United States Patent
`
`{:9}
`
`Gallagher
`
`{S4} THREE DLMENSIONAL SEISMIC
`PROSPECTING METHOD
`
`[‘75}
`
`Inventor:
`
`Joseph G. Galiagher, Bartlesvifie,
`Okla.
`
`{'13} Assignec:
`
`Phiilips Petroleum Company,
`Bartiesviflc, Okla.
`E21} App}. No; 393,430
`[22] Filed:
`Aug. 11, 1989
`........ G331‘! 1/28
`{S1}
`Int. C1,? .....
`
`.. 367/59; 367/56
`{$21 US. CL ......
`
`‘[58] Fieid of Search
`67/56, 58, 59, 60,
`367/37, 73; 364/421
`
`[561
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`367/60
`5/1982 i’eterson .........
`4.3341873
`367/56
`4,476,552 10/1984 Waters et a3.
`..
`367/47
`4,573,148 2/I936 Herkenhoff et al.
`
`45,672,545 6/1987 Lin et al.
`.............. ..
`.. 364/422
`
`
`
`E111
`
`545}
`
`Patent Number:
`
`4,933,912
`
`Date sf Patent:
`
`Jun. 12, 1990
`
`4,727,488
`4,742,497
`
`2/‘ 1936 Flinchbeugh
`5/E988 Bemiey et ai.
`
`..
`
`. 364/-$21
`367/'52
`
`Primary Examirzer—-Thomas H. Tarcza
`Assistant Examz'ner——-ian 3. Lobo
`Artarney. Agem, or Fz”rm——-Wifliam R. Sharp
`ABSTRACT
`
`{57}
`A 3-D seismic prospecting method is provided which
`employs an area} may of sources and receivers by
`which seismic traces are generated. The areal array is
`segregated into a plurality of shells and angulariy se-
`parted sections from which a preselected number ng of
`source-receiver pairs are selected for a parzicular com-
`mon midpoint. By means of the sheiis and sections, the
`source~receivet pairs so seiected have associated there-
`with a wide range of offsets and azimuth angies for the
`pseseiected fold m. The seismic traces carresponding to
`the selected source~:ecciver pairs are summed to give a
`stacked trace csrtesponding to the comxmm midpoint.
`
`8 Claims, 8 Drawihg Sheets
`
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`WestemGeco Ex. 1005, pg. 1
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 1
`
`WesternGeco V. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 1
`WesternGeco v. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun.12, 1990
`
`Sheet 1 of8
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`4,9 3,912
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`WestemGec0 Ex. 1005, pg. 2
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 2
`
`WesternGeco V. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 2
`WesternGeco v. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 12,1990 ‘
`
`Sheet 2 of8
`
`4,933,912
`
`{W SELECTENG AN ARRAY or SEISMIC souacg
`
`T§qNS AND QECEEVE9 POSETIONS
`
`P 3:
`0
`
`_
`PRCDUCENG A PLURRLETY OF SEESMEC
`TRACES CSRQESPONGING TO A PLURALITY
`CF SGURCE~?E€EIVER ?fiERS OF THE AQQAY
`
`2 Y
`
`2 Y
`
`E
`
`SELECTING A FOLD NUMBER fig WHEQE
`
`ng
`IS AN INTEGER OF A? LEAST 2
`
`
`
`__..«._.,_“.!"___~_M,._,,_M.._____
`SELECTING COMMON MZGQOENT {CMP3
`BF A SE? G? AT LEAST A PORYICN
`0? THE SOURCE*R£CEEVEfi PAERS, HE§EAF?ER
`DENO?ED AS 3'9 SET, %HERE THE NUMBER
`OF PAZQS {N THE S-R SET 35
`GREAYEQ THAN n;
`
`'
`
` }
`
`L
`
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`
`saoaasarzwo THE AQQAY :w:o n2 egcziéms,
`wagaa n2 is AN zwrgsan
`AND WHEQE 2$n2Sn;
`
`
`
`SEGREGA?ING TQE ARRAY INTO n3 SHELLS
`E
`WHERE H3 18 AN INTEGER AND Zéngén;
`
`AND WHEQE EACH SHELL HAS n2 POQTIONS
`§ EACH PORYEON LYENG EN A SZFFERENT SECTION
`
`
`[
`SELECTENG n; SOURCE POSETZONS OR nx
`E
`REC”’VER pes:?:aws zn ?wa ARRAY wa:ca
`caaagssens $8 n; SOURCE*eECEZVER PAEQS
`i
`OF rag 3-9 35?,
`SUCH FHA? EACH SHELL
`E
`PORTZON OF EACH SHELL zmcauuss AT LEAST
`é
`sma SELECTED souaca ¢es1?:ow on RECEEVE
`E posrzou THEREEN T3 THE EXTENT THAT EACH
`§SUCH SHELL 90R?EGN HA8 AT LEAS? ONE SOURCE
`;
`psszrzow an nscazvaw POSETZGN
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`CO$’~%¥5%ES$3O-ND 70 THE '2: SOURCE-PrECE§‘JER
`
`PAERS TO YEZLD A STACKEB TRACE
`TJ
`
`I
`
`FIG. 2
`
`WesternGeco Ex. 1005: p . 3P38 Exhibit 2019, pg. 3
`WesternGeco V. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`Z
`
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`
`1 E E E
`
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 3
`WesternGeco v. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 3 of 8
`
`4,933,912
`
`F;
`
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`20
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`
`WestemGec:o Ex. 1005, p
`P
`
`(38 Exhibit 2019, pg. 4
`WesternGeco V. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`.4
`
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 4
`WesternGeco v. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 4 0f 8
`
`4,933,912
`
`U1
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`10
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`
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`
`0 =REC{IVER POSETEOM X =
`
`SOU CE POSETION
`
`FIG.
`
`4
`
`WestemGeco Ex. 1005,
`
`. 5
`
`figs Exhibit 2019, pg. 5
`WesternGeco V. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 5
`WesternGeco v. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun.12, 1990
`
`Sheet 5 of8
`
`4,933,912
`
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`WestemGe<:o Ex. 1005, pg. 6
`PGS EXh1b1t 2019, pg. 6
`
`WesternGeco V. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 6
`WesternGeco v. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 12, 1998
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`
`4,933,912
`
`1. {NE
`30
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`FIG.
`
`5
`
`Q G
`
`Westemfieco Ex. 1005, p . 7
`P
`S Exhibit 2019, pg. 7
`
`WesternGeco V. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`,..
`
`STATION
`
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 7
`WesternGeco v. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`4,933,912
`
`28
`
`38
`
`40
`
`STATION
`
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`-
`
`FIG.
`
`7
`
`WestemGeco Ex. 1005, pg. 8
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 8
`
`WesternGeco V. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 8
`WesternGeco v. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 12, 1990
`
`Sheet 3 0fS
`
`4,933,912
`
`LENE
`
`LINE
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`
`WesternGeco Ex. 1005, p . 9P33 Exhibit 2019, pg. 9
`WesternGeco V. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 9
`WesternGeco v. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`

`
`1
`
`4,933,912
`
`THREE DIMENSIONAL SEISMIC PROSPECTING
`METHOD
`
`BACKGRGUND OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates to a three dimensional (3-D)
`seismic prospecting method wherein data is collected
`for 3 3-D seismic areal array of sources and receivers
`and wherein such data is processed in a manner which
`optimizes certain seismic parameters which are dis-
`cussed further below.
`In 3-D seismic prospecting, an areal array of seismic
`sources and receivers are positioned over an area of the
`eartlfs surface and seismic data is collected in the form
`ofseismic traces which are generated by the receivers in
`response to reflected acoustic waves. This is in contrast
`to two dimensional seismic prospecting wherein a lint:
`rather than an area! array of sources and receivers is
`utilized. In 3-D as well as in two dimensional seismic
`prospecting it is desirable to "s’iz§ck” a number of traces
`(commonly called a common midpoint bin or gather)
`which correspond to a number of source-receiver pairs
`which share a common snidpoint. As used herein, the
`term “source-receiver pair" refers to a source position
`and receiver position located on opposite sides of a
`commotz midpoint and spaced substantially equidis-
`tamly from the: common midpoint. Stacking of seismic
`traces corresponding to such source-receiver pairs in-
`volves summing of the traces so as to enhance important
`reflection events in the traces and remove spurious
`noise which can obscure the reflection events. In other
`words, stacking enhances. the signal to noise ratio.
`Certain parameters which charactcrize a group of
`3-D source-receiver pairs corresponding to a particular
`common midpoint include fold, offset and azimuth.
`Fold refers to the number of source-receiver pairs shar-
`ing a common midpoint for which traces are stacked.
`For example, if there are if; source:-receiver pairs for 3
`partirmlar stack, there are l6 ‘folds. Offset is simply the
`distance between the source and receiver of a particular
`source-rcocivcr pair. Azimuth is the angular orientation
`of the sourcerecelvcr pair. More precisely, the azimuth
`angle for a particular sourcoreceivcr pair is the angle
`defincd between the line along which the source»
`recciver pair lies and a preselected direction such as
`true east or north.
`In planning 3 3-D seismic areal array according to
`conventional techniques, it is desirable to position the
`sources and receivers to optimize certain conditions
`with respect to fold, offset and azimuth.
`With respect to fold, it is desirable to have an ade-
`quate number of folds for each common midpoiztt in
`order to give an acceptable signal to noise ratio in the
`resulting stacked trace. It is also desiralxle to ‘maize uni-
`formity of fold zimong a maximum number of common
`midpoints for a particular areal array. This results in a
`uniform signal to noise ratio for the various stacked
`traces. With such a uniform signal to noise ratio among
`stacked traces, any variation of amplitude from trace to
`trace will be relatcd to the strength of reflection events
`and not the difference in the ntmnbcr of traces being
`smnmeci. Title’ makes seismic interpretation easier and
`more accurate.
`With respect to offset, it is desirable to have a maxi-
`mum variation of offsets for the sourcc-receiver pairs
`corresponding to a particular common midpoint. The
`different offset values are utilized to derive an average
`stacking velocity for the traces being stacked. Such a
`
`5
`
`25
`
`L0‘IV
`
`45
`
`50
`
`65
`
`2
`stacking velocity is used to correct for normal moveout
`among the traces. Maximizing the distribution of offset
`values serves to enhance the accuracy of the derived
`stacking velocity and thus also the accuracy of the
`resulting normal movement correction.
`with respect to azimuth, it desirable to have a maxi-
`mum variation in azimuth angles among the source-
`rcccivcr pairs corresponding to a particular common
`midpoint. By having many different azimuth angles, the
`accuracy of 3-D statics solutions is enhanced. Statics are
`corrections applied to seismic data to correct for low
`veiocities {weathering velocities) of seismic waves en-
`countered in unconsolidated sediments near the earth’s
`surface.
`Planning the positioning of sources and receivers in a
`3-D seismic areal array to optimize the various parame-
`ter conditions discussed above is typically done by trial
`and error placement of sources atzcl receivers until the
`desired optimization of conditions is obtained. Such a
`proceciure is extremely time consuming. Depending on
`the size of the areal array, such 2. procedure can take
`from about a week to several weeks to carry out. This
`translates to a high expense and an adverse effect on the
`efficiency of a particular seismic prospecting project.
`SUMMARY OF THE ENVENTION
`
`It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide
`8, 3-D seismic prospecting method which yields seismic
`data optimized with respect to fold, offset and azimuth
`parameters.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide such
`a seismic prospecting method which is less time con-
`suming and thus more efficient then prior methods.
`The above objects are realized by a 3-D seismic pros-
`pecting method which comprises the steps of: (a) pro-
`ducing a plurality of seismic traces. respectively corre-
`sponding to a plurality of seismic source-receiver pairs
`which define an areal array of source positions and
`receiver positions, wherein each souzcoreceiver pair
`includes a source position and 3 receiver position and
`wherein any one seismic trace is produced by 21 seismic
`receiver located at the receiver position of the corre-
`sponding source-receiver pair in response to the reflec-
`tion of at least one seismic wave transmitted into the
`subsurface of the earth by a seismic source: located at
`the source position of the corresponding source-
`reccivcr pair; Co) selecting a fold number m, where In is
`an integer of at least 2; (C) selecting a common midpoint
`(CM?) of a set of cource-receiver pairs which define as
`least a portion of the areal array, wherein the source
`position and receiver position of each source-receiver
`pair of the set has said Civil?‘ as the midpoint marche-
`twecn and wherein the number of sourcercczeiver pairs
`in the set is greater that: m; (cl) segregating the areal
`army into n: angolarly separated sections defined by at
`least one imaginary boundary passing through the
`CMP, where oz is an integer and Zéngérrg; (6) segre-
`gating at least a portion of the areal array into :13 shells
`defined by :1,
`imaginary closed and sionictersecting
`boundaries which surround the (IMP, such that the
`iorrermost shell
`defined cg; the coutidcry C;£§5€3I
`to the
`CM? and such that each other shell is defined between
`adjacent shell boundaries, where n3 is an integer and
`Zéngéng; (YT) selecting ng source positions or $1‘; re-
`ceiver positions in the areal array which correspond to
`I11 source:-receiver pairs of the set of source-receiver
`pairs having the (IMP as their midpoint, such selecting
`
`WestemGeco Ex. l0O51,)p . 10
`S Exhibit 2019, pg. 10
`WesternGeco V. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`PGS Exhibit 2019, pg. 10
`WesternGeco v. PGS (IPR2015-00313)
`
`

`
`ll)
`
`ES
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`=30
`
`45
`
`30
`
`3
`of source positions or receiver positions being per-
`formed such that each shell and each section includes at
`least one selected source position or receiver position
`therein to the extent that each section or shell has at
`least one source position or receiver position which
`corresponds to a sourcemcceiver pair of the set of
`source-receiver pairs having the CMP as their mid-
`point; (g) summing the seismic traces which correspond
`to the n; source-receiver pairs of step (8 so as to yield a
`stacked trace.
`The method can be applied to a plurality of common
`midpoints corresponding to the areal array. Since a
`constant number of source-receiver pairs are selected
`for the various common rnicipoints, uniform fold is
`achieved. By segregating the areal array into shells and
`angtxlarly separated sections, and then selecting source
`positions or receiver positions such that each shell and
`section has a selected source position or receiver posi-
`tion therein, this ensures that the source-receiver pairs
`for a particular common midpoint have associated
`therewith a plurality of different offsets and azimuth
`angles. The shells force the selection of a range of off-
`sets whereas the sections force the selection of a range
`of azimuth angles. As discussed previously, uniform
`fold, and a good offset and azimuthal distribution are
`particularly advantageous in processing of the seismic
`traces.
`In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
`invention, an areal array pattern can be selected arbi-
`trarily before step (a) of the invention as described
`above, most typically in the form of a symmetrical ar-
`rangement of source positions and receiver positious.
`The resulting data as collected by means of step (3) is
`then processed or “decimated” to achieve the desired
`conditions with respect to folcl, offset and azimuth. In
`effect, then, only part of the seismic data actually ob-
`tained is selected for a particular common midpoint. and
`the remainder of the data is not used. It is desirable.
`therefore, in accordance with the invention to “over-
`slriooz" the areal array, or employ a sufficient number of
`source-receiver pairs so as to have sufficient rlata from
`which to select. That means, of course, that more
`source-receiver pairs are typically utilized for a particu-
`lar common miclpoim in accordance witii the invention
`than in the conventional trial and error procedure de-
`scribed previously. However, planning of the areal
`array and processing of the data in accordance with the
`invention takes only, for example, a matter of hours as
`compared to the considerable amount of time (i.c.
`weeks) required using the conventional procedure. The
`savings in time utilizing the invention has been found to
`contribute to the overall efficiency of a 3—D seismic
`prospecting project and also lower expenses. despite the
`use of a larger number of source-receiver pairs.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTEON OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. I shows a source-receiver areal array and the
`boundaries of shells and sections in accordance with a
`preferred embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart which sets forth the steps of a
`preferred embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 3 shows a planned source-receiver areal army
`for an example described herein in which the inverition
`was applied in the field.
`FIG. 4 shows the areal array which was actually
`employed in the 2tbove»mcntioned example.
`FIG. 5 shows the common micipcints for the FIG. 4
`areal array.
`
`4,933,912
`
`4
`FIG. 6 is a common midpoint fold map whicii illus-
`trates the number of folds for each common midpoint of
`the FIG. 4 areal array before processing of data in ac-
`cordance with the invention.
`FIG. 7 is a common midpoint fold map which illus-
`trates the number of folds for each common midpoint of
`the areal array after data processing in accordance with
`the invention.
`FIG. 8 illustrates a set of stacked traces correspond-
`ing to a particular line number for each of the FIG. 6
`and FIG. 7 maps.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be
`described with reference to FIG. 1. The following cle-
`scriptic