Patents Assigned to WesternGeco L.L.C.
  • Patent number: 8780670
    Abstract: An embodiment according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure for conducting a marine survey includes a survey spread comprising a plurality of receivers and an energy source that is towed along a selected course while a signal is emitted from an energy source. A plurality of receivers receive data comprising a detection sampling frequency and a survey sampling frequency. The survey sampling frequency is monitored to detect a cetacean vocalization and to position the cetacean at least while conducting the seismic survey. Pursuant to the location of the cetacean actions can be taken to protect the cetacean and to minimize disruptions in conducting the seismic survey.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kambiz Iranpour, Svein Arne Frivik, Espen Gulbransen, Halvor Sehested Groenaas
  • Publication number: 20140192620
    Abstract: To perform noise attenuation for seismic surveying, a sensor assembly is deployed on a ground surface, where the sensor assembly has a seismic sensor to measure seismic waves propagated through a subterranean structure, and a divergence sensor comprising a pressure sensor to measure noise. First data is received from the seismic sensor, and second data is received from the divergence sensor. The first data and the second data are combined to attenuate noise in the first data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: PASCAL EDME, EVERHARD MUIJZERT, JULIAN EDWARD KRAGH, JOHAN O. A. ROBERTSSON, QUINGLIN LIU
  • Publication number: 20140195611
    Abstract: Computing systems and methods for geosciences collaboration are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for geosciences collaboration includes obtaining a first set of geosciences information from a first computer system of the plurality of computer systems; distributing the first set of geosciences information from the first computer system to at least a second computer system; receiving a user input from the second computer system of the plurality of computer systems, the user input entered manually by a user; providing the user input to the first computer system; in response to providing the user input to the first computer system, receiving a revised set of geosciences information from the first computer system; and repeating the receiving a user input, the providing the user input, and the receiving the revised set of geosciences information until the revised set of geosciences information is determined to satisfy accuracy criteria.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventor: SHASHI MENON
  • Patent number: 8773949
    Abstract: A technique includes spatially filtering a signal that is derived from a seismic acquisition. The filtering is associated with a filter length, and the filtering includes varying the filter length with frequency. The filtering may be used in connection with adaptive noise attenuation, which is applied to decomposed subbands. Furthermore, the filtering may be applied during the reconstruction of the signal from the subbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: James Edward Martin, Ahmet Kemal Ozdemir, Bent Andreas Kjellesvig, Ali Ozbek
  • Patent number: 8775091
    Abstract: It is described a method of interpolating and extrapolating seismic recordings, including the steps of deriving particle velocity related data from seismic recordings obtained by at least one streamer carrying a plurality of multi-component receivers and using the particle velocity related data to replace higher derivatives of pressure data in an expansion series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Johan Olaf Anders Robertsson
  • Patent number: 8767505
    Abstract: A method for conducting seismic operations includes the steps of deploying a seismic streamer carrying an electrically powered device from a vessel into water having waves, providing an in-sea generator in electrical connection with the device, producing electricity from the in-sea generator by harvesting mechanical energy from the waves, and providing the produced electricity to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Welker
  • Patent number: 8760965
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a method for use in a time lapse, marine seismic survey includes accessing a set of acquired, multicomponent seismic data; and interpolating a set of time lapse seismic data from the acquired seismic 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Johan Olof Anders Robertsson
  • Patent number: 8760968
    Abstract: A profile is produced based on measured survey data, where the profile contains indications corresponding to refraction events at different depths in a subterranean structure. Based on the profile and a critical angle model that correlates different concentrations of a given material to respective critical angles, a quantity of the given material in a subterranean structure at a particular depth is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Jianchun Dai
  • Patent number: 8760966
    Abstract: A computer implemented technique for use in seismic data interpretation and, more particularly, with respect to near-surface geological structures, includes a computer-implemented method, including: jointly interpreting a plurality of complementary data sets describing different attributes of a near-surface geologic structure; and ascertaining a near-surface geomorphology from the joint interpretation. In another aspect, the technique includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, perform such a method. In yet another aspect, the method includes a computing apparatus programmed to perform such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Andreas W. Laake, Claudio Strobbia, Larry Velasco, Ralf G. Ferber
  • Patent number: 8760967
    Abstract: A technique includes processing first data indicative of a first image of a subsurface region of interest on a machine to generate second data indicative of a second image. The first image is derived from measurements of seismic waves, which propagate in a plurality of directions, and the second image is generated by partitioning the first image based on the directions. The technique includes processing the second data to determine a dip decomposition for each of the directions; and based on the dip decompositions and the directions, generating an angle domain common image gather.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: David E. Nichols, Madhav Vyas, Everett C. Mobley
  • Patent number: 8760964
    Abstract: Methods and systems for efficiently acquiring towed streamer marine seismic data are described. One method and system comprises positioning a plurality of source-only tow vessels and one or more source-streamer tow vessels to acquire a wide- and/or full-azimuth seismic survey without need for the spread to repeat a path once traversed. Another method and system allows surveying a sub-sea geologic feature using a marine seismic spread, the spread smartly negotiating at least one turn during the surveying, and shooting and recording during the turn. This abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, allowing 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Nicolae Moldoveanu, Alan Strudley
  • Publication number: 20140160887
    Abstract: In a first aspect, a method for use in a time lapse, marine seismic survey includes accessing a set of acquired, multicomponent seismic data; and interpolating a set of time lapse seismic data from the acquired seismic 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventor: JOHAN O. A. ROBERTSSON
  • Publication number: 20140160886
    Abstract: Various technologies described herein are directed to a method that includes deploying a plurality of wave gliders in a seismic survey area, where the plurality of wave gliders has one or more seismic sensors coupled thereto for acquiring seismic data. The method may also include deploying at least one source vessel in the seismic survey area, where the at least one source vessel has one or more sources coupled thereto and a central communication unit disposed thereon. The method may then include positioning the plurality of wave gliders according to an initial navigation plan. The method may further include monitoring a relative position of a respective wave glider in the plurality of wave gliders with respect to other wave gliders in the plurality of wave gliders and with respect to the at least one source vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: EVERHARD MUYZERT, KENNETH E. WELKER
  • Patent number: 8750073
    Abstract: The technologies described herein include systems and methods for performing a first seismic survey and performing a second seismic survey after a predetermined amount of time has lapsed between the first seismic survey and the second seismic survey. The shot times and the shot positions of the second seismic survey may be substantially the same as the shot times and the shot positions of the first seismic survey. After performing the seismic surveys, seismic data generated by the first seismic survey may be processed to generate a first image, and seismic data generated by the second seismic survey may be processed to generate a second image. After generating the first and second images, a difference between the first image and the second image may be computed to generate a time lapse difference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Johan O. A. Robertsson, Dirk-Jan van Manen, David Fraser Halliday, Robert Montgomery Laws
  • Patent number: 8737165
    Abstract: A method for processing seismic data. The method includes receiving the seismic data acquired at two or more sensors on a towed marine survey and regularizing the received seismic data into a spatial domain. After regularizing the seismic data, the method includes classifying the regularized seismic data below and equal to a predetermined frequency as low-frequency seismic data. The method then calculates a set of low-frequency Green's functions using interferometry on the low-frequency seismic data described above. The method then processes high-frequency seismic data of the seismic data to create a set of high-frequency Green's functions at one or more source locations of the towed marine survey. After creating the set of high-frequency Green's functions, the method merges the set of low-frequency Green's functions and the set of high-frequency Green's functions to create a set of broad-band Green's functions at the source locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: David Fraser Halliday, Julian Edward Kragh
  • Patent number: 8737163
    Abstract: A wide-azimuth marine seismic survey system according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure may include a streamer array; a first source towed from a first vessel; a second source towed from a second vessel; and a supplemental offset source towed from the first vessel and the second vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Mikael (Mikaƫl) Garden
  • Publication number: 20140140172
    Abstract: Propagation of wavefields are simulated along paths in a survey environment, where the simulated propagation includes an influence of a reflection at an interface that causes ghost data in measured survey data. Deghosting of the measured survey data is performed using the simulated wavefields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: CRAIG J. BEASLEY, RICHARD T. COATES
  • Patent number: 8732223
    Abstract: A function that represents data points is derived by creating a matrix (e.g., a Hankel matrix) of an initial rank, where the matrix contains the data points. Singular values are derived based on the matrix, and it is determined whether a particular one of the singular values satisfies an error criterion. In response to determining that the particular singular value does not satisfy the error criterion, the rank of the matrix is increased and the deriving and determining tasks are repeated. In response to determining that the particular singular value satisfies the error criterion, values of parameters that approximate the function are computed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Can Evren Yarman
  • Patent number: 8730761
    Abstract: The technologies described herein include systems and methods for reducing noise in seismic data. More specifically, implementations may determine an amount of over-sampling for a frequency range of seismic data. Then, implementations may determine frequency bands based on the over-sampling. For each frequency band minimum-noise seismograms may be selected from consecutively occurring blocks of seismograms, and the remaining seismograms within each block may be discarded. The minimum-noise seismograms may then be used to reconstruct the discarded seismograms. The reconstructed seismograms may contain less noise than the original seismograms and, consequently, the seismic data may contain less noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Ralf Ferber
  • Publication number: 20140133274
    Abstract: A sensor device is adapted to be installed at a land-air interface. The sensor device comprises a fluid-filled housing and a sensor arrangement supported within the housing and coupled directly to the fluid so as to detect movement thereof. A seismic sensor installation comprises a sensor device installed at a land-air boundary, wherein the sensor device comprises a fluid-filled housing and a sensor arrangement supported within the housing and coupled directly to the fluid as to detect movement thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: EVERHARD JOHAN MUIJZERT, JAMES EDWARD MARTIN