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Seismic data imaging system

  • US 5,991,235 A
  • Filed: 01/29/1997
  • Issued: 11/23/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of seismic prospecting a region using seismic waves and a plurality of sensors, comprising:

  • distributing multiple seismic sensors in the region under survey relative to one another in a predetermined test pattern around one or more source points where seismic waves are generated, wherein at least a portion of the seismic sensors are located near the surface of the region, and a spread and spacing of the predetermined test pattern being determined based on prior seismic data of the region;

    performing a plurality of test sweeps in said region by generating testing seismic waves of different sweep frequency ranges that have test parameters selected based on the prior seismic data;

    obtaining test seismic data from said test sweeps by collecting signals from the multiple seismic sensors;

    producing correlation signals from collected signals obtained from the seismic sensors corresponding to each testing seismic wave and a respective reference signal;

    summing the correlation signals based on collected signals of each seismic sensor corresponding to different testing seismic waves to produce a testing composite correlation signal;

    determining a data-acquisition operating condition of the region based on analysis of said testing composite correlation signals from the seismic sensors in order to enhance resolution and signal-to-noise ratio, wherein said data-acquisition operation condition is determined by at least selecting parameters for a set of seismic probe waves to be launched or changing said predetermined test pattern of the seismic sensors to a data-acquisition pattern with different spread and spacing of the seismic sensors;

    performing a plurality of data-acquisition sweeps under said data-acquisition operating condition in said region by generating said set of seismic probe waves;

    saving unprocessed raw data generated from said sensors from said data-acquisition sweeps;

    processing said raw data by at least one selected correlation operation to produce a global seismic map of said region; and

    selecting and further processing a subset of unprocessed data from the saved raw data to provide seismic information of a location in said global seismic map that is not revealed by said global seismic map.

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