Seismic acquisition system and technique

• US 9,304,216 B2
• Filed: 02/05/2009
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WesternGeco LLC (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: WesternGeco LLC (Schlumberger NV)
• Inventors: Muijzert, Everhard Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): BREIER, KRYSTINE E
• Application Number:
  US12/366,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20100195439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,616 Days
• Field of Search: 367/15, 367/43, 367/45, 702/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A method comprising:

receiving particle motion data acquired in measurements by particle motion sensors of a particle motion sensor array and rotation rate data acquired in measurements by rotation rate sensors of a rotation rate sensor array;

characterizing a wavefield based at least in part on the particle motion data;

characterizing a gradient of the wavefield based at least in part on the rotation rate data; and

processing the particle motion and rotation rate data in a processor-based machine based at least in part on the characterization of the wavefield and the characterization of the gradient of the wavefield to construct a subsurface image.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing comprises:

attenuating at least one of a ground roll and an airwave.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing comprises interpolating the wavefield at positions other than positions at which the particle motion and rotation rate data were acquired.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing comprises applying an anti-aliasing filter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing comprises separating compression and shear wavefields.

6. A system comprising:

an interface to receive particle motion data acquired in measurements by particle motion sensors of a particle motion sensor array and rotation rate data acquired in measurements by rotation rate sensors of a rotation rate sensor array; and

a processor to;

characterize a wavefield based at least in part on in part on the particle motion data;

characterize a gradient of the wavefield based at least in part on the rotation rate data; and

process the particle motion data and the rotation rate data to determine a subsurface image based at least in part on the characterization of the wavefield and the characterization of the gradient of the wavefield.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor attenuates at least one of a ground roll and an airwave.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor interpolates the wavefield at positions other than positions at which the particle motion and rotation rate data where sampled.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor applies an anti-aliasing filter.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor uses the particle motion and rotation rate data to separate compression and shear wavefields.