Patents by Inventor Martin Widmaier

Martin Widmaier has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240134079
    Abstract: A marine seismic survey comprises towing a first source and a first streamer spread having a length L behind a first vessel. Sensors in the streamer spread record signals from the first source over a range of offset distances X to X+L. A second source is towed behind a second vessel that does not tow a streamer spread. Sensors in the streamer spread record signals from the second source over a range of offset distances A+L to A+2L. Sensors in the streamer spread do not record signals over a range of offset distances X+L to A+L from any active seismic sources used in the marine seismic survey.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Martin Widmaier, Ashish Misra, Manuel Beitz
  • Publication number: 20240012169
    Abstract: Methods for performing a marine survey of a subterranean formation using a hybrid combination of ocean bottom seismic (“OBS”) receivers, wide towed sources, and moving streamers are described herein. In one aspect, a sail line separation in a crossline direction is determined based on an average streamer separation and number of streamers. An array of OBS receivers are deposited on a surface of a subterranean formation with an OBS receiver separation that is based on the sail line separation. Wide towed sources and streamers are towed above the array of OBS receivers behind a survey vessel that travels sail lines separated by the sail line separation. The wide towed sources may be activated above the array of OBS receivers. Wavefields reflected from the subterranean formation are recorded at the OBS receivers and receivers located in the streamers as seismic data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: PGS Geophysicai AS
    Inventors: Manuel Beitz, Martin Widmaier, Andrew Long
  • Patent number: 11802986
    Abstract: Methods for performing a marine survey of a subterranean formation using a hybrid combination of ocean bottom seismic (“OBS”) receivers, wide towed sources, and moving streamers are described herein. In one aspect, a sail line separation in a crossline direction is determined based on an average streamer separation and number of streamers. An array of OBS receivers are deposited on a surface of a subterranean formation with an OBS receiver separation that is based on the sail line separation. Wide towed sources and streamers are towed above the array of OBS receivers behind a survey vessel that travels sail lines separated by the sail line separation. The wide towed sources may be activated above the array of OBS receivers. Wavefields reflected from the subterranean formation are recorded at the OBS receivers and receivers located in the streamers as seismic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS
    Inventors: Manuel Beitz, Martin Widmaier, Andrew Long
  • Publication number: 20220099856
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for marine surveying includes: towing sources in a wide-tow source geometry; towing streamers that comprise receivers; actuating at least one of the sources to create a signal; and detecting the signal with a first receiver, wherein: at least one of the source separations or the streamer separations is non-uniform, and the sources and the receivers provide a regular sampling grid for the survey area. A system includes a survey plan; sources in a wide-tow source geometry; and streamers comprising receivers, wherein: at least one of the source separations or the streamer separations is non-uniform, and the sail lines, sources, and receivers provide uniform CMP coverage for the survey area. A method includes operating a system in a survey area, the system having a non-uniform configuration with wide-tow source geometry; actuating at least one source to create a signal; and detecting the signal with a first receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Christian STRAND, Martin WIDMAIER, Carine ROALKVAM
  • Publication number: 20200393591
    Abstract: Methods for performing a marine survey of a subterranean formation using a hybrid combination of ocean bottom seismic (“OBS”) receivers, wide towed sources, and moving streamers are described herein. In one aspect, a sail line separation in a crossline direction is determined based on an average streamer separation and number of streamers. An array of OBS receivers are deposited on a surface of a subterranean formation with an OBS receiver separation that is based on the sail line separation. Wide towed sources and streamers are towed above the array of OBS receivers behind a survey vessel that travels sail lines separated by the sail line separation. The wide towed sources may be activated above the array of OBS receivers. Wavefields reflected from the subterranean formation are recorded at the OBS receivers and receivers located in the streamers as seismic data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Manuel Beitz, Martin Widmaier, Andrew Long
  • Patent number: 9841521
    Abstract: Variable depth multicomponent sensor streamer. At least some of example embodiments including perform a geophysical survey by: setting a first target depth for first depth positioning device of a sensor streamer, the first depth positioning device associated with a first sensor of the sensor streamer, the first sensor at a first offset, and the first target depth based on tension in the sensor streamer proximate the first sensor; setting a second target depth for a second depth positioning device of the sensor streamer, the second depth positioning device associated with a second sensor of the sensor streamer, the second sensor at a second offset greater than the first offset, the second target depth based on tension in the sensor streamer proximate the second sensor, and the second target depth greater than the first target depth; towing the sensor streamer through the water; and obtaining data from the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Martin Widmaier, Anthony J. Day, Neil H. R. Turnbull
  • Patent number: 9678235
    Abstract: Variable depth multicomponent sensor streamer. At least some of example embodiments are methods including designing a depth profile for first portion of a sensor streamer by determining a first target depth for a first hydrophone-geophone pair, the first hydrophone-geophone pair at a first offset along the sensor streamer, the determining based on a first projected geophone noise floor at the first offset and a first expected spectral notch of a hydrophone of the first hydrophone-geophone pair; and determining a second target depth for a second hydrophone-geophone pair, the second hydrophone-geophone pair at a second offset along the sensor streamer, the second offset greater than the first offset, and determining the second target depth based on a second projected geophone noise floor in the sensor streamer at the second offset and a second expected spectral notch of a hydrophone of the second hydrophone-geophone pair; wherein the second target depth is greater than the first target depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Martin Widmaier, Anthony J. Day, Neil H. R. Turnbull
  • Publication number: 20160178777
    Abstract: Variable depth multicomponent sensor streamer. At least some of example embodiments including perform a geophysical survey by: setting a first target depth for first depth positioning device of a sensor streamer, the first depth positioning device associated with a first sensor of the sensor streamer, the first sensor at a first offset, and the first target depth based on tension in the sensor streamer proximate the first sensor; setting a second target depth for a second depth positioning device of the sensor streamer, the second depth positioning device associated with a second sensor of the sensor streamer, the second sensor at a second offset greater than the first offset, the second target depth based on tension in the sensor streamer proximate the second sensor, and the second target depth greater than the first target depth; towing the sensor streamer through the water; and obtaining data from the sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Martin WIDMAIER, Anthony J. DAY, Neil H.R. Turnbull
  • Patent number: 9007870
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to determining or executing a survey pattern for a marine seismic survey vessel. The survey pattern may be determined based on a determined subsurface illumination area. The subsurface illumination area may be identifiable from primary reflections and higher-order reflections detected by sensors disposed in a sensor streamer configuration that may be towed behind the survey vessel. The sensor streamer configuration may include a plurality of streamers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Martin Widmaier, Walter Sollner, Stian Hegna, Steve Bishop
  • Publication number: 20150003195
    Abstract: Variable depth multicomponent sensor streamer. At least some of example embodiments are methods including designing a depth profile for first portion of a sensor streamer by determining a first target depth for a first hydrophone-geophone pair, the first hydrophone-geophone pair at a first offset along the sensor streamer, the determining based on a first projected geophone noise floor at the first offset and a first expected spectral notch of a hydrophone of the first hydrophone-geophone pair; and determining a second target depth for a second hydrophone-geophone pair, the second hydrophone-geophone pair at a second offset along the sensor streamer, the second offset greater than the first offset, and determining the second target depth based on a second projected geophone noise floor in the sensor streamer at the second offset and a second expected spectral notch of a hydrophone of the second hydrophone-geophone pair; wherein the second target depth is greater than the first target depth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS
    Inventors: Martin WIDMAIER, Anthony J. DAY, Neil H.R. Turnbull
  • Publication number: 20130322205
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to determining or executing a survey pattern for a marine seismic survey vessel. The survey pattern may be determined based on a determined subsurface illumination area. The subsurface illumination area may be identifiable from primary reflections and higher-order reflections detected by sensors disposed in a sensor streamer configuration that may be towed behind the survey vessel. The sensor streamer configuration may include a plurality of streamers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventors: Martin Widmaier, Walter Sollner, Stian Hegna, Steve Bishop
  • Patent number: 7835225
    Abstract: Signals detected by particle motion sensors in a towed dual sensor marine seismic streamer are scaled to match signals detected by pressure sensors in the streamer. The pressure sensor signals and the scaled particle motion sensor signals are combined to generate up-going and down-going pressure wavefield components. The up-going and down-going pressure wavefield components are extrapolated to a position just below a water surface. A first matching filter is applied to the extrapolated down-going pressure wavefield component. The filtered down-going pressure wavefield component is subtracted from the extrapolated up-going pressure wavefield component, generating an up-going pressure wavefield component with attenuated particle motion sensor noise. A second matching filter is applied to the extrapolated up-going pressure wavefield component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Walter Söllner, Xiao-Ping Li, Martin Widmaier
  • Publication number: 20080089174
    Abstract: Signals detected by particle motion sensors in a towed dual sensor marine seismic streamer are scaled to match signals detected by pressure sensors in the streamer. The pressure sensor signals and the scaled particle motion sensor signals are combined to generate up-going and down-going pressure wavefield components. The up-going and down-going pressure wavefield components are extrapolated to a position just below a water surface. A first matching filter is applied to the extrapolated down-going pressure wavefield component. The filtered down-going pressure wavefield component is subtracted from the extrapolated up-going pressure wavefield component, generating an up-going pressure wavefield component with attenuated particle motion sensor noise. A second matching filter is applied to the extrapolated up-going pressure wavefield component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Walter Sollner, Xiao-Ping Li, Martin Widmaier