Abstract: Global inversion of multi-vintage seismic data uses simulated annealing to minimize a cost function simultaneously for all vintages and all angle stacks to yield values of geophysical properties. Each vintage is generated from an independent seismic survey of a subsurface structure conducted over a distinct period of time and includes seismic traces and angle stacks. An initial model of the subsurface structure is used and includes values for geophysical properties and time shift maps between vintages. The time shift map contains shifts in the seismic trace between vintages. The cost function includes a time shift map term for the difference between the time shift map and a calculated time shift of the seismic trace between vintages and is based on a proposed perturbation to at least one of the geophysical properties. The time shift map is also used as a global constraint on proposed perturbations of subsurface properties.

Abstract: Global inversion of multi-vintage seismic data uses simulated annealing to minimize a cost function simultaneously for all vintages and all angle stacks to yield values of geophysical properties. Each vintage is generated from an independent seismic survey of a subsurface structure conducted over a distinct period of time and includes seismic traces and angle stacks. An initial model of the subsurface structure is used and includes values for geophysical properties and time shift maps between vintages. The time shift map contains shifts in the seismic trace between vintages. The cost function includes a time shift map term for the difference between the time shift map and a calculated time shift of the seismic trace between vintages and is based on a proposed perturbation to at least one of the geophysical properties. The time shift map is also used as a global constraint on proposed perturbations of subsurface properties.

Abstract: A method is provided for predicting a value of a designated rock or fluid property in a subterranean geologic volume. A first predicted value of the designated rock or fluid property is also assigned to a volume of a multi-dimensional, multi-scale model. A first predicted value of seismic response for the model volume is calculated from a response model using the first predicted value of the designated rock or fluid property, wherein the response model is responsive to changes in predicted values of the designated rock or fluid property. A synthetic trace is generated and iteratively compared to the corresponding trace obtained from one or more sets of actual seismic data to determine a difference while consistency is maintained between the types, scales and dimensions of values and data.

Abstract: A method is provided for predicting a value of a designated rock or fluid property in a subterranean geologic volume. A first predicted value of the designated rock or fluid property is also assigned to a volume of a multi-dimensional, multi-scale model. A first predicted value of seismic response for the model volume is calculated from a response model using the first predicted value of the designated rock or fluid property, wherein the response model is responsive to changes in predicted values of the designated rock or fluid property. A synthetic trace is generated and iteratively compared to the corresponding trace obtained from one or more sets of actual seismic data to determine a difference while consistency is maintained between the types, scales and dimensions of values and data.

Abstract: The charting method consists in realising a recordings acquisition, constituting on the basis of the recorded seismic traces, a 3D seismic block (X, Y, T) sampled in elementary cells (C.sub.ijk), such that each elementary cell contains a sample (k) of a central seismic trace (TR.sub.ij), calculating for each elementary cell (C.sub.ijk) of the seismic block, the energy thereof, and fixing an energy threshold beyond which the presence Tk of anomaly zones is considered probable, selecting cells of the block which have energy equal or superior to the said threshold, coding the selected cells, such that all the cells belonging to a same contiguously selected cell set have the same code and the selected cells belonging to distinct contiguously selected cell sets have different codes, and effecting an XY projection of the coded cell block.

Abstract: A method of acquiring and processing seismic data for repetitive monitoring of displacement of fluids impregnating a reservoir deep in the sub-surface below the surface weathered zone comprises the steps of: making at each point of a predetermined grid on the surface a vertical axis shallow borehole in the earth above the reservoir passing through the surface weathered zone; positioning in each borehole along its vertical axis a plurality of fixed receivers adapted to be connected separately to a seismic recorder on the surface; emitting near each borehole seismic waves into the earth by means of an emitter on the surface or close to the surface near the vertical axis of the borehole; recording for each borehole by means of receivers placed in the borehole the direct incident seismic waves and the seismic waves reflected at the interfaces of deep strata of the sub-surface, each receiver providing a separate record of an incident wave and a plurality of reflected waves; and carrying out the following processin