Abstract: The present invention determines seismic data quality for a plurality of locations within a seismic survey for a geologic or geophysical region of interest. The present invention additionally includes generating correlation coefficients which relate to the seismic data quality so that the seismic data quality can be incorporated into geostatistical analyses associated with decisions that are based in part on the seismic survey.

Abstract: The present invention determines seismic data quality for a plurality of locations within a seismic survey for a geologic or geophysical region of interest. The present invention additionally includes generating correlation coefficients which relate to the seismic data quality so that the seismic data quality can be incorporated into geostatistical analyses associated with decisions that are based in part on the seismic survey.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention includes a method for estimating seismic signal propagation raypaths from seismic source locations through a subsurface formation to seismic receiver locations. Raypaths are determined which minimize the value of an expression which is a function of travel time and distance between a source location and a receiver location. The value of the expression depends on the value of a parameter which balances the weighting of travel time and distance in the expression.

Abstract: Characterizing the value of a particular property, for example, seismic velocity, of a subsurface region of ground is described. In one aspect, the value of the particular property is represented using at least one continuous analytic function such as a Chebychev polynomial. The seismic data may include data derived from at least one crosswell dataset for the subsurface region of interest and may also include other data. In either instance, data may simultaneously be used from a first crosswell dataset in conjunction with one or more other crosswell datasets and/or with the other data. In another aspect, the value of the property is characterized in three dimensions throughout the region of interest using crosswell and/or other data. In still another aspect, crosswell datasets for highly deviated or horizontal boreholes are inherently useful.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method for processing crosswell seismic data from a region of the earth's subsurface generated by transmitting a seismic signal from a plurality of source positions within at least one borehole within said region and detecting said seismic signal at a plurality of receiver positions in at least one borehole within said region. In a preferred embodiment, the seismic data is utilized to develop a model of raypaths traveled by seismic signals from said source positions to said receiver positions, and these raypaths are evaluated to determine if the seismic signal traveling along the raypaths traveled as a headwave for at least a part of the transmission path between the source position and the receiver position. Raypaths along which the seismic signals traveled as headwaves are deleted from the model, and a profile representing a property of the region of the earth's subsurface is then prepared utilizing the residual raypaths.