Patents by Inventor Okwudili Orji

Okwudili Orji 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).

  • Patent number: 11914090
    Abstract: Processes and systems described herein are directed to performing marine surveys with marine vibrators that emit orthogonal coded pseudo-random sweeps. In one aspect, coded pseudo-random signals are generated based on coded pseudo-random sequences. The coded pseudo-random sequences are used to activate the marine vibrators in a body of water above a subterranean formation. The activated marine vibrators generate orthogonal coded pseudo-random sweeps. A wavefield emitted from the subterranean formation in response to the orthogonal coded pseudo-random sweeps is detected at receivers located in a body of water. Seismic signals generated by the receivers may be cross-correlated with a signature of one of the orthogonal coded pseudo-random sweeps to obtain seismic data with incoherent residual noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Okwudili Orji, Endrias G. Asgedom, Walter Söllner
  • Patent number: 11709288
    Abstract: Processes and systems described herein are directed to imaging a subterranean formation from seismic data recorded in a marine survey with moving marine vibrators. The marine vibrators generate random sweeps with random sweep signatures. Processes and systems generate an up-going pressure wavefield from measured pressure and vertical velocity wavefield data recorded in the marine survey and obtain a downgoing vertical acceleration wavefield that records source wavefields, directivity, source ghosts, and random signatures of the random sweeps. The downgoing vertical acceleration wavefield data is deconvolved from the up-going pressure wavefield to obtain a subsurface reflectivity wavefield that is used to generate an image of the subterranean formation with reduced contamination from source wavefields, directivity, source ghosts, and random signatures of the random sweeps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Endrias G. Asgedom, Okwudili Orji, Walter Söllner
  • Patent number: 11327195
    Abstract: Processes and systems are described for generating an image of a subterranean formation from seismic data recorded during a marine survey that employed a moving vibrational source. Processes and systems compute an up-going pressure wavefield from pressure data and vertical velocity data recorded in the marine survey. A direct incident downgoing vertical velocity wavefield that includes Doppler effects created by the moving vibrational source and characterizes a source wavefield and source ghost of the moving vibrational source is computed and deconvolved from the upgoing pressure wavefield to generate a subsurface reflectivity wavefield. The subsurface reflectivity wavefield is effectively free of contamination from the source wavefield, the source ghost, and the Doppler related effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS
    Inventors: Walter Söllner, Endrias G. Asgedom, Mickael Bastard, Okwudili Orji
  • Patent number: 11175425
    Abstract: Survey design for data acquisition using marine non-impulsive sources can include operating a first marine non-impulsive source at over a first frequency range for a first sweep length and operating a second marine non-impulsive source over a second frequency range for a second sweep length. The first sweep length can be based on available geological information of a subsurface location that is a target of a marine seismic survey, an intended speed of a marine survey vessel, and the first frequency range. The second sweep length can be based on the available geological information, the intended speed, and the second frequency range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS
    Inventors: Okwudili Orji, Walter F. Söllner
  • Publication number: 20210270984
    Abstract: A proposed geometrical distribution for a first non-impulsive source and a second non-impulsive source of a source array can be received. A near-field-to-notional computation can be performed for the proposed geometrical distribution to yield a respective computed notional output of the first and second non-impulsive sources. Whether the computed notional output of the first non-impulsive source has a first amount of residue greater than a threshold amount of residue can be determined. Whether the computed notional output of the second non-impulsive source has a second amount of residue greater than the threshold amount of residue can be determined. An indication whether either of the first or second amounts of residue is less than or equal to the threshold amount of residue can be provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Okwudili Orji, Walter Sollner, Endrias Asgedom
  • Patent number: 10996356
    Abstract: Parameters of a sweep signal that controls operation of a marine non-impulsive source can be set. Setting the parameters can include selecting a stop frequency of the sweep signal, defining a taper of the sweep signal, and adjusting an initial phase of the sweep signal. The parameters can be set such that a magnitude of an amplitude spectrum of a combined output of a marine impulsive source and the marine non-impulsive source is greater than or equal to a magnitude of an amplitude spectrum of a marine impulsive source output at frequencies below the stop frequency. A controller of the marine non-impulsive source can be programmed with the sweep signal having the parameters set to control the marine non-impulsive source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Okwudili Orji, Walter F. Söllner
  • Patent number: 10962670
    Abstract: Determining a far field signature of a source array can include receiving data associated with a sea surface state and determining a coherent portion and an incoherent portion of a reflection coefficient of the sea surface based on the received data. A notional source signature of each source of the source array can be determined based on the coherent portion, the incoherent portion, and near field data associated with each of the sources, and the far field signature of the source array can be determined based on the notional source signatures of each of the sources. The notional source signature and the far field signature can be stored. A seismic image of a subsurface location can be generated based on the determined far field signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS
    Inventors: Okwudili Orji, Endrias Asgedom, Daniel Martin Lewis Barker, Walter F. Söllner
  • Publication number: 20210063597
    Abstract: Processes and systems described herein are directed to performing marine surveys with marine vibrators that emit orthogonal coded pseudo-random sweeps. In one aspect, coded pseudo-random signals are generated based on coded pseudo-random sequences. The coded pseudo-random sequences are used to activate the marine vibrators in a body of water above a subterranean formation. The activated marine vibrators generate orthogonal coded pseudo-random sweeps. A wavefield emitted from the subterranean formation in response to the orthogonal coded pseudo-random sweeps is detected at receivers located in a body of water. Seismic signals generated by the receivers may be cross-correlated with a signature of one of the orthogonal coded pseudo-random sweeps to obtain seismic data with incoherent residual noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Okwudili Orji, Endrias G. Asgedom, Walter Söllner
  • Publication number: 20210063593
    Abstract: Processes and systems described herein are directed to imaging a subterranean formation from seismic data recorded in a marine survey with moving marine vibrators. The marine vibrators generate random sweeps with random sweep signatures. Processes and systems generate an up-going pressure wavefield from measured pressure and vertical velocity wavefield data recorded in the marine survey and obtain a downgoing vertical acceleration wavefield that records source wavefields, directivity, source ghosts, and random signatures of the random sweeps. The downgoing vertical acceleration wavefield data is deconvolved from the up-going pressure wavefield to obtain a subsurface reflectivity wavefield that is used to generate an image of the subterranean formation with reduced contamination from source wavefields. directivity, source ghosts, and random signatures of the random sweeps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS
    Inventors: Endrias G. Asgedom, Okwudili Orji, Walter Söllner
  • Publication number: 20200333485
    Abstract: Processes and systems described herein are directed to performing marine surveys with a moving vibrational source that emits a continuous source wavefield into a body of water above a subterranean formation. The continuous source wavefield is formed from multiple sweeps in which each sweep is emitted from the moving vibrational source into the body of water with a randomized phase and/or with a randomized sweep duration. Reflections from the subterranean formation are continuously recorded in seismic data as the moving vibrational source travels above the subterranean formation. Processes and systems include iteratively deconvolving the source wavefield from the continuously recorded seismic data to obtain an earth response in the common receiver domain with little to no harmful effects from spatial aliasing and residual crosstalk noise. The earth response may be processed to generate an image of the subterranean formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: PGS GEOPHYSICAL AS
    Inventors: Stian Hegna, Okwudili Orji, Mattias Oscarsson-Nagel
  • Publication number: 20200333493
    Abstract: Non-impulsive source actuation can include actuating a plurality of non-impulsive sources such that each one of a plurality of common midpoint (CMP) bins receives a desired aggregate signal exposure. Each one of the plurality of non-impulsive sources exposes each one of the plurality of CMP bins to a different part of the desired aggregate signal exposure at different times during the survey.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Okwudili Orji, Walter F. Söllner, David O'Dowd
  • Publication number: 20200124755
    Abstract: Processes and systems are described for generating an image of a subterranean formation from seismic data recorded during a marine survey that employed a moving vibrational source. Processes and systems compute an up-going pressure wavefield from pressure data and vertical velocity data recorded in the marine survey. A direct incident downgoing vertical velocity wavefield that includes Doppler effects created by the moving vibrational source and characterizes a source wavefield and source ghost of the moving vibrational source is computed and deconvolved from the upgoing pressure wavefield to generate a subsurface reflectivity wavefield. The subsurface reflectivity wavefield is effectively free of contamination from the source wavefield, the source ghost, and the Doppler related effects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Walter Söllner, Endrias G. Asgedom, Mickael Bastard, Okwudili Orji
  • Patent number: 10578756
    Abstract: The current disclosure is directed to methods and systems to determine properties of a subterranean formation located below a body of water. The methods and systems compute synthetic pressure and velocity vector wavefields that represent acoustic energy interactions within a model environment that comprises a model body of water located above a model subterranean formation. The model environment is separated into a stationary region and a time-varying region. The methods and systems include determining properties of the subterranean formation by iteratively adjusting the model environment to approximate the actual subterranean formation. The model environment is iteratively adjusted until a minimum difference between the synthetic pressure and velocity vector wavefields computed for each change to the model environment and actual pressure and velocity wave fields obtained from a marine seismic survey of the subterranean formation is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Endrias G. Asgedom, Elsa Cecconello, Okwudili Orji, Walter Söllner
  • Patent number: 10436926
    Abstract: Marine survey data resulting from a first signal comprising a signal representing a flat spectral far-field pressure generated by a marine vibrator source swept over a frequency range according to a time function of motion such that acceleration of the marine vibrator source is a flat function in a frequency domain can be used to improve full waveform inversion. For example, full waveform inversion can be performed using the marine survey data received from the first signal and from a second signal generated by an impulsive seismic source to estimate a physical property of a subsurface location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Walter F. Söllner, Okwudili Orji
  • Publication number: 20190187315
    Abstract: Survey design for data acquisition using marine non-impulsive sources can include operating a first marine non-impulsive source at over a first frequency range for a first sweep length and operating a second marine non-impulsive source over a second frequency range for a second sweep length. The first sweep length can be based on available geological information of a subsurface location that is a target of a marine seismic survey, an intended speed of a marine survey vessel, and the first frequency range. The second sweep length can be based on the available geological information, the intended speed, and the second frequency range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Okwudili Orji, Walter F. Söllner
  • Publication number: 20190120987
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to positioning signal sources in a tuned source array for use in seismic surveying. In various embodiments, a survey vessel deploys a plurality of signal sources distributed in a source array. In some embodiments, the plurality of signal sources includes a first signal source positioned at a first depth in a body of water, and a second signal source positioned at a second, shallower depth in the body of water. Various embodiments include controlling the first and second depths such that the first signal source and the second signal source are positioned at substantially the same distance from a target subsurface location in a geological formation. Further, in various embodiments, the first and second signal sources are activated to generate first and second seismic signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Walter Söllner, Okwudili Orji
  • Publication number: 20190120982
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to tuned seismic signal source arrays for use in seismic surveying. In various embodiments, a survey vessel deploys a plurality of signal sources, including a first signal source and a second signal source, where the first signal source is positioned at a first distance from a subsurface location in a geological formation and the second signal source is positioned at a second distance from the subsurface location that is less than the first distance. Further, various embodiments include performing a first activation of the first signal source at a first time to generate a first seismic signal, and performing a second activation of the second signal source at a second time to generate a second seismic signal, where a particular activation characteristic of the first and second activations differs based on a differences between the first distance and the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Walter Söllner, Okwudili Orji
  • Publication number: 20190113644
    Abstract: Marine seismic use of a harmonic distorted signal can include calculating a source wavefield based on nearfield measurements of a direct arrival signal from a marine vibrator source including harmonic distortion, calculating a receiver wavefield based on far-field measurements of a signal from the marine vibrator source after reflection from a subsurface location, and performing a multidimensional deconvolution of a source ghost effect, a source signature effect, and the harmonic distortion from the calculated receiver wavefield to determine a reflectivity of the subsurface location with the harmonic distortion suppressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Walter F. Söllner, Okwudili Orji
  • Publication number: 20180321406
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to geophysical surveying. In some embodiments, a marine survey vessel tows multiple sensor streamers including a group of four innermost streamers in a cross-line direction relative to a centerline of tow. In some embodiments, the vessel tows two or more vibratory sources between two outermost streamers in the first group, in a cross-line direction. In some embodiments, the two or more sources are simultaneously operated using different codes that are uncorrelated to at least a threshold degree. Various disclosed narrow-tow techniques may allow increased streamer separation without reducing cross-line bin size and/or reduce cross-line bin size for a given streamer separation, relative to conventional techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Christian Strand, Manuel Beitz, Okwudili Orji, Averrouz Mostavan, Stig Rune Lennart Tenghamn, Anders Göran Mattsson
  • Publication number: 20180321410
    Abstract: Determining a far field signature of a source array can include receiving data associated with a sea surface state and determining a coherent portion and an incoherent portion of a reflection coefficient of the sea surface based on the received data. A notional source signature of each source of the source array can be determined based on the coherent portion, the incoherent portion, and near field data associated with each of the sources, and the far field signature of the source array can be determined based on the notional source signatures of each of the sources. The notional source signature and the far field signature can be stored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: PGS Geophysical AS
    Inventors: Okwudili Orji, Endrias Asgedom, Daniel Martin Lewis Barker, Walter F. Söllner