Westerngeco L.l.p.

David Lee Nyland

Gary Arthur Sitton

Frederick James Barr

Rainer Moerig

Ronald E Chambers

Roy Malcolm Lansley

A method of seismic surveying using one or more vibrational seismic energy sources activated by sweep signals. The highest order harmonic that has sufficient strength to cause significant harmonic distortion of a sweep segment is determined. A number of sweep segments in excess of the number of sources is selected. Initial phase angles are selected for each sweep segment of each seismic energy source so that substantially all harmonics up to and including the highest order harmonic are suppressed. Using cascaded sweeps, seismic data are acquired and processed to substantially attenuate harmonics upto the selected order.

Method of using cascaded sweeps for source coding and harmonic cancellation

A neural network to predict seismic streamer shape during seismic operations having an input layer, an optional hidden layer, and an output layer, each layer having one or more nodes. The first layer comprises input nodes attached to seismic data acquisition operational parameters as follows: vessel coordinates, receiver coordinates, time, vessel velocity, current velocity, wind velocity, water temperature, salinity, tidal information, water depth, streamer density, and streamer dimensions. Each node in the input layer is connected to each node in the hidden layer and each node in the hidden layer is connected to each node in the output layer, the output layer outputting a predicted cable shape. The layer maybe omitted. When the hidden lay is omitted, each node in the input layer is attached to each node in the output layer.

Neural net prediction of seismic streamer shape

A method for finding an optimal path in seismic in fill shooting using a neural network to estimate cable feathering and uses multiple off set cost maps and potentials in cellular automata. The process determines cable coordinates at each cell location and store the coordinates of a predecessor cell to eliminate multiple paths.

Optimal paths for marine data collection

A seismic survey area is divided into a number of &ldquo;bins&rdquo; of a convenient shape and size. The data from the suite of shot and receiver positions are analyzed and all shot-receiver pairs that have a common sort point (CSP) are assigned to the spatial bin in which the CSP is located. The CSP maybe a common mid-point (CMP). The data within each bin are analyzed to give a figure of merit of the adequacy of the sampling for each bin. These figures of merit are displayed in a color display that makes the inadequacies of the sampling apparent, making it possible to modify the planned acquisition geometry prior to the actual deployment of the receiver lines. Alternatively, a figure of merit is determined for the overall survey.

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Palmer, AK, United States of America

David Lee Nyland