Abstract: A method for processing seismic data. The method may include receiving seismic data due to a plurality of seismic sources and applying a first operator to the seismic data to generate a first estimate of seismic data. The method may then include applying a second operator to the first estimate of seismic data to generate residual seismic data due to one or more seismic sources. The method may determine a second estimate of seismic data based on the first estimate and the residual seismic data. The method may then process the second estimate of seismic data due to each seismic source to determine the presence of hydrocarbon deposits in a subterranean area of the earth.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 19, 2011
Date of Patent:
October 6, 2015
Assignee:
WesternGeco L.L.C.
Inventors:
Craig J. Beasley, William H. Dragoset, Jr., Antoun Salama
Abstract: Complex-valued sensitivity data structures corresponding to respective candidate survey settings are provided, where the sensitivity data structures relate measurement data associated with a target structure to at least one parameter of a model of the target structure. Based on the sensitivity data structures, a subset of the candidate survey settings is selected according to a criterion for enhancing resolution in characterizing the target structure.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2012
Date of Patent:
September 29, 2015
Assignee:
WesternGeco L.L.C.
Inventors:
Hugues A. Djikpesse, Michael David Prange, Mohamed-Rabigh Khodja, Sebastien Duchenne, Henry Menkiti
Abstract: A technique facilitates the use of seismic data. The technique utilizes an autonomous underwater vehicle to obtain data on water column characteristics in a seismic survey area. The data can be used to adjust aspects of the seismic survey data and/or the seismic survey technique.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 28, 2009
Date of Patent:
September 22, 2015
Assignee:
WesternGeco L.L.C.
Inventors:
Kenneth E. Welker, Ottar Kristiansen, Morten Svendsen, Julian Edward Kragh
Abstract: A marine seismic streamer comprising a solid, hydrophobic core member that is encased in a hydrophobic streamer skin/casing. The hydrophobic streamer skin may be extruded onto and/or heat welded to the hydrophobic core member. The hydrophobic streamer skin/casing may comprise a thermoplastic polyurethane that includes fluorine and/or silicon moieties, silicon, polydimethylsiloxane or the like. The hydrophobic streamer skin/casing may reduce the drag of the streamer and may provide anti-biofouling properties to the streamer. A hydrophobic paint, coating or polymer may in some instances be disposed on top of the hydrophobic streamer skin/casing.
Type:
Application
Filed:
September 30, 2013
Publication date:
September 10, 2015
Applicant:
WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
Inventors:
Robert Seth Hartshorne, Anders Nesheim, Steven Antony Gahlings, Gary John Tustin
Abstract: A technique includes modeling a fundamental component of a vibroseis sweep that is injected into the earth based on a ground force measurement and a reference sweep. The technique includes determining an operator to compensate seismic data acquired in response to the injected vibroseis sweep based at least in part on the reference sweep and the fundamental component, and the technique includes applying the operator to the seismic data.
Abstract: A method for managing a fracturing operation. In one implementation, the method may include positioning a seismic source and at least one seismic receiver near a hydrocarbon reservoir; pumping a fracturing fluid into a well bore of the hydrocarbon reservoir such that the fracturing fluid may include an additive that enhances acoustic impedance between the fracturing fluid and subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located and that produces a foam; performing a seismic survey with the seismic source and the at least one seismic receiver during the fracturing operation; and identifying locations of the fracturing fluid within subsurface formations in which the hydrocarbon reservoir is located.
Abstract: A technique includes decomposing a signal that is derived from a seismic acquisition into a plurality of signals such that each signal is associated with a different frequency band. For each signal of the plurality of signals, the technique includes performing the following: decomposing the signal into subbands in successive stages, where the subbands are associated with at least different frequency ranges of the signal; selectively applying adaptive noise attenuation in between the successive stages such that the stages decompose noise-attenuated subbands; and reconstructing the signal from the subbands resulting from the decomposition. The technique includes combining the reconstructed signals.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 23, 2010
Date of Patent:
September 8, 2015
Assignee:
WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
Inventors:
Ahmet Kemal Ozdemir, Bent Andreas Kjellesvig
Abstract: A method to parameterize the geometry of a geological, subsurface feature such as a salt body is provided. Data corresponding to a subsurface, geological formation is acquired. The acquired formation data corresponds to a subsurface body having a certain geometry and a subsurface region. At least part of the subsurface body geometry is directly inverted into an inversion domain. The direct inversion includes partitioning the inversion domain into a first partitioned region, corresponding at least in part to the subsurface body, and a second partitioned region. The inversion further uses a level set representation to parameterize the subsurface body geometry. A computing system that includes a processor, a memory, and one or more programs stored in the memory is also provided. The programs comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, are configured to perform the provided method.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 14, 2012
Date of Patent:
September 1, 2015
Assignee:
WesternGeco L.L.C.
Inventors:
Winston R. Lewis, Eugene William Starr, Jason Dressel
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.
Abstract: A sensor assembly having improved characteristics for use in surveying a subterranean structure includes a divergence sensor for positioning at or below a ground surface, where the divergence sensor includes a container containing a material and a pressure sensor immersed in the material. In addition, the sensor assembly includes a single-component seismic sensor that is external to the container of the divergence sensor.
Abstract: Multiple Modeling, wherein the wavefield is separated into up/down wavefield on either source-side or receiver-side; wherein WEMM is used to extrapolate and predict multiples, which are attenuated from OBC seismic data.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 5, 2009
Date of Patent:
August 18, 2015
Assignee:
WesternGeco L.L.C.
Inventors:
William Henry Dragoset, Jr., Alan Gaither Teague, Philip Kitchenside
Abstract: To perform marine electromagnetic (EM) surveying of a subterranean structure, a marine cable system is provided including a tow cable, a plurality of electromagnetic (EM) sources coupled to the tow cable, and a plurality of EM receivers coupled to the tow cable. The system is configured for deployment in a body of water to perform marine EM surveying of a subterranean structure.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 4, 2012
Date of Patent:
August 11, 2015
Assignee:
WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
Inventors:
David L. Alumbaugh, Guozhong Gao, Tarek M. Habashy, H. Frank Morrison, Michael Oristaglio, Kambiz A. Safinya, Andrea Zerilli
Abstract: Prior information describing a distribution of values of a parameter relating to physical characteristic of a target structure is received. Acquired survey data of the target structure is received. Using a probabilistic technique, the prior information and the survey data is assimilated to produce an estimated property of the target structure.
Abstract: A technique facilitates the acquisition of seismic data at a substantially reduced source volume. The methodology generally comprises conducting a seismic survey with seismic sources that have a reduced source volume to collect seismic data. The low frequency data which is lost due to the reduced source volume is replaced with data acquired from a complementary method, such as a receiver-side acquisition method. The two sets of data are combined to provide a comprehensive seismic survey image without requiring conventional seismic source volume.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 20, 2010
Date of Patent:
August 11, 2015
Assignee:
WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
Inventors:
Julian Edward Kragh, Robert Laws, Jon-Fredrik Hopperstad
Abstract: A multiple axis sensor assembly includes an enclosure and encapsulated microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensors. The encapsulated sensors are disposed inside the enclosure and are mounted in different orientations, which correspond to different axes of the sensor assembly. A controller of the sensor assembly is disposed in the enclosure and electrically coupled to the MEMS sensors.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 23, 2012
Date of Patent:
August 11, 2015
Assignee:
WESTERNGECO L.L.C.
Inventors:
Hans Paulson, Vidar A. Husom, Nicolas Goujon
Abstract: Methods and systems for survey designs are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of towing an array of marine streamers is disclosed, wherein: the array includes a plurality of receivers, the array includes a plurality of steering devices, and the array is towed along a first portion of a coil sail path; steering the array of marine streamers along two or more depths; and steering the array of marine streamers to a slant angle while maintaining the array of marine streamers at their respective two or more depths.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
May 31, 2012
Date of Patent:
August 11, 2015
Assignee:
WesternGeco L.L.C.
Inventors:
Nicolae Moldoveanu, Steven Fealy, Kevin J. Deal
Abstract: An apparatus includes a cable; and seismic sensors that are disposed in the cable. The apparatus also includes spacers that are distributed in the cable such that each seismic sensor is disposed in an interval of the cable separating a different adjacent pair of the spacers. The spacers of each pair are separated by at least twenty-five centimeters.
Abstract: Generating an image of an interior of the Earth from a seismic survey using multiple sources. The multiple sources may be fired simultaneously and the data received by seismic sensors in the seismic survey may be decomposed so that seismic data generated by each of the multiple sources may be determined. Decomposing of the received data may be performed using frequency diverse basis functions and converting the data separation problem into an optimization problem, which can be a one-norm or zero-norm optimization problem in frequency-space domain. The decomposed data may be used to generate the image of the Earth's interior.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 28, 2011
Date of Patent:
July 28, 2015
Assignee:
WesternGeco L.L.C.
Inventors:
Ying Ji, Julian Edward Kragh, Philip A. F. Christie
Abstract: Divergence data is received from a divergence sensor and seismic data is received from seismic sensors, where the divergence sensor and seismic sensors are part of a sensor assembly. A calibration term is computed based on combining the divergence data and the seismic data, where the calibration term includes a first parameter that is related to a characteristic of the sensor assembly, and a second parameter that is related to a characteristic of a near-surface subterranean medium.