Communications – electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices – Seismic prospecting – Land-reflection type
Patent
1998-10-20
2000-01-25
Oda, Christine K.
Communications, electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices
Seismic prospecting
Land-reflection type
367 73, 367 53, 364421, G01V 136
Patent
active
06018499&
ABSTRACT:
Accurate and reliable traveltimes for a seismic exploration volume having a complex velocity structure are generated by selectively advancing a traveltime front at its minimum traveltime grid point, using an entropy-satisfying finite-difference approximation to the eikonal equation. A narrow band propagation zone is used to advance the finite difference stencil. Tentative traveltimes for the narrow band adjacent to the traveltime front are computed using the eikonal equation and arranged on a heap. The minimum traveltime (top of the heap) is selected as an accepted traveltime, saved in the output table, and removed from the heap. Tentative traveltimes for all non-accepted grid points neighboring the selected point are then computed/recomputed and put on the heap. The traveltime computation is fast, unconditionally stable, resolves any overturning propagation wavefronts, and ensures that the eikonal equation is globally solved for each point of the 3-D grid. The traveltimes accurately characterize the propagation of seismic signals through the volume. The traveltimes are used for accurately imaging the volume.
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Popovici Alexander M.
Sethian James A.
3DGeo Development, Inc.
Jolly Anthony
Oda Christine K.
Popovici Andrei D.
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