Abstract: A technique for decomposing a recorded wave field represented in a set of multicomponent, marine seismic data centers around a computer-implemented method including: estimating the statistics of the noise terms in each one of a predetermined group of seismic measurements in a seismic data set acquired in a marine survey; modeling the physical propagation of a recorded wave field represented in the seismic data set from the estimated statistics; and estimating a directional component of the recorded wave field from the physical propagation model that minimizes error relative to the seismic measurements.

Abstract: A particle motion sensor, includes: a sensing element capable of sensing a particle motion vector from a change in position thereof, and a packing material in which the sensing element is positioned, wherein the particle motion sensor is symmetric about its longitudinal axis and has a center of gravity coincident with its volumetric center. An apparatus includes a streamer; a plurality of acoustic sensors distributed along the streamer; and a plurality of particle motion sensors distributed along the streamer, at least one particle motion sensor being symmetric about its longitudinal axis and having a center of gravity coincident with its volumetric center.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for acquiring seismic data using a seabed seismic data cable positioned on a seabed are described, including controlling effect of water flow on the cable during data acquisition using fairing elements, which may be caused to extend from the cable generally transversely as water flows past the cable. Alternate paths for water underneath the cable may also be provided, reducing lift forces on the cable. 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 1.72(b).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for collecting data acquired during a seismic survey are disclosed. The apparatus is a seismic survey system, comprising a plurality of data sources, a plurality of cells, and a plurality of independent pathways. The data sources are positioned about an area to be surveyed, each data source being associated with a transmitter capable of transmitting data. The cells each contain a portion of the data sources and their associated transmitters. One of the transmitters within each cell also serves as a gateway for receiving data transmitted from the other data source transmitters within the cell. The independent pathways each contain a portion of the gateways whereby data may be transmitted along each pathway via the gateways and associated transmitters in that pathway. The method is a method for conducting a seismic survey.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a method for use in a time lapse, marine seismic survey includes accessing a set of baseline seismic data; accessing a set of acquired, time lapse seismic data; and interpolating a set of time lapse seismic data from the baseline seismic data and the acquired time lapse seismic data, at least one of the baseline seismic data and the acquired time lapse seismic data being multicomponent data. In other aspects, a program storage medium is encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, perform the above method and a computing apparatus programmed to perform one or more of such methods.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for wave field separation. The method includes accessing a marine seismic data set acquired by a plurality of receivers deployed at a first plurality of depths in response to a plurality of acoustic signals provided by a plurality of seismic sources deployed at a second plurality of depths and forming at least one de-ghosted marine seismic data set based upon the plurality of seismic data sets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for seismic data acquisition. One embodiment of the method includes accessing data acquired by at least two particle motion sensors. The data includes a seismic signal and a noise signal and the at least two particle motion sensors being separated by a length determined based on a noise coherence length. The method may also include processing the accessed data to remove a portion of the noise signal.

Abstract: A method includes conditioning a set of multicomponent seismic data and sensor orientation data, the multicomponent seismic data including pressure data and particle motion data, acquired in a towed array, marine seismic survey; digital group forming the conditioned pressure data, a vertical particle motion component of the conditioned particle motion data, and the conditioned sensor orientation data; and summing the digitally group formed pressure data and the digitally group formed vertical particle motion component.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for wave field separation. The method includes determining a first operator using marine seismic data acquired at a first depth and receivers deployed at a second depth, determining a second operator using marine seismic data acquired at a second depth, wherein the second depth is greater than the first depth, and forming a de-ghosted data set from the marine seismic data set based upon the first and second operators.

Abstract: A method, comprising: generating a macro P-wave velocity model, including resolution of residual moveout errors, using reflection tomography from a seismic data set; generating a diffraction response from the macro P-wave velocity model for a given common image gather location therein assuming a locally laterally invariant model; converting the generated diffraction response for the given common image gather location to a migrated reflection response to yield a modeled data set; comparing the modeled data set to the given common image point from the seismic data set; updating the macro P-wave velocity model based on the result of the comparison; and iterating the diffraction response generation, the diffraction response conversion, comparison, and update until the modeled data set converges to the common image gathers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a coupling device (300). The coupling device includes a collar (315, 405) defining an opening therethrough to receive a seismic sensor (305) such that the collar (315, 405) permits rotation about the seismic sensor (305) and at least three extensions (320, 410) from the collar, the extensions (320, 410) being capable of rotating with the collar (315, 405) such that any two of them may couple to the ground.

Abstract: A method of processing multi-component seismic data acquired at a receiver station comprises determining a calibration filter that calibrate a first component of the seismic data relative to a second component of the seismic data in order to compensate for differences in coupling between the two components. The determination of the calibration filter comprises processing the data in the common shot domain. This allows optimisation criteria to be applied to the up- and down-going constituents of particle velocity, and this is simpler than prior art methods of applying optimisation criteria to the up-going and down-going constituents of the pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for orienting and for coupling geophones relative to soil. A hammer device oriented to the vertical drives a head into the soil to generate a case opening. Vertical orientation of the case opening and depth automatically orients a geophone case to vertical and further controls the coupling of the geophone to the soil. Such combination facilitates orientation of the geophone to the selected compass heading and significantly reduces corrective data processing. Control over case opening placement in different soil conditions is automatically provided, and data regarding local position and orientation is recorded for future data processing. Operator errors are reduced and overall production efficiency is enhanced.