Abstract: A method for generating an average gamma factor for recorded PS data and recorded PP data. The method includes mapping one or more arrival times of the recorded PS data onto one or more expected arrival times of the recorded PP data using an estimated average gamma factor, identifying one or more corresponding pairs of events in the recorded PS data and the recorded PP data using forward modeling, applying geophysical reasoning on the corresponding pairs of events and generating the average gamma factor.

Abstract: A system for adjusting a deflector in a seismic survey comprises a generally upright deflector body and at least one bridle connected to a seismic cable. The bridle includes an upper segment secured to an upper connection point on the deflector body, and a lower segment coupled to a lower connection point on the deflector body. The upper bridle segment, lower bridle segment and deflector body define a geometry between themselves. This geometry is adjustable by at least one actuator so as to control the tilt angle of the deflector body.

Abstract: Systems and methods for asynchronously acquiring seismic data are described, one system comprising one or more seismic sources, a plurality of sensor modules each comprising a seismic sensor, an A/D converter for generating digitized seismic data, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a sensor module clock; a seismic data recording station; and a seismic data transmission sub-system comprising a high precision clock, the sub-system allowing transmission of at least some of the digitized seismic data to the recording station, wherein each sensor module is configured to periodically receive from the sub-system an amount of the drift of its clock relative to the high precision clock.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a segmented antenna system. The method includes determining an orientation of a first antenna, the first antenna including a plurality of segments for transmitting and receiving signals, determining a direction from the first antenna to a second antenna capable or at least one of transmitting and receiving signals, and selecting at least one of the plurality of segments of the first antenna using the determined orientation of the first antenna and the determined direction.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for acquiring marine seismic data are described. One method comprises selecting tow depth of one or more marine seismic streamers based at least in part on lack of or presence of currents at different depths, and allowing the current to contribute to steering the streamers to desired lateral positions at the selected tow depth. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for acquiring seismic data using a seabed seismic data cable positioned on a seabed are described, including correcting for the effect of one or more sensor non-linear motions, which improves accuracy of seismic data. One or multiple non-linear movements of the sensor may be corrected for. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in seismic prospecting are disclosed. The method includes: attenuating coherent noise in a seismic data set generated from a sweep signal; and correlating the coherent noise-attenuated seismic data set to the sweep signal. The apparatus includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device perform the method and a computer programmed to perform the method.

Abstract: A method to attenuate unwanted signals in seismic data using seismic interferometry techniques. In one implementation, seismograms may be converted into seismic interferograms. In the seismic interferogram domain, unwanted signals may be attenuated by various techniques, such as muting, filtering and the like. The modified seismic interferograms may then be converted back into seismograms with the unwanted signals having been attenuated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for directional de-signature of a seismic signal. The method includes forming a plurality of far-field signatures representative of a plurality of seismic signals having a plurality of take-off angles, associating a plurality of traces representative of a plurality of reflections of the seismic signals with the plurality of far-field signatures, and forming a plurality of de-signatured traces from the plurality of traces and the plurality of associated far-field signatures.

Abstract: Method for building a subsalt velocity model. In one implementation, the method may include determining a velocity of a sedimentary area surrounding a salt body, determining an initial velocity of a subsalt sedimentary area disposed below the salt body by interpolating the velocity of the surrounding sedimentary area with one or more boundaries defining the salt body, and updating the initial velocity of the subsalt sedimentary area.

Abstract: Correcting seismograms to compensate for absorption or dissipative effects that occur in the earth. In one implementation, a ratio of traveltime (t) to absorption parameter (Q) may be computed for each seismogram. The ratio may be referred to as R. Further, the ratio may be computed for a predetermined set of traveltimes. As a result, a system of linear equations may be generated, where each ratio is represented by a linear equation having a number of unknown components. The system of linear equations may then be solved for the unknown components. The solved components may then be recombined or added to generate an estimate of R. In one implementation, only a portion of the solved components may be added. The seismograms may then be corrected using the estimate of R. As such, the seismograms may be corrected for absorption effects in a surface consistent manner.

Abstract: A method determining a calibration filter to calibrate a first component of multi-component seismic data relative to a second component of the seismic data comprises determining the calibration filter from a portion of the seismic data that contains only events arising from critical refraction of seismic energy. The method is particularly suitable for long-off-set data, since the first arrival will be a critical refraction event and an automatic picking method may be used. The present invention also provides a wavenumber dependent calibration filter that is obtained from a calibration filter obtained from data in one offset range and another calibration filter obtained from data in another offset range.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting a plurality of surface multiples for a plurality of traces in a record of seismic data. In one embodiment, the method includes providing a plurality of target traces at a nominal offset and a nominal azimuth; selecting a plurality of pairs of input traces, wherein the midpoints of the input traces in each pair are separated by half the nominal offset and the azimuth of a line connecting the midpoints of the input traces in each pair is equal to the nominal azimuth; convolving the selected pairs of input traces to generate a plurality of convolutions; and applying a three dimensional operator to the convolutions.

Abstract: Method for determining acceptability of sensor locations used to perform a seismic survey. In one implementation, the method includes obtaining a first set of reference data, generating a first output trace from a second set of reference data estimated from the first set of reference data at a plurality of planned sensor locations, generating a second output trace from a third set of reference data estimated at a plurality of actual sensor locations and comparing the second output trace with the first output trace to determine whether the variation between the second output trace and the first output trace is less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for connecting two seismic streamers are disclosed that enable two streamers to be towed in a desired arrangement. One apparatus comprises an elongate member having a first portion and a second portion, and an orientation member connected to the elongate member between the first and second portions, the orientation member functioning, when the streamers are connected by the apparatus and towed, to maintain orientation of the streamers. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: The technologies described herein include systems and methods for encoding/decoding seismic sources and responses, generating and using of source-side derivatives while also generating and using the conventional source response. Sources in an array may be encoded such that activation of each source in the array constitutes a single spike in a sequence orthogonal to another sequence emitted by another source. The responses to these different sources that are in close spatial proximity can be decoded and separated. Source-side derivatives may be calculated and utilized in various applications in combination with the monopole response from the source location, including source-side deghosting, spatial (horizontal and vertical) interpolation and imaging.

Abstract: Implementations of various technologies for processing seismic data. In one implementation, the seismic data may be processed by creating a fictitious source-receiver line connecting a source with a receiver location of interest, projecting one or more receiver locations adjacent the receiver location of interest onto the fictitious source-receiver line and decomposing seismic data on the receiver locations disposed on the fictitious source-receiver line into up-going wavefields and down-going wavefields.

Abstract: A method of processing geophysical data including determining the azimuth of a mirror symmetry plane within the earth from the geophysical data having sets of geophysical data acquired with different source-receiver azimuths. The data are processed to determine attributes of the geophysical data that are azimuth-dependent. One azimuth-dependent attribute of the geophysical data is selected, and a value of the source-receiver azimuth about which the selected attribute exhibits mirror symmetry is determined. This locates a mirror symmetry plane within the earth. The value of the source-receiver azimuth may be determined by generating an objective function indicative of the difference between the actual value of an attribute at one azimuth and the value predicted for that attribute at that azimuth using a trial estimate of the azimuth of a mirror symmetry plane, and finding the azimuth of a mirror symmetry plane that minimizes the objective function.

Abstract: A method includes recording a first set of data using a first type of sensor; recording a second set of data using a second type of sensor, the first and second sets of data being contemporaneously acquired by co-located sensors; and removing noise from the first data set using the second data set. An apparatus includes a survey vessel towing an array of towed streamers including a plurality of paired, co-located sensors densely distributed along the streamers. A first one of each sensor pair is of a first type and a second one of each sensor pair is of a second type. A computing apparatus records a first set of data acquire by the first type of sensor and a second data set acquire by the second type of sensor. The computing apparatus then removes noise from the first data set using the second data set.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for positioning a center of a seismic source. The method includes determining a desired center-of-source of the seismic source and selecting one of a first and a second plurality of guns to form the seismic source based upon the desired center-of-source, a center-of-source of the first plurality being different than a center-of-source of the second plurality.