Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Westerngeco L.l.p.

Henry Menkiti

Arthur H Hartog

Richard Timothy Coates

Francois M Auzerais

Douglas E Miller

Dominic Joseph Brady

Ian David Richard Bradford

Colin A Wilson

Colin Allan Wilson

Michael David Prange

John Richard Tulett

Hugues A Djikpesse

Philip Neville Armstrong

Mohamed-Rabigh Khodja

Sebastien Duchenne

A fiber optic distributed vibration system for detecting seismic signals in an earth formation is provided. The system includes a fiber optic cable deployed in a borehole that extends into the earth formation and which is configured to react along its length to a seismic wave incident on the fiber optic cable from outside the borehole. An optical source launches an optical signal into the fiber optic cable while the seismic wave is incident thereon. A receiver detects coherent Rayleigh noise (CRN) produced in response to the optical signal. A processing circuit processes the detected CRN signal to determine characteristics of the earth formation.

Detection of seismic signals using fiber optic distributed sensors

Complex-valued sensitivity data structures corresponding to respective candidate survey settings are provided, where the sensitivity data structures relate measurement data associated with a target structure to at least one parameter of a model of the target structure. Based on the sensitivity data structures, a subset of the candidate survey settings is selected according to a criterion for enhancing resolution in characterizing the target structure.

Selecting a survey setting for characterizing a target structure

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for generating three dimensional (3D) vertical seismic profiles (VSPs) in a more time efficient manner. The methods and apparatuses enable faster and more efficient VSP surveys than previous techniques. Real-time updating of the velocity model and real-time reflection point density calculations are carried out, which are used to determine the location of the next seismic source firing. In the event the data of a particular bin has an insufficient fold, common image points (CIPs) or reflection point density, additional source firings may be carried out prior to moving the source. Further, in the event the data of a particular bin is excessive in terms of the fold, CIPs or reflection point density before the planned source firings for the bin are completed, remaining source firings for that bin may be skipped to save time and improve the efficiency of the data collection.

Real-time reflection point density mapping during three-dimensional (3D) vertical seismic profile (VSP) surveys

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Twickenham, United Kingdom

Henry Menkiti