Abstract: Systems and methods for modeling petroleum reservoir properties using a gridless reservoir simulation model are provided. Data relating to geological properties of a reservoir formation is analyzed. A tiered hierarchy of geological elements within the reservoir formation is generated at different geological scales, based on the analysis. The geological elements at each of the different geological scales in the tiered hierarchy are categorized. Spatial boundaries between the categorized geological elements are defined for each of the geological scales in the tiered hierarchy. A scalable and updateable gridless model of the reservoir formation is generated, based on the spatial boundaries defined for at least one of the geological scales in the tiered hierarchy.

Abstract: A method for creating a seamless scalable geological model may comprise identifying one or more geological scales, establishing a geological tied system, identifying one or more graphical resolution levels for each of the one or more geological scales, constructing the seamless scalable geological model, and producing a post-process model. A system for creating a seamless scalable geological model may comprise an information handling system, which may comprise a random access memory, a graphics module, a main memory, a secondary memory, and one or more processors configured to run a seamless scalable geological model software.

Abstract: Scattered body waves are isolated to primary, shear, and surface waves as a receiver wavefield from recorded near-surface scattered wave data generated by scatters. The isolated receiver wavefield is backward propagated through an earth model from a final to an initial state. A source wavefield and the receiver wavefields are cross-correlated. A source wavefield and the receiver wavefields are stacked, over all time steps and sources, to generate a subsurface image. A display of the subsurface image is initiated.

Abstract: A system for processing DAS VSP surveys in real-time is provided. The system includes a DAS data collection system coupled to at least one optical fiber at least partially positioned within a wellbore and configured to repeatedly activate a seismic source of energy. The system further includes an information processing system connected to the DAS data collection system. A seismic dataset is received from the DAS data collection system. The seismic dataset includes a plurality of seismic data records. Two or more of the plurality of seismic data records are combined into a stack. A quality metric indicative of a desired signal-to-noise ratio or incoherence of the stack is determined for each processed seismic dataset collected from a repeated source. Instructions are sent to the DAS data collection system to stop activating the seismic source, in response to determining that the quality metric has reached a predefined threshold.

Abstract: Iterative methods for inversion of seismic data to update a physical property model are disclosed. Such methods may comprise iteratively updating the model until a first predetermined resolution is achieved, using full wavefield inversion of the seismic data up to a first frequency threshold and assuming the seismic data is free of attenuation effects; extracting geobodies from the updated model; obtaining a Q model using the geobodies; and updating the physical property model using an inversion process, wherein the Q model is incorporated into the inversion process. These steps may be repeated until a second predetermined resolution of the physical property model is achieved, wherein the first frequency threshold is progressively increased in each repetition. The Q model may be updated with seismic data at all available frequencies to obtain a full-band Q model; and the physical property model may be updated using full-band migration and the full-band Q model.

Abstract: A self-localizing autonomous underwater vehicle swarm that is operable to accurately localize each individual unit within the swarm while only requiring a single node at a known location to do so. The methods described herein can localize all members of a swarm with minimal, if any, effect on the size, weight, power, and cost of a system.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems, including computer-implemented methods, computer program products, and computer systems, for suppressing noises in seismic data. One computer-implemented method includes receiving, at a data processing apparatus, a set of seismic data associated with a subsurface region; flattening, by the data processing apparatus, the set of seismic data according to an identified seismic event; dividing, by the data processing apparatus, the set of seismic data into a plurality of spatial windows; randomizing, by the data processing apparatus, the set of seismic data according to a random sequential order; filtering, by the data processing apparatus, the randomized seismic data; and reorganizing, by the data processing apparatus, the filtered seismic data according to a pre-randomization order.

Abstract: A method of redatuming geophysical data, wherein there is provided multi-component geophysical data, and the method includes obtaining at least one focussing function and/or at least one Green's function from the multi-component geophysical data.

Abstract: A system detects an acoustic-wave-producing downhole event associated with a pipe at an uphole location in the presence of surface noise. The system comprises: a first plurality of acoustic sensors located a first axial position along the pipe and oriented symmetrically about the pipe axis; and a second plurality of acoustic sensors located a second axial position along the pipe and oriented symmetrically about the pipe axis, the second axial position spaced apart from the first axial position. A processor is connected to receive the signals from the first and second pluralities of sensors and configured to process the sensor signals to thereby produce an output signal. The processor is configured to adjust the digital processing, based on the sensor signals, to minimize a contribution of the surface noise to the output signal.

Abstract: A transducer system with a transducer and circuitry for applying a waveform to excite the transducer during an excitation period. The applying circuitry also comprises circuitry for changing a frequency of the waveform during the excitation period.

Abstract: Systems and methods of performing a seismic survey are described. The system can receive seismic data in a first domain, and transform the seismic data into a tau-p domain. The system can identify a value on an envelope in the tau-p domain, select several values on the tau-p envelope using a threshold, and then generate a masking function. The system can combine the masking function with the tau-p transformed seismic data, and then perform an inverse tau-p transform on the combined seismic data. The system can adjust amplitudes in the inverse tau-p transformed combined seismic data, and identify one or more coherent events corresponding to subsea lithologic formations or hydrocarbon deposits.

Abstract: A transducer system. The system comprises a transducer and circuitry for applying an excitation waveform to excite the transducer during an excitation period. The circuitry for applying has: (i) circuitry for applying a first waveform at a first frequency; and (ii) circuitry for applying a second waveform at a second frequency differing from the first frequency.

Abstract: A method is described for seismic imaging that may include receiving digital seismic data; processing the digital seismic data to create a digital seismic image in a seismic domain; flattening the digital seismic image to generate a digital flattened image; identifying artifacts in the digital flattened image; transforming the artifacts back into the seismic domain; and reprocessing the digital seismic data based on the artifacts in the seismic domain to generate a digital image with reduced artifacts. The method may be executed by a computer system.

Abstract: A method for processing seismic data from a subsurface using least squares migration or wave equation migration velocity analysis over a cost function comprising a function of a matching filter by iteratively updating the reflectivity model velocity model to yield an updated reflectivity model or updated velocity model that matches the observed seismic data.

Abstract: Methods are described for separating the unknown contributions of two or more sources from a commonly acquired set of wavefield signals representing a wavefield where the sources traverse general, related activation lines or grids and are synchronously activated while varying at least one parameter between the sources.

Abstract: A system for searching for underground entities in ground of an area, including a search probe configured to generate and deliver an acoustic signal into the ground of the area, wherein the acoustic signal uses a low frequency signal so that wavelengths of the acoustic signal are between 0.01-500 times the depth to the sought underground entity, two or more sensors positioned on the ground at about an equal distance from the search probe at different angles, an analysis device that receives measurements from the two or more sensors in the form of a measured echo signal responsive to the delivered acoustic signal, wherein said analysis device designates pairs of sensors and subtracts their echo signals to identify a difference indicating the existence of an underground entity.

Abstract: A system for registering a target includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a processor. The first sensor measures a plurality of ranges from a source to a target, and the second sensor obtains a plurality of location measurements of the source. The system further includes a processor configured for determining one or more weighting criteria associated with each one of the plurality of location measurements based on an estimated reliability of each one of the plurality of location measurements. The processor calculates a plurality of target location values based on the plurality of ranges measured by the first sensor and the plurality of locations measured by the second sensor and calculates an estimated target location value based on the plurality of target location values weighted according to the weighting criteria.

Abstract: An example method for estimating a time of flight (“TOF”) for an acoustic wave generated by an acoustic source for each of a plurality of acoustic receivers in an array can include recording data corresponding to the acoustic wave received at each of the acoustic receivers, estimating a respective TOF for the acoustic wave for each of the acoustic receivers, and discarding one or more of the respective estimated TOFs. Each of the discarded TOFs can be a statistical outlier. The method can also include calculating a plurality of time delays for the acoustic wave using a plurality of non-discarded estimated TOFs, and updating the respective estimated TOFs for the acoustic wave for each of the acoustic receivers using the calculated time delays. Each of the time delays can be a difference between respective estimated TOFs for the acoustic wave for at least two of the acoustic receivers.

Abstract: A device, medium and method for deblending seismic data associated with a subsurface of the earth. The method includes a step of receiving seismic data S recorded with one or more seismic receivers, wherein the seismic data S includes shot recordings generated by first and second source arrays that are simultaneously actuated; a step of detecting incoherent energy of the seismic data S using a median filter; a step of replacing incoherent parts of the seismic data with a projection filter to obtain deblended data for one of the two or more source arrays; and a step of generating in a computing device an image of the subsurface based on the deblended data.

Abstract: A method including: generating an updated subsurface property model of a subsurface region, with a computer, from an initial estimate of the subsurface property model by performing an iterative inversion, which includes inverting geophysical data to infer the updated subsurface property model, wherein the generating the updated subsurface property model includes linearly remapping the initial estimate of the subsurface property model based on an inverse of a regularization operator, included with the initial estimate of the subsurface property model, into one in which the regularization operator is represented by an identity matrix, performing a unitary matrix decomposition in order to group the identity matrix with sparse matrices output from the unitary matrix decomposition, and performing a search over at least one trade-off parameter to reduce a misfit between simulated data generated from a most recent estimate of the subsurface property model and the geophysical data until a predetermined stopping crite

Abstract: A seismic noise mitigation method. The method comprises identifying a wavenumber of a component in a residual wavenumber spectrum having a largest norm based on a preconditioned residual wavenumber spectrum. A contribution to the residual wavenumber spectrum from the identified wavenumber component, is subtracted therefrom. A next residual wavenumber spectrum is based thereon and a relative residual computed based on that. The identifying, subtracting and calculating are repeated until a first to occur termination condition selected from the group consisting of: a current relative residual is less than a threshold residual; a difference between the current relative residual and a smallest relative residual exceeds product of the smallest relative residual and a preselected threshold factor; and a difference between a current number of iterations and a number of iterations corresponding to a currently encountered smallest relative residual encountered exceeds a preselected threshold number of iterations.

Abstract: A method for survey data processing compensates for visco-acoustic effects in TTI medium in an RTM method. This method employs propagating in conjugate medium to yield correct phase, and acoustic wave propagation to yield correct amplitudes through adaptive matching filtering.

Abstract: Techniques for motion artifact (MA) reduction in impedance plethysmography (IP) and other physiological signals are provided. The techniques limit the amplitude of MA filtered signals by imposing an “?-tube.” The techniques may include the introduction of a regularization term to ensure that the pattern of a filtered signal is similar to the pattern of the primary component of the original, unfiltered signal by maximizing the regularity of the filtered signal. The techniques may be integrated into a portable monitoring device, such as an armband, to remove MA from various diagnostic signals and to extract primary signal components for producing enhanced device performance.

Abstract: Embodiments of real-time infill in marine seismic surveys using an independent seismic source are described. One method of seismic data acquisition includes acquiring primary seismic data at a plurality of streamers towed by an acquisition vessel based at least in part on energy emitted by a first seismic source, and towing an independent seismic source to acquire infill seismic data at the plurality of streamers based at least in part on energy emitted by the independent seismic source while the primary seismic data is still being acquired at the plurality of streamers based at least in part on the energy emitted by the first seismic source, wherein the independent seismic source is towed independently of the acquisition vessel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for correcting the wavenumber sensitivity of a distributed fiber optic sensor are disclosed. The distributed fiber optic sensor is deployed in a region of interest to measure a characteristic of an incident acoustic wavefield. A composite response of the distributed sensor is determined based on backscatter optical signals generated by the sensor, where the composite response is indicative of a characteristic of an incident acoustic wavefield. The composite response includes at least a first response having a first wavenumber sensitivity and a second response having a second wavenumber sensitivity. The second wavenumber sensitivity is selected so that wavenumber notches of the first and second responses do not overlap.

Abstract: A method can include receiving data that includes signal data and coherent noise data where the signal data includes signal data that corresponds to a multidimensional physical structure; generating filtered data by filtering at least a portion of the data to attenuate at least a portion of the coherent noise data by applying a multidimensional geometric coherent noise model defined by at least one geometric parameter; and assessing a portion of the signal data in the generated filtered data to characterize the multidimensional physical structure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a reverse time migration module is configured with a visco-acoustic wave equation for media with heterogeneous attenuation solved using a pseudo-analytical method. Seismic data is obtained for a zone of interest, and a model is created for the zone of interest. The model has spatial variability in velocity and quality factor. Pseudo-analytic Q-compensating reverse time migration (PA-Q-RTM) is performed using the reverse time migration module and the model for the zone of interest to obtain PA-Q-RTM seismic data. In another embodiment, a system for processing seismic data includes a reverse time migration module configured with a visco-acoustic wave equation that is solved from the pseudo-analytical method. The system operates to obtain seismic data for a zone of interest and perform PA-Q-RTM using a model for the zone of interest to obtain PA-Q-RTM seismic data for the zone of interest. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of managing data obtained in a borehole is provided. The method includes monitoring a characteristic with at least one sensor and obtaining raw data therefrom; indexing the raw data with the at least one sensor; recording the indexed data with the at least one sensor; forming a data packet with the at least one sensor, the data packet including at least a portion of the indexed data and index information; and transmitting the data packet in a predetermined segment of a communication protocol.

Abstract: A technique includes receiving sensor data; sorting the data into a gather representation that corresponds to a plurality of shots of an energy source; and determining a signal cone based at least in part on at least one characteristic of the gather representation. The technique includes processing the sensor data in a processor-based machine to attenuate noise to generate data representing a signal based at least in part on the determined signal cone and the gather representation.

Abstract: A seismic vibrator receives a pilot signal having a predetermined waveform. The pilot signal causes vibrational actuation of at least one moveable element of the seismic vibrator. A continuous seismic signal having content in a first frequency bandwidth of multiple frequencies is generated by the seismic vibrator.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for stabilizing controlled seismic signals based on uncontrolled seismic signals. The method includes calculating reconstructed signals associated with a first receiver. Each reconstructed signal is based on uncontrolled signals recorded by a respective pair of receivers that includes the first receiver and a respective second receiver. The method also includes calculating signal variations. Each signal variation is associated with a respective pair of receivers and based on a difference between the reconstructed signal associated with the respective pair of receivers and a reference associated with the respective pair of receivers. The method also includes calculating a stabilization factor for the first receiver based on the first signal variations. The method also includes modifying controlled seismic signals recorded by the first receiver by applying the stabilization factor to the controlled seismic signals.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for identifying multiples contamination in a stack are provided. The method includes identifying spatially an area of potential multiples contamination in the stack. The method also includes constructing, using a processor, a model of multiples contamination using well data, and evaluating a degree of contamination in the area of potential contamination using the model of multiples contamination. The method further includes attenuating multiples contamination in the areas of multiples contamination, and validating the stack after attenuating.

Abstract: A method of determining locations of microseismic events caused by a hydrofracking process is disclosed. The method includes: measuring audio signals using an array of geophones deployed in a monitoring well during hydraulic fracturing; modifying the audio signals according to a predefined nonlinear distortion operator to generate a modified audio signal, wherein the modified audio signal has audible components in a predefined frequency range beyond a cutoff frequency defined by a sampling rate of the respective measured audio signals; and playing the modified audio signals through a stereo or multi-channel speaker system, wherein a user of the stereo or multi-channel speaker system is able to determine the locations of the microseismic events from listening to the modified audio signals.

Abstract: A system for determining loudspeaker position estimates comprises motion sensors (201,203) and a movement processor (205) arranged to determine motion data for a user movable unit where the motion data characterizes movement of the user moveable unit. A user input interface (207) receives user inputs and a user processor (209) processes them into user activations which indicate that at least one of a current position and orientation of the user movable unit is associated with a loudspeaker position. An analyzing processor (211) then generates loudspeaker position estimates in response to the motion data and the user activations. The system thus performs speaker position estimations based on (i) the motion data of the user moveable unit being pointed towards or positioned on a speaker and (ii) the user activations.

Abstract: A seismic information processing method and apparatus includes attenuating flexural wave noise information from seismic information. Flexural wave information removal includes receiving the seismic information using an information processing device interface, the seismic information having a plurality of directional components acquired using a multi-axis motion sensor coupled to ice floating on a body of water, the seismic information including desired seismic information and the flexural wave information. A noise model of the flexural wave information may be generated using at least one of the plurality of seismic information directional components using an information processing device. The noise model is improved using an adaptive correction filter, and the improved noise model is applied to at least one directional component of the received seismic information to attenuate the flexural wave information wave in the seismic information.

Abstract: Low sensitivity, single vertical axis or uniaxial transducer sensors are deployed along receiver lines across an area of interest to acquire low frequency passive seismic data from the earth. Recordings formed of the acquired low frequency passive seismic data are decomposed in the frequency-wavenumber (F-K) domain according to wavefront dipping angles into mono-dominant velocity seismic records. Resulting seismic waves of different types are identifiable based on the different dipping angles. Wavefields can then be analyzed separately in either time or frequency domains and analyzed or integrated with other data.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to a field programmable unattended surveillance, low-power sensor node which uses a passive infrared (PIR) based motion detector to trigger a linear array of photodetectors and advanced processing for target detection and classification. The sensor node is equipped with an infrared beacon that is activated once a potential target is detected. The activated infrared beacon can then be seen by an operator using a night vision device.

Abstract: The method of first arrival picking of seismic refraction data is embodied in software that uses the ?-p transform on energy-ratio seismic records. First, the seismic shots are gathered. Next, the energy ratio (ER) is computed, and then the ?-p transform of the energy ratio is computed. Using a binary mask, a corresponding first arrival energy is selected. The transform is combined with the binary mask and presented as input to an inverse ?-p transform. The inverse transform data is then thresholded, and indices of ER first arrivals are detected based on the thresholds. The software then creates a vector of indices or time samples of picks. This method can be used to better guide the subsequent careful picking of first arrivals. Moreover, the method automatically interpolates missing picks.

Abstract: A technique includes processing seismic data indicative of samples of at least one measured seismic signal in a processor-based machine to, in an iterative process, determine basis functions, which represent a constructed seismic signal. The technique includes in each iteration of the iterative process, selecting another basis function of the plurality of basis functions. The selecting includes based at least in part on the samples and a current version of the constructed seismic signal, determining a cost function; and interpreting the cost function based at least in part on a predicted energy distribution of the constructed seismic signal to select the basis function.

Abstract: Method for locating fault lines or surfaces in 2-D or 3-D seismic data based on the fact that fault discontinuities in the space domain span a wide range in a local slowness (slope) domain, whereas other dipping events in the space domain data, such as noise, tend to be coherent, and hence will appear focused in the slowness dimension. Therefore, the method comprises decomposing the seismic data (102) by a transformation to the local slowness domain, preferably using Gaussian slowness period packets as the local slowness or slope decomposition technique, thereby avoiding problems with the data stationary assumption. In the local slowness domain, faults may be identified (104) using the principle mentioned above, i.e. that faults are represented as a truncation in the space domain data, hence they will appear broadband in the slowness dimension.

Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention provide a method for removing a Scholte waves and similar ground roll type waves from a seismic sea bottom data in a shallow water. The method comprises acquiring seismic sea bottom data in a shallow waters, applying a time-frequency-wave number (t-f-k) transform on the acquired seismic sea bottom data, identifying a time-frequency relationship of a surface wave based on a specific wave number, identifying a frequency-wave number relationship of a surface wave based on a specific time, designing a time varying frequency-wave number filter in the time-frequency-wave number domain to separate the surface wave, applying a time varying frequency-wave number filtering process to remove an undesired energy and inversing a filtered record by applying an inverse S-Transform operation and an inverse Fourier Transform operation.

Abstract: This invention is for a method for transforming a seismic trace into a compressed domain. The seismic source wavelet is transformed into a zero degree phase wavelet and a shifted 90 degree phase wavelet, and the two wavelets span a 2-dimensional sub-space. A dictionary is created by collecting the wavelets in the sub-space. In practice this dictionary is usually combined with conventional existing wavelet dictionaries. The seismic trace is projected onto the dictionary (sub-space alone or combined) to find the best matching projection, with a residual determined after each projection, wherein the sum of the residuals determines the fidelity of the data compression.

Abstract: A method for surveying, may include receiving, by a processor, first survey data from a first source, the first source comprising a first signal generated by a subsurface earth formation in response to a passive-source electromagnetic signal, wherein the electromagnetic signal is generated by an electroseismic or seismoelectric conversion of the passive-source electromagnetic signal. The method may also include receiving, by the processor, second survey data from a second source and processing the first survey data and the second survey data to determine one or more properties of a subsurface earth formation.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating seismic anisotropy of subsurface formations with high resolution. A method for determining anisotropy parameters of subsurface formations includes generating a synthetic reflectivity gather from a vertical well log. Times of a surface seismic gather are adjusted to those of the synthetic gather. Low-cut filtering is applied to the surface seismic gather. Anisotropy parameters are generated as a difference of the filtered seismic gather and the synthetic gather. An anisotropy value is assigned to each of plurality of layers of a formation based on the generated anisotropy parameters.

Abstract: Adaptive filtering method to remove ground roll from seismic data. In an M channel adaptive filter, weights Wi are set using an adaptive algorithm based on seeking the minimum in the partial differential of cost function J. The cost function includes an expansion of the primary trace d into d=dg+?d (where: dg is ground roll contribution and ?d=dsig+dran, where dsig is the reflected signal component and dran is a random noise component) and a corresponding expansion of the reference x into x=xg+?x (where xg is ground roll contribution and ?x=xsig+xran; where xsig is a reflected signal component and xran is a random noise component). The delta components are included in the denominator of cost function J to provide an optimal solution of the filter coefficients biased by the reflection signal and random noise is removed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for conducting a seismic survey. The system includes at least one seismic sensor configured to supply a signal responsive to reflections of acoustic energy from an earth surface; and at least one processor configured to: mitigate sensor offset from a sequence of samples representative of the signal by filtering the sequence of samples using a symmetrical-in-time finite impulse response (FIR) filter. The FIR filter may approximate a sinc-in-frequency filter. The at least one processor may be configured to process the sequence of samples using a plurality of filter stages that are rectangular in time. The length of one filter stage of the plurality of filter stages may be different than the length of another filter stage of the plurality of filter stages.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus to image one or more subsurface formation features are disclosed. An example method includes generating acoustic waves with a transmitter and receiving the acoustic waves and acoustic data contained therein at one or more receivers. The example method also includes extracting one or more S-S, P-S or S-P reflected waveform data from the acoustic data, estimating a dip of the one or more subsurface formation features, migrating the one or more S-S, P-S or S-P reflected waveform data with the estimated dip and mapping the migrated one or more S-S, P-S or S-P reflected waveform data. In addition, the example method includes identifying one or more permeable subsurface formation features using the mapped migrated one or more S-S, P-S or S-P reflected waveform data.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for processing seismic data and displaying an output associated with the seismic data. A method includes: separating the seismic data into a fine-scale dataset and a coarse-scale dataset, wherein each dataset includes a non-zero portion of the data; applying a first interpolation to the coarse-scale dataset which results in an interpolated coarse-scale dataset; applying a second interpolation to the fine-scale dataset which results in an interpolated fine-scale dataset, wherein the first and second interpolation are different interpolations; summing together the interpolated coarse-scale dataset and the interpolated fine-scale dataset which results in a summed interpolated dataset; and displaying at least one image based on the summed interpolated dataset.

Abstract: A system and method for isolating signal in seismic data representative of a subsurface region of interest including receiving a seismic dataset representative of seismic signal and seismic noise and a seismic data guide; transforming the seismic dataset and the seismic data guide into a domain wherein the seismic data have a sparse or compressible representation to create a first set and a second set of representative coefficients; comparing the first set of representative coefficients to the second set of representative coefficients to identify and select desirable members of the first set of representative coefficients that are within a defined threshold of the second set of representative coefficients to create an improved first set of representative coefficients; and performing an inverse transform of the improved first set of representative coefficients to generate a modified seismic dataset.

Abstract: Designing a multi-dimensional Finite Impulse Response FIR digital filter to attenuate the coherent noise while preserving reflection signals on seismic data, particular in land seismics, includes computing filter coefficients to minimize an l-norm function of differences between a response of a filter with the computed coefficients and a predetermined response which attenuates signals outside a predetermined range of slowness relative to signals within the predetermined range of slowness. Additional constraints may be imposed on the coefficients to improve the attenuation of signals outside the predetermined range of slowness of the desired reflection signals, and/or to improve uniformity within the desired range.