medium to store instructions that when executed cause the computer to process the seismic data to generate an indication of at least one magnitude change in a slope of the source wavelet.

19. The article of claim 15, the storage medium to store instructions that when executed by the computer cause the computer to indicate a change in a difference between slopes of the source wavelet.

20. The article of claim 15, wherein

the source wavelet has a wavelength, and

a thickness of the layer is less than one quarter of the wavelength of the source wavelet.