Patents Assigned to WesternGeco L.L.C.
  • Seismic data acquisition and source-side derivatives generation and application
    Patent number: 8203906
    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: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Johan O. A. Robertsson, Dirk-Jan Van Manen, David Halliday, Robert Laws
  • Deriving tilt-corrected seismic data in a multi-axis seismic sensor module
    Patent number: 8199611
    Abstract: A seismic sensor module includes sensing elements arranged in a plurality of axes to detect seismic signals in a plurality of respective directions, and a processor to receive data from the sensing elements and to determine inclinations of the axes with respect to a particular orientation. The determined inclinations are used to combine the data received from the sensing elements to derive tilt-corrected seismic data for the particular orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Nicolas Goujon
  • Using a wave propagator for transversely isotropic media
    Patent number: 8194498
    Abstract: A technique includes modeling a seismic wavefield in a vertical transversely isotropic media as a second order derivative of a first wavefield function with respect to a vertical direction and not with respect to crossline and inline directions and as second order derivatives of a second wave field function with respect to the inline and crossline directions and not with respect to the vertical direction. The method includes processing seismic measurements of the media in accordance with the modeled seismic wavefield to obtain information about the media. In another technique, a seismic wavefield in a tilted transversely isotropic media are modeled based at least in part on orientation of the symmetry axis and a nonzero shear velocity for the media; and seismic measurements of the media are processed in accordance with the modeled seismic wavefield to obtain information associated with the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Xiang Du, Robin Fletcher
  • Method for optimizing acoustic source array performance
    Patent number: 8174927
    Abstract: A technique facilitates obtaining seismic data in a marine environment. An array of acoustic sources is deployed in a marine environment. The array can be utilized for creating acoustic pulses that facilitate the collection of data on subsea structures. The methodology enables optimization of acoustic source array performance to improve the collection of useful data during a seismic survey.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Laws, Aslaug Stroemmen Melboe
  • Reducing a number of required channels for seismic sensors
    Patent number: 8174928
    Abstract: To reduce a number of required channels for a survey system having seismic sensors, the seismic sensors are partitioned into groups of corresponding seismic sensors. An aggregation unit applies different transformations of signals of the seismic sensors within a particular one of the groups. The differently transformed signals within the particular group are aggregated to form an aggregated signal. The aggregated signal for the particular group is transmitted, over a channel of the survey system, to a processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Craig J. Beasley
  • Controlling movement of a vessel traveling through water during a seismic survey operation
    Patent number: 8175765
    Abstract: To perform control of movement of a marine vessel traveling through water during a seismic survey operation, input information relating to factors that affect a speed of the marine vessel is received. The speed of the marine vessel is adjusted in response to the received information relating to the factors that affect the speed of the marine vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Andreas Holo, Kenneth E. Welker
  • Communication between sensor units and a recorder
    Patent number: 8170802
    Abstract: A seismic acquisition system. In one implementation, the seismic acquisition system includes a recorder having a memory having a communication protocol application stored therein and one or more sensor units in communication with the recorder through a communications network. Each sensor unit may include a memory having the communication protocol application stored therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Thorleiv Knutsen
  • Simulating up-going pressure wavefield
    Patent number: 8164977
    Abstract: Various methods for simulating up-going pressure wavefield data. In one implementation, a processing apparatus may receive pressure data from pressure sensors that may be installed on a first and second streamer of an over/under streamer pair. The processing apparatus may also receive velocity data from velocity sensors that may be installed on the second streamer of the over/under streamer pair. Using the pressure and velocity data obtained from the sensors installed on each streamer, the processing apparatus may simulate the pressure and velocity data that would have been obtained by a streamer in a calm sea at a depth equal to the vertical distance between the first and second streamers. The simulated pressure and velocity data may then be combined to estimate the up-going pressure wavefield data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Ralf G. Ferber
  • Interbed multiple prediction
    Patent number: 8164978
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting interbed multiples is described herein. Trace geometries may be generated for one or more desired shot-side traces, one or more desired receiver-side traces, and one or more desired interbed multiple generator traces, for a first target trace. A first set of reflections at the interbed multiple generator layer may be extracted from one or more recorded traces closest to the desired interbed multiple generator traces. A second set of reflections below the interbed multiple generator layer may be extracted from one or more recorded traces closest to the desired shot-side traces. A third set of reflections below the interbed multiple generator layer may be extracted from one or more recorded traces closest to the desired receiver-side traces. The interbed multiples for the first target trace may be estimated based on the first set, the second set, and the third set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Paolo Terenghi, William H. Dragoset, Jr., Ian Moore
  • Seismic cable and acoustically decoupled sensor
    Patent number: 8149647
    Abstract: A robust seismic cable and sensor module system wherein the sensor modules include a housing and sensing unit. The housing substantially transfers the load and torque of the cable from one end of the housing to the other bypassing the sensing unit and the sensing unit and housing are acoustically decoupled from each other for the seismic frequencies desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Lars Borgen, Geir Holm, Ivar Andreas Valstad, Kambiz Iranpour
  • MARINE SEISMIC SURVEY SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING AUTONOMOUSLY OR REMOTELY OPERATED VEHICLES
    Publication number: 20120069702
    Abstract: Systems and methods for carrying out seismic surveys and/or conducting permanent reservoir monitoring with autonomous or remote-controlled water vehicles, including surface and submersible vehicles, are described. Additional methods carried out by autonomous or remote-controlled water vehicles and associated with seismic surveys further described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
    Inventors: Everhard Muyzert, Kenneth Welker, Iain Cooper, Simon Bittleston, Leendert Combee, Robert Ross, Edward Kotochigov
  • Attenuating out of band energy emitted from seismic sources
    Patent number: 8136625
    Abstract: A method for attenuating out of band energy emitted from a seismic source used in a marine seismic survey. The method includes disposing the seismic source in a body of water and releasing a gas into a volume of water surrounding the seismic source. The released gas may be configured such that it displaces the volume of water surrounding the seismic source at a rate less than 2.9×106 cubic-meters per cubic-second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad, Robert Laws, Julian Edward (Ed) Kragh
  • Calibrating an accelerometer
    Patent number: 8136383
    Abstract: To calibrate an accelerometer, a seismic cable that carries the accelerometer is rotated. Data measured by the accelerometer as the seismic cable is rotated is received, and at least one calibration parameter according to the received data is computed. The at least one calibration parameter is for use in calibrating the accelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Nicolas Goujon, Ahmet Kemal Ozdemir, Bent Andreas Kjellesvig
  • Spectral conditioning for surface seismic data
    Patent number: 8139440
    Abstract: A method for spectrally conditioning surface seismic data. In one implementation, the method may include correcting surface seismic data for distortions due to anomalous spectral amplitudes, thereby generating a first set of corrected data; correcting the first set of corrected data for deterministic distortions, thereby generating a second set of corrected data; correcting the second set of corrected data for spectral distortions due to the seismic waves traveling through the near-surface, thereby generating a third set of corrected data; and correcting the third set of corrected data for spectral distortions due to the seismic waves traveling through deeper strata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ralf Ferber, Debra Dishberger, Alan Teague
  • Wirelessly activating a unit of a subterranean survey system for testing
    Patent number: 8130590
    Abstract: To test at least one unit of a subterranean survey system, the unit detects presence of wireless signaling of a mobile device. After the detecting, a wireless connection is established between the unit and the mobile device. A test at the unit is performed in response to a test command from the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Daniel H. Golparian
  • Surveying a subterranean structure using electromagnetic measurements and microorganism content data
    Patent number: 8120362
    Abstract: A survey apparatus for surveying a subterranean structure includes an electromagnetic (EM) sensing element to measure an EM field received from the subterranean structure, and a sample collector activatable to collect a sample of soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Leendert Combee
  • 3D deghosting of multicomponent or over / under streamer recordings using cross-line wavenumber spectra of hydrophone data
    Patent number: 8116166
    Abstract: A technique includes obtaining pressure data that was acquired by seismic sensors towed as part of a three-dimensional spread of streamers and obtaining particle motion data, which are indicative of particle motion at locations of the sensors. The technique includes estimating cross-line spectra of the pressure data based at least in part on the pressure data, and the technique includes deghosting the particle motion data based at least in part on the estimated cross-line spectra.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Johan O. A. Robertsson, Massimiliano Vassallo, Dirk-Jan Van Manen, Ali Ozbek
  • FAST 3-D SURFACE MULTIPLE PREDICTION
    Publication number: 20120033527
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Richard BISLEY, Ian MOORE
  • MEMS-based capacitive sensor
    Patent number: 8104346
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a seismic acquisition system that includes an accelerometer. The accelerometer includes a capacitive MEMS-based sensor, a controller and a charge amplifier. The sensor includes a proof mass; input terminals to receive a first signal; and an output terminal that is electrically connected to the proof mass to provide a second signal. The first signal, which is regulated by the controller, controls an equilibrium restoring force for the sensor and causes the sensor to provide the second signal. The charge amplifier provides a third signal, which is indicative of a position of the proof mass. The charge amplifier has an input terminal to continuously receive the second signal during a time in which the first signal controls the equilibrium restoring force and causes the sensor to provide the second signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventor: Hans Paulson
  • Steerable hydrofoil
    Patent number: 8100078
    Abstract: The present invention provides a steerable hydrofoil. The apparatus includes at least one steerable hydrofoil panel, at least one body part coupled to the at least one steerable hydrofoil panel to allow the at least one steerable hydrofoil panel to rotate about an axis, and at least one actuator for rotating the at least one steerable hydrofoil panel by a selected angle about the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: WesternGeco L.L.C.
    Inventors: Eskild Storteig, Rune Tønnessen