Patents Assigned to WesternGeco L.L.C.
  • Vibroseis acquisition method
    Patent number: 8811116
    Abstract: A method of performing a Vibroseis survey is described including the step of obtaining signals generated by activating vibratory sources at times T0 and T1, respectively, for a sweep period S and a listening time L such that T1<T0+S+L, wherein harmonic noise within the signals are attenuated using a first method to estimate the harmonics in a time-frequency interval in which harmonics of the sweep T1 overlap with the response to the fundamental of sweep T1 and using a second method for estimating the harmonics in a time-frequency with no overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Claudio Bagaini
  • Marine vibrator with improved seal
    Patent number: 8804462
    Abstract: A marine vibrator with improved seal is described. The marine vibrator includes a housing and piston within the housing for generating vibratory signals. The improved seal is comprised of a two-stage seal having a first seal disposed adjacent the water interface and a second seal disposed away from the water interface, thus improving the reliability of the marine vibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kamal Babour, Emmanuel Coste, Martin Howlid
  • COMPUTING ROTATION DATA USING A GRADIENT OF TRANSLATIONAL DATA
    Publication number: 20140219055
    Abstract: Translational data in a first direction is measured by particle motion sensors contained in an elongated housing of a sensor device provided at an earth surface. The particle motion sensors are spaced apart along a second, different direction along a longitudinal axis of the elongated housing. Rotation data around a third direction is computed based at least in part on computing a gradient of the translational data with respect to the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: NICOLAS GOUJON, PASCAL EDME, ARTEM KASHUBIN, EVERHARD JOHAN MIUJZERT
  • COMPUTING A GRADIENT BASED ON DIFFERENCES OF PLURAL PAIRS OF PARTICLE MOTION SENSORS
    Publication number: 20140219053
    Abstract: A seismic sensor device includes an elongated housing for placement at least partially into an earth surface. A plurality of particle motion sensors are contained in the elongated housing to measure translational data in a first direction, where plural pairs of the particle motion sensors are spaced apart along a second, different direction along a longitudinal axis of the elongated housing. A communication interface communicates the measured translational data to a computer system configured to compute a gradient based on respective differences of the measured translational data of the corresponding plural pairs of the particle motion sensors, and compute one or more of rotation data and divergence data using the gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: NICOLAS GOUJON, PASCAL EDME, ARTEM KASHUBIN, EVERHARD JOHAN MUIJZERT, CLAUDIO BAGAINI
  • Seismic acquisition system
    Patent number: 8797827
    Abstract: Various technologies for a seismic acquisition system, which may include an acquisition central system configured to determine a desired start time for a sweep cycle in one or more vibrators and a recorder source system controller in communication with the acquisition central system. The recorder source system controller may be configured to receive the desired start time from the acquisition central system. The seismic acquisition system may further include one or more vibrator units in communication with the recorder source system controller. Each vibrator unit may be configured to start a sweep cycle in a vibrator at the desired start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Martin Laycock
  • Seismic vibratory acquisition method and apparatus
    Patent number: 8797826
    Abstract: A method and related apparatus are described for generating acoustic signals for use in a vibratory seismic survey, including at least two different sweep signals for the control of at least two different types of vibrators; and matching the phases of the different sweep signals at a transition frequency from one sweep signal to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Claudio Bagaini
  • FLUID MIGRATION PATHWAY DETERMINATION
    Publication number: 20140214327
    Abstract: A method of determining a migration pathway of a subterranean fluid through a geological volume is provided. The starting object is located within the geological volume. The starting object defines an initial fluid boundary. Data points are distributed through the geological volume. The data points are associated with values of one or more geological attributes. The method includes the steps of: defining an expression which determines a change in position of the fluid boundary at the data points over an iteration based on the values of the one or more attributes; and applying the expression at the data points for successive iterations to evolve the fluid boundary over the successive iterations. The migration pathway of the subterranean fluid through the geological volume can then be determined from the evolution of the fluid boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: ODA ROALDSDOTTER RAVNDAL, JARLE HAUKÅS, BJØRN HARALD FOTLAND, LARS SØNNELAND
  • SALT BODY EXTRACTION
    Publication number: 20140214328
    Abstract: A method of extracting a salt body from a geological volume is provided. A starting object is located within the geological volume. The starting object defines an initial salt body boundary. Data points are distributed through the geological volume. The data points are associated with values of one or more geological attributes. The method includes the steps of: defining an expression which determines a change in position of the salt body boundary at the data points over an iteration based on the values of the one or more attributes; and applying the expression at the data points for successive iterations to evolve the salt body boundary over the successive iterations until a final form for the evolved salt body is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: JARLE HAUKÅS, ODA ROALDSDOTTER RAVNDAL, LARS SØNNELAND
  • Estimating anisotropic parameters
    Patent number: 8792302
    Abstract: A method for processing seismic data. The method includes performing a plurality of stochastic simulations for one or more rock model parameters to generate one or more anisotropic parameters for a subsurface area of the earth. The method then derives one or more joint multi-dimensional probability density functions for the anisotropic parameters. Using the joint multi-dimensional probability density functions and measured well log data, the method computes one or more posterior probability density functions. The method then includes deriving one or more anisotropic profiles from the posterior probability density functions and generating a seismic image from the anisotropic profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Ran Bachrach
  • Interconnecting tow members of a marine seismic system
    Patent number: 8792298
    Abstract: A marine seismic system having a tow vessel; a first tow member connected to the tow vessel; a second tow member connected to the tow vessel; a first distance member having a first end connected to the first tow member and a second end connected to the second tow member; and a first attachment device connecting the first end to the first tow member, the first attachment member operational between an engaged position securing the first end of the distance member in a fixed position relative to the first tow member and a disengaged position permitting the first attachment device to move along a portion of the first tow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Rune Toennessen
  • MULTI-VESSEL COIL SHOOTING ACQUISITION
    Publication number: 20140204709
    Abstract: Methods for efficiently acquiring full-azimuth towed streamer survey data are described. The methods use multiple vessels to perform coil shooting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: NICOLAE MOLDOVEANU, STEVEN FEALY
  • SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION USING WATER VEHICLES
    Publication number: 20140204708
    Abstract: A seismic acquisition system. The seismic acquisition system may include at least one unmanned water vehicle. The seismic acquisition system may also include at least one seismic streamer coupled to the at least one unmanned water vehicle, where the at least one seismic streamer has one or more seismic sensors coupled thereto for recording seismic data in a survey area. The seismic acquisition system may further include a buoyancy compensation mechanism coupled to the at least one seismic streamer, where the buoyancy compensation mechanism is configured to orient the at least one seismic streamer between a generally vertical direction and a generally horizontal direction through a water column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: EVERHARD MUIJZERT, KENNETH E. WELKER
  • Devices and methods for positioning TOWs in marine seismic systems
    Patent number: 8787111
    Abstract: A method and system for deploying seismic tows, such as seismic streamers, from a common carrier rope for conducting marine seismic surveys. The deployment system generally comprises a carrier rope having at least one deflector urging the carrier rope laterally relative to the towing vessel and seismic tows that are independently moveable along the deployed carrier rope to desired locations from which to be deployed. The carrier rope may be deployed from the tow vessel into the water prior to deploying the seismic streamer(s) into the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Lars Borgen, Martin Howlid
  • SEISMIC DATA PROCESSING
    Publication number: 20140200816
    Abstract: Described herein are implementations of various technologies for a method for processing seismic data corresponding to a region of interest. The method may receive the seismic data. The method may separate the received seismic data into refraction packets and reflection packets. The method may receive a model for the region of interest. The method may update a first portion of the received model using the refraction packets with refraction traveltime tomography. The method may use the updated model to facilitate hydrocarbon exploration or production.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: CHENGBIN PENG, JUN TANG, MARTA WOODWARD
  • SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION USING SELF-PROPELLED UNDERWATER VEHICLES
    Publication number: 20140198609
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the use of a self-propelled underwater vehicle for seismic data acquisition. The self-propelled underwater vehicle is adapted to gather seismic data from the seafloor and transmit such data to a control vessel. The self-propelled underwater vehicle may be redeployed to several seafloor locations during a seismic survey. Methods for real-time modeling of a target zone and redeployment of the self-propelled underwater vehicle based on the modeling are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: KENNETH E. WELKER, JULIAN EDWARD KRAGH
  • SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION USING SELF-PROPELLED UNDERWATER VEHICLES
    Publication number: 20140198610
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the use of a self-propelled underwater vehicle for seismic data acquisition. The self-propelled underwater vehicle is adapted to gather seismic data from the seafloor and transmit such data to a control vessel. The self-propelled underwater vehicle may be redeployed to several seafloor locations during a seismic survey. Methods for real-time modeling of a target zone and redeployment of the self-propelled underwater vehicle based on the modeling are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: KENNETH E. WELKER, JULIAN EDWARD KRAGH
  • METHODS AND COMPUTING SYSTEMS FOR SURVEY DESIGN AND MODELING WORKFLOW FOR TOWED MULTIMEASUREMENT SEISMIC STREAMER DATA
    Publication number: 20140200854
    Abstract: Modular workflows for determining acquisition geometry and efficiency using 3D deghosting and wavefield reconstruction methods enabled by multicomponent seismic information are disclosed, which may be performed as methods. In some embodiments, such methods may be performed on computing systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: KURT EGGENBERGER, PHILIP A. F. CHRISTIE, MASSIMILIANO VASSALLO, DIRK-JAN VAN MANEN
  • WAVEFIELD EXTRAPOLATION AND IMAGING USING SINGLE- OR MULTI-COMPONENT SEISMIC MEASUREMENTS
    Publication number: 20140200820
    Abstract: Described herein are architectures, platforms, computing systems, and methods for mitigating noise in wavefield extrapolation and imaging. In one aspect, a method of wavefield extrapolation is provided that includes receiving data representing at least one measurement of pressure wavefield or particle motion wavefield; modeling the received data as a sum of signal and noise; providing a noise model to components of the received data; and weighting the measured components of the received data to reduce the impact of noise of results of the wavefield extrapolation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: NIZARE EL YADARI, YOUSIF IZZELDIN KAMIL, MASSIMILIANO VASSALLO
  • PROCESSING SURVEY DATA FOR DETERMINING A WAVEFIELD
    Publication number: 20140200812
    Abstract: Survey data corresponding to a subsurface region of interest is received. A wavefield is determined by iteratively performing the following until a specified condition is satisfied. For a current iteration, an element that includes a representation of at least one portion of the wavefield is selected based at least in part on a current residual representing an approximation error. For the current iteration, a respective data structure is computed from the selected element. The data structure is orthogonally projected onto a space spanned by a plurality of data structures including the computed data structure. The current residual is based at least in part on the orthogonal projection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventor: PHILIP WILLIAM KITCHENSIDE
  • Attenuating noise in seismic data
    Patent number: 8781749
    Abstract: Noise may be filtered or attenuated from seismic data by building a four-dimensional volume using the acquired seismic data and then applying a random noise attenuation filter to the four-dimensional volume. The dimensions of the four-dimensional volume may include a trace number dimension, a time dimension, a shot number dimension, and a cable number dimension. The random noise attenuation filter may filter portions of the acquired seismic data if the seismic data is not correlated with respect to other seismic data in the four dimensional volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Craig Beasley