High fidelity vibratory source seismic method for use in vertical seismic profile data gathering with a plurality of vibratory seismic energy sources

• US 5,790,473 A
• Filed: 11/13/1995
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation (Exxon Mobil Corporation)
• Inventors: Allen, Kenneth Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Lobo, Ian J.
• Application Number:
  US08/555,656
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 181/107, 181/111, 367/21, 367/38, 367/41, 367/57, 367/48, 367/49, 367/189, 367/43
• US Class Current: 367/57
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/364 Seismic filtering G01V1/37 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/42 using generators in one well and receivers elsewhere or vice versa G01V1/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/161 Vertical seismic profiling [VSP]
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 2210/20 Trace signal pre-filtering to select, remove or transform specific events or signal components, i.e. trace-in/trace-out

Abstract

A method for recording and pre-processing vertical seismic profile high fidelity vibratory seismic data includes the steps of measuring the motion of the vibrator which is related to the vibrator applied force times a transfer function of minimum phase, causal, linear system relating the actual vibrator output with the measured vibrator motion, separating signals according to the generating source of each, determining a ratio by dividing the vibratory seismic data by the measured motion of the vibrator to remove the unknown applied force leaving the earth reflectivity times a time derivative divided by a minimum phase function, minimum phase band pass filtering the resulting ratio and performing minimum phase deconvolution to remove the time derivative divided by the transfer function of minimum phase.

Claims

1. A method for processing high resolution vibratory source vertical seismic profile data comprising:

positioning a receiver at one location in a wellbore;

receiving electrical signals representing seismic information generated by multiple vibrators;

receiving measured signals representing transmitted seismic waves from each of said multiple vibrators;

separating said electrical signals corresponding to each of said multiple vibrators;

dividing said separated electrical signals with said measured signals to obtain earth reflectivity multiplied by a time derivative divided by a minimum phase transfer function to obtain a minimum phase data set;

filtering said minimum phase data set with a minimum phase band pass filter; and

performing minimum phase deconvolution on said minimum phase data set to obtain earth reflectivity.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said separating step includes the step of:

varying the generation sequence of each of said multiple vibrators.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said receiving measured signals step includes the steps of:

measuring the seismic signal actually transmitted into the earth'"'"'s surface; and

converting said measured seismic signals into a measured electrical signal.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said separating step includes the step of:

varying the generation sequence of each of said multiple vibrators.

5. An apparatus for recording high resolution vibratory source vertical seismic profile data comprising:

means for receiving measured signals representing force generated into the ground by each of a plurality of vibratory sources;

means for receiving electrical signals representing seismic information produced by said force generated into the ground;

means for positioning said means for receiving electrical signals at one position in a wellbore;

separating means for separating said electrical signals according to each of said plurality of vibratory sources;

means for dividing said separated electrical signals with said measured signals to obtain earth reflectivity multiplied by a time derivative divided by a minimum phase transfer function signals;

means for deconvolving said earth reflectivity multiplied by a time derivative divided by a minimum phase transfer function signals;

recording means for recording said summed earth reflectivity multiplied by a time derivative divided by a minimum phase transfer function signals; and

display means for displaying said recorded summed earth reflectivity multiplied by a time derivative divided by a minimum phase transfer function signals.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said separating means includes:

means for varying the generation sequence of each of said multiple vibrators.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means for receiving measured signals includes:

means for measuring the seismic signal actually transmitted into the earth'"'"'s surface; and

means for converting said measured seismic signals into a measured electrical signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means for separating includes:

means for varying the generation sequence of each of said multiple vibrators.

9. A method for recording and pre-processing high fidelity vibratory source vertical seismic profile data signals generated by a plurality of vibratory seismic sources comprising:

positioning a single seismic receiver at one position in a wellbore;

receiving vibratory seismic data signals generated by the plurality of vibratory seismic sources;

measuring the motion of each of the vibratory sources which is related to the vibrator applied force times a transfer function of minimum phase, causal, linear system;

relating actual vibrator output with said measured vibrator motion;

separating said vibratory seismic data signals according to generating source;

determining a ratio by dividing said separated vibratory seismic data signals by said measured motion of each vibratory source to remove the unknown applied force leaving the earth reflectivity times a time derivative divided by a minimum phase function;

minimum phase band pass filtering said resulting ratio; and

performing minimum phase deconvolution on said minimum phase band pass filtered ratio to remove the time derivative divided by the transfer function of minimum phase function.

10. A method for processing high resolution vibratory source vertical seismic profile data comprising:

positioning a receiver at one location in a wellbore;

generating seismic energy from a plurality of vibratory sources with a phase associated with each vibrator according to a first sweep in which the phases of the sources are all zero degrees, and a second sweep in which the phases of a first and third vibrator are zero degrees and the phases of a second and fourth vibrator are 180 degrees;

receiving electrical signals representing said seismic energy;

receiving measured signals representing transmitted seismic waves from each of said multiple vibrators;

separating said electrical signals corresponding to each of said multiple vibrators using said measured signals;

isolating downgoing waves in said separated electrical signals; and

correlating said separated electrical signals with said downgoing waves to obtain earth reflectivity.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein said generating seismic energy step further includes:

providing a third sweep in which the phases of the first and second vibrators are zero degrees and the phases of the third and fourth vibrators are 180 degrees, and providing a fourth sweep in which the phases of the first and fourth vibrators are zero degrees and the phases of the second and third vibrators are 180 degrees.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein said receiving measured signals step includes the steps of:

measuring the seismic signal actually transmitted into the earth'"'"'s surface; and

converting said measured seismic signals into a measured electrical signal.

13. A method for processing high resolution vibratory source vertical seismic profile data comprising the steps of:

positioning a receiver at one location in a wellbore;

generating seismic energy from a plurality of vibrators in multiple sweeps with a phase associated with said seismic energy from each vibrator according to a pattern, said pattern including one vibrator that is turned off and the phases of all of the other of said plurality of vibrators at zero degrees;

receiving electrical signals representing said seismic energy;

receiving measured signals representing transmitted seismic waves from each of said multiple vibrators by measuring the seismic signal actually transmitted into the earth'"'"'s surface and converting said measured seismic signals into a measured electrical signal;

separating said electrical signals corresponding to each of said multiple vibrators by varying which of said multiple vibrators is turned off in each of said sweeps;

isolating downgoing waves in said separated electrical signals; and

correlating said separated electrical signals with said downgoing waves to obtain earth reflectivity.