Two-way wave equation targeted data selection for improved imaging of prospects among complex geologic structures
First Claim
1. A process for imaging seismic data for a prospect that exists within or near structures that obscure or complicate seismic imaging, where the process comprises:
- a) constructing a first geologic model including information about the size, shape and depth of the obscuring or complicating structure along with a prospect location for further understanding;
b) identifying a set of seismic source locations within the seismic data along with seismic acquisition geometry for associated seismic receiver locations to be evaluated with the geologic model;
c) selecting a target on a geologic body for evaluation wherein the target may comprise a portion or an entirety of the prospect location;
d) selecting parameters appropriate for a two-way wave equation propagation of energy;
e) computing a two-way wave equation for the wave propagation from a selected source to the target;
f) computing the energy arriving at the target and the associated attributes of the arriving energy at the target;
g) computing a two-way wave equation propagation for wave propagation from the target to the receivers associated with the selected source by the acquisition geometry;
h) computing the energy and the associated attributes received by the receivers associated with the selected source by the acquisition geometry from g);
i) repeat steps e) through h) for other sources in the selected acquisition geometry;
j) from the energy and attributes recorded in step f) create attribute displays that provide visual perspective of one or more attributes of the energy propagated to the target from one or more sources;
k) from the energy and attributes computed in step h) create attribute displays that provide visual perspective of one or more attributes of the energy associated with one or more acquisition sources propagated from the target to the receivers;
l) analyze the attribute displays in step j) and step k) to determine the source/receiver pair information that will provide better imaging of the target; and
m) creating one or more geological images of the substructure using the source/receiver pair data identified in step l).
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to seismic imaging where complex geologies are likely to create data that is confusing or ambiguous for a conventional matrix of source points and receiver locations. With some understanding of the geological substructure, the source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be found by using two-way wave equation propagation coupled with a quality geologic model. With this, the source points and receiver locations that optimize the imaging may be selected and used to better resolve the substructure and avoid the inclusion of data that obscures understanding of the substructure.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A process for imaging seismic data for a prospect that exists within or near structures that obscure or complicate seismic imaging, where the process comprises:
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a) constructing a first geologic model including information about the size, shape and depth of the obscuring or complicating structure along with a prospect location for further understanding; b) identifying a set of seismic source locations within the seismic data along with seismic acquisition geometry for associated seismic receiver locations to be evaluated with the geologic model; c) selecting a target on a geologic body for evaluation wherein the target may comprise a portion or an entirety of the prospect location; d) selecting parameters appropriate for a two-way wave equation propagation of energy; e) computing a two-way wave equation for the wave propagation from a selected source to the target; f) computing the energy arriving at the target and the associated attributes of the arriving energy at the target; g) computing a two-way wave equation propagation for wave propagation from the target to the receivers associated with the selected source by the acquisition geometry; h) computing the energy and the associated attributes received by the receivers associated with the selected source by the acquisition geometry from g); i) repeat steps e) through h) for other sources in the selected acquisition geometry; j) from the energy and attributes recorded in step f) create attribute displays that provide visual perspective of one or more attributes of the energy propagated to the target from one or more sources; k) from the energy and attributes computed in step h) create attribute displays that provide visual perspective of one or more attributes of the energy associated with one or more acquisition sources propagated from the target to the receivers; l) analyze the attribute displays in step j) and step k) to determine the source/receiver pair information that will provide better imaging of the target; and m) creating one or more geological images of the substructure using the source/receiver pair data identified in step l). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification