Abstract: A lead-in cable used to tow a streamer behind a vessel includes a replaceable portion removably connected between a portion of the lead-in cable attached to the vessel and the streamer. Alternatively a lead-in additional cable is inserted between a lead-in cable and a towed streamer. The replaceable portion or the lead-in additional cable covers a portion most likely to be damaged between the streamer and the towing vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus, computer instructions and method for combining first and second records to form a substantially deghosted seismic record.

Abstract: A source element for generating seismic waves includes a housing; a partitioning element placed inside the housing and configured to split the housing in a closed chamber and an opened chamber; and a valve in fluid communication with the closed chamber and configured to supply high-pressure air to the closed chamber to make the partitioning element oscillates. An oscillation of the partitioning element generates low-frequency seismic waves.

Abstract: Node, system and method for collecting seismic data. A node for collecting seismic data includes a base configured to land on the ocean floor; and a head connected to the base through a connecting member and configured to bury itself into the ocean floor. The head includes a seismic sensor configured to detect seismic data and first to third burying units configured to bury the head.

Abstract: A recovery underwater base for handling an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) equipped with seismic sensors for recording seismic signals during a marine seismic survey. The recovery underwater base includes a storing part configured to store the AUV; an inlet part configured to control access to the storing part; a control part configured to control the inlet part; and a support part configured to support the control part, the storing part and the inlet part and to prevent a burial of the recovery underwater base if deployed on the ocean bottom. The control part is further configured to guide the AUV from the ocean bottom to the inlet part.

Abstract: Apparatus, computer instructions and method for controlling an energy output of a source array to be used in a seismic survey for illuminating a subsurface. The method includes generating a model (?) based on up-going (U) and down-going (D) components of seismic waves generated by source elements that form the source array; calculating the amplitudes and phases of each source element based on the model (?); and driving the source array based on the calculated amplitudes and phases for the source elements so that a ghost generated by the source array is reduced at emission.

Abstract: Presented are methods and systems for tracking and assessing drilling fluid flow and performance and, accordingly, detecting drilling mud return depth. The drilling mud is injected with a mineralogical dopant in an amount that does not affect the physical or chemical properties of the drilling mud. The doped drilling mud is injected into a known mud pulse and a detector identifies the mud pulse in which the mineralogical dopant emerges from the borehole, allowing calculation of the drilling mud return depth.

Abstract: A method for determining pore-space metrics for geological samples may include receiving an image of a geological sample, determining, via image processing, pore-space regions within the image of the geological sample, and measuring the pore-space regions to provide a pore-space metric for the geological sample. The method may also include determining a geo-mechanical property for the geological sample using the pore-space metric and adjusting a hydrocarbon recovery operation according to the pore-space metric or the geo-mechanical property. A corresponding system and apparatus are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Wide azimuth data acquisition systems using at least three streamer sets achieve shorter survey time and enhanced angular coverage relative to conventional systems using two streamer sets. Various techniques such as high-density seismic source activation and alternating surveyed bands with skipped bands lead to data quality similar to the conventional system, while maintaining the increased productivity advantage.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for a marine seismic streamer usable underwater for marine seismic surveys. The marine seismic streamer includes: a lead-in section; at least one bird section; at least one data acquisition module; and at least one vibration module configured to vibrate the marine seismic streamer, wherein the lead-in section, the at least one bird section, the at least one data acquisition module and the at least one vibration module are connected together to form the marine seismic streamer.

Abstract: Wide azimuth data acquisition systems using at least three streamer sets achieve shorter survey time and enhanced angular coverage relative to conventional systems using two streamer sets. Various techniques such as high-density seismic source activation and alternating surveyed bands with skipped bands lead to data quality similar to the conventional system, while maintaining the increased productivity advantage.

Abstract: A seismic data acquisition system is configured to collect seismic data. The system includes a marine source array configured to be attached to a fixed structure floating at the water surface and including vibratory source elements; and a controller configured to control the vibratory source elements so that a beam formed by the source array is steerable.

Abstract: There is a method for finding a best distribution of source elements that form a vibratory source array. The method includes inputting plural constraints for the source elements; generating plural distributions of the source elements that fulfill the plural constraints; calculating for each distribution a performance index characterizing the source array; and selecting the best distribution from the plural distributions based on a value of the performance index.

Abstract: There is a method for obtaining control of a source array configured to generate seismic waves. The method includes accessing an interface unit attached to a fixed structure that is substantially stationary in water, the interface unit being connected to a source array; entering a passcode to the interface unit to gain access to the source array; downloading a shooting sequence or a driving signal to a controller of the source array; and actuating the source array to generate seismic energy into water.

Abstract: Computing device, computer instructions and method for denoising input seismic data d. The method includes receiving the input seismic data d recorded in a first domain by seismic receivers, wherein the input seismic data d includes pure seismic data ss relating to an exploration source and coherent noise data n generated by a man-made device; generating a model m in a second domain to describe the input seismic data d; and processing the model m to obtain an output seismic dataset d? indicative of seismic data substantially free of the coherent noise data n generated by the man-made device.

Abstract: Computing device, computer instructions and method for de-ghosting seismic data related to a subsurface. The method may include receiving input seismic data recorded by seismic receivers that located at different depths (zr), generating migration data (du) and mirror migration data (dd) from the input seismic data, deriving a ghost free model (m) based on simultaneously using the migration data (du) and mirror migration data (dd), generating primary (p) and ghost (g) datasets based on the ghost free model (m), simultaneously adaptively subtracting the primary (p) and ghost (g) datasets from the migration data (du) to provide adapted primary (p?1 and p?2) and adapted residual (r?1 and r?2) datasets, and generating a final image (f) of the subsurface based on the adapted primary (p?1 and p?2) and the adapted residual (r?1 and r?2) datasets. In certain embodiments, the input seismic data d includes both hydrophone data and particle motion data.

Abstract: Presented are methods and systems for regularizing content of multi-component seismic data. The method includes a step of receiving the seismic data, wherein the seismic data includes pressure and particle motion measurements and a step of regularizing and frequency optimizing the seismic data to desired positions based on Fresnel zones selected at various depths in a subsurface to obtain a regularized seismic dataset.

Abstract: A marine survey system includes a collar configured to be affixed to a tow member, to connect a separation member to the tow member and to release the separation member when a lock-release condition is met. Alternatively or additionally, the marine survey system includes a variable drag force mechanism configured to generate a first drag force pushing the collar downstream before the collar reaches a downstream element beyond which the collar cannot move, and to generate a second drag force after the collar has reached the downstream element.

Abstract: A method for processing seismic data includes receiving seismic data and a velocity model (c(x)) for a plurality of locations (x), scaling a dimension of the seismic data according to the velocity model (c(x)) to provide a velocity normalized seismic data, and generating a final image (S(x)) of the subsurface using the velocity normalized seismic data. The velocity normalized seismic data may be a reverse-time migration image (I(x,?)) corresponding to the plurality of locations (x) and a plurality of propagation distance offsets (?). The method may also include transforming the reverse-time migration image (I(x,?)) for the plurality of selected positions (x) to a wavenumber domain to provide velocity normalized wavenumber data (I(k,?)) and suppressing data components corresponding to non-physical or undefined reflection angles to provide enhanced wavenumber data (I?(k,?)) and using the enhanced wavenumber data (I?(k,?)) to generate the final image (S(x)). A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An underwater base handles an autonomous underwater vehicle. The underwater base includes a storing part configured to store the AUV; a control part configured to control the storing part; and a support part configured to support the control part and the storing part and to prevent a burial of the underwater base into the ocean bottom. The control part is further configured to guide the AUV while approaching a desired target position on the ocean bottom.