Abstract: A multi-vessel seismic data acquisition system having a first vessel towing a streamer containing a plurality of seismic receivers and a pair of seismic sources along a first shot line. At least one additional vessel tows only a single seismic source. Each additional single seismic source is spaced from the pair of seismic sources an offset distance in at least one of an inline direction and a crossline direction to the first shot line to define a first bin grid having a first bin size for the first vessel and a second bin grid having a second bin size for each additional vessel.

Abstract: Methods and systems for similarity indicator calculation associated with seismic data acquisition are described. A similarity indicator value can, for example, be based on a normalized partitioned intensity uniformity (PIU) metric. In another aspect, shot imprints are compared by mapping a base (reference) shot imprint onto a current sample of a shot imprint before calculating the similarity indicator value. The similarity indicator value is associated with the shot imprint location used in the calculation and allows re-shooting of only the areas where an insufficient quality of shot data is detected based on a preconfigured threshold value for the similarity indicator.

Abstract: Methods and systems for target oriented 4D binning of seismic data are presented. A target depth horizon is selected in the vicinity of where 4D changes are expected. Respectively for each data vintage, relationships between the seismic traces and reflection bins, associated with the depth surface, are established and the seismic traces are divided into common reflection angle subsets. The best matching traces from both vintages are selected for each reflection bin and output for further processing.

Abstract: A geophysical target-oriented approach is proposed to derive seismic sensitivity to 4D positioning mismatches, which focuses on the impact on the reflective response from the reservoir. The sensitivity indicators provide information about the seismic impact, in terms of reservoir imaging, of a surface positioning mismatch. Some embodiments capitalize on the use of legacy data, enabling a fast-track analysis to be carried out on the velocity model to extract trends and mapping of lateral geological variability.

Abstract: Methods and systems for generating multi-criteria shot indicators are described. The multi-criteria shot indicator values can be weighted and the weighting factors can themselves incorporate one or more sensitivity factors. In another aspect, the shot indicators are related to the 4D repeatability and/or the 3D stability of seismic features associated with individual shots or sets of shots. The multi-criteria shot indicators can be evaluated in real-time onboard a seismic vessel and included as part of an infill reshoot decision making/quality control process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for similarity indicator calculation associated with seismic data acquisition are described. A similarity indicator value can, for example, be based on a normalized partitioned intensity uniformity (PIU) metric. In another aspect, shot imprints are compared by mapping a base (reference) shot imprint onto a current sample of a shot imprint before calculating the similarity indicator value. The similarity indicator value is associated with the shot imprint location used in the calculation and allows re-shooting of only the areas where an insufficient quality of shot data is detected based on a preconfigured threshold value for the similarity indicator.

Abstract: Methods and systems for quality control of seismic data illumination map generation are described. The quality control is based on determined fold differences calculated using the actual position of the sources and receivers in the determination of the seismic illumination. In another aspect, sub-surface complexity is considered in preparing a map of seismic illumination. The seismic data illumination map can be evaluated in real-time onboard a seismic vessel and included as part of an infill reshoot decision making/quality control process.

Abstract: Methods and systems for target oriented 4D binning of seismic data are presented. A target depth horizon is selected in the vicinity of where 4D changes are expected. Respectively for each data vintage, relationships between the seismic traces and reflection bins, associated with the depth surface, are established and the seismic traces are divided into common reflection angle subsets. The best matching traces from both vintages are selected for each reflection bin and output for further processing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an estimate of the seismic illumination fold (x, p) in the migrated 3D domain at an image point x, for a dip of vector p characterized in that the illumination fold I (z, p; s, r) is estimated for each (source s, receiver r) pair in the seismic survey, by applying the following steps:—determination of the reflection travel time tr(·xr(p);s·r) from the source s to the specular reflection point z, on the plane reflector passing through the image point x and perpendicular to the dip vector p, and then return to the reflector r; starting from the diffraction travel time td(·z;s·r) from the source to the said image point x and then return to the reflector r;—incrementing the said illumination fold I (X, p; s, r) related to the said (source s, receiver r) pair as a function of the difference between the diffraction travel time td(x;s,r) and the reflection travel time tr(xr(p)issr).

Abstract: The invention relates to an estimate of the seismic illumination fold (x,p) in the migrated 3D domain at an image point x, for a dip of vector p characterized in that the illumination fold I (z, p; s, r) is estimated for each (source s, receiver r) pair in the seismic survey, by applying the following steps:—determination of the reflection travel time tr (·xr (p); s·r) from the source s to the specular reflection point z, on the plane reflector passing through the image point x and perpendicular to the dip vector p, and then return to the reflector r; starting from the diffraction travel time td (·z;s·r) from the source to the said image point x and then return to the reflector r;—incrementing the said illumination fold I (X, p;s, r) related to the said (source s, receiver r) pair as a function of the difference between the diffraction travel time td (x; s, r) and the reflection travel time tr(xr (p)isrr).