Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system in a specific environment – Earth science
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-12
2004-03-16
McElheny, Jr., Donald E. (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system in a specific environment
Earth science
Reexamination Certificate
active
06708118
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is related to seismic data processing. More specifically, the invention relates to a system for organizing seismic data.
2. Background
Geophysical and geologic study of the subsurface structure of the earth continues to be an important field of endeavor for several reasons. The continued search for producing reservoirs of hydrocarbons, such as oil and gas, is a particularly important motivation for obtaining information about the earth's subsurface.
Conventional seismic surveying is generally performed by imparting energy to the earth at one or more source locations, for example, by way of a controlled explosion, mechanical impact or the like. Return energy is then measured at surface receiver locations at varying distances and azimuths from the source location. The travel time of energy from source to receiver, via reflections and refraction from interfaces of subsurface strata is indicative of the depth and orientation of the subsurface strata.
The generation of instantaneous phase sections derived from seismic data is referred to in an article by Taner and Sheriff included in AAPG Memoir 26 from 1977, in which it is stated:
“The instantaneous phase is a quantity independent of reflection strength. Phase emphasizes the continuity of events; in phase displays . . . every peak, every trough, every zero-crossing has been picked and assigned the same color so that any phase angle can be followed from trace to trace.” And “Such phase displays are especially effective in showing pinchouts, angularities and the interference of events with different dip attitudes.”
Various phase unwrapping techniques are known, including those disclosed in Ghiglia, Dennis C. and Pritt, Mark D.,
Two
-
Dimensional Phase Unwrapping Theory, Algorithms, and Software,
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, N.Y., 1998. Methods of obtaining topography from synthetic aperture radar data have also used phase unwrapping techniques.
A long felt need continues to exist, however, for improved systems for organizing, storing and displaying seismic information to assist in the analysis and interpretation of the subsurface structure and geology.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment the invention comprises a system for utilizing a geologic time volume to investigate a portion of the earth in which a geologic time is selected and a search is made in the geologic time volume for locations having substantially the selected geologic time. Locations in the geologic time volume having substantially the geologic time are extracted from the geologic time volume. Locations having substantially the selected geologic time may be displayed to facilitate use of the geologic time volume by an interpreter.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the interpreter simply points to a location and the horizon closest to that location is extracted from the geologic time volume and displayed as a map view or as a three dimensional (3D) visualization display.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4464569 (1984-08-01), Flaum
patent: 4821164 (1989-04-01), Swanson
patent: 5056066 (1991-10-01), Howard
patent: 5153858 (1992-10-01), Hildebrand
patent: 5233569 (1993-08-01), Beasley et al.
patent: 5251184 (1993-10-01), Hildebrand et al.
patent: 5282384 (1994-02-01), Holbrook
patent: 5394325 (1995-02-01), Schneider, Jr.
patent: 5513150 (1996-04-01), Sicking et al.
patent: 5623928 (1997-04-01), Wright et al.
patent: 5724309 (1998-03-01), Higgs et al.
patent: 5838634 (1998-11-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5870691 (1999-02-01), Partyka et al.
patent: 5894417 (1999-04-01), Dorn
patent: 5963508 (1999-10-01), Withers
patent: 5966672 (1999-10-01), Knupp
patent: 5987125 (1999-11-01), Stringer et al.
patent: 5995448 (1999-11-01), Krehbiel
patent: 5995907 (1999-11-01), Van Bemmel et al.
patent: 5999485 (1999-12-01), Anstey et al.
patent: 6011557 (2000-01-01), Keskes et al.
patent: 6012018 (2000-01-01), Hornbuckle
patent: 6018497 (2000-01-01), Gunasekera
patent: 6018498 (2000-01-01), Neff et al.
patent: 6044328 (2000-03-01), Murphy et al.
patent: 6070125 (2000-05-01), Murphy et al.
patent: 6078869 (2000-06-01), Gunasekera
patent: 6092026 (2000-07-01), Bahorich et al.
patent: 6131071 (2000-10-01), Partyka et al.
patent: 6138075 (2000-10-01), Yost
patent: 6138076 (2000-10-01), Graf et al.
patent: 6150973 (2000-11-01), Pritt
patent: 6151555 (2000-11-01), Van Bemmel et al.
patent: 6201884 (2001-03-01), Van Bemmel et al.
Barbara J. Radovich and R. Burnet Oliveros; “3-D sequence interpretation of seismic instantaneous attributes from the Gorgon Field”; The Leading Edge; Sep. 1998; p. 1286-1293; 17; No. 9.
R. E. Sheriff and D. Frye and F. Koehler and M. T. Taner; “Extraction and Interpretation of the Complex Seismic Trace: Part II. Geologic Interpretation”; Geophysics; abstract from 1976 SEG meeting; p. 181; vol. 42; No. 1.
Umberto Spagnolini; “2-D phase unwrapping and phase aliasing”; Geophysics; Sep. 1993; p. 1324-1334; vol. 58; No. 9.
Tracy J. Stark; “Surface slice generation and interpretation: A review”; The Leading Edge; Jul. 1996; p. 818-819; 17; No. 7.
Brochure; VoxelGeo—A volume-based Visualization and Interpretation System; Paradigm Geophysical Ltd.; 1998.
Larry R. Beyer; “rapid 3-D screening with seismic terrain: deepwater Gulf of Mexico examples”; The Leading Edge; Apr. 2001; p. 386-395; 20; No. 4.
F. Koehler and M. T. Taner and R. E. Sheriff and D. Frye; “Extraction and Interpretation of the Complex Seismic Trace: Part I. Computational Procedures”; Geophysics; abstract from 1976 SEG meeting; p. 162; vol. 42; No. 1.
William A. Wescott and William N. Krebs and Paul J. Sikora and Paul J. Boucher and Jeffrey A. Stein; “Modern applications of biostratigraphy in exploration and production”; The Leading Edge; Sep. 1998; p. 1204-1210;17; No. 9.
G. F. Carballo and P. W. Fieguth; “Multiresolution Network Flow Phase Unwrapping”; International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium; 2000; 3 pages.
Geoffrey A. Dorn; “Modern 3-D seismic interpretation”; The Leading Edge; Sep. 1998; p. 1262-1272; 17; No. 9.
Hongliu Zeng and Tucker F. Hentz and Lesli J. Wood; “Stratal slicing of Miocene-Pliocene sediments in Vermilion Block 50-Tiger Shoal Area, offshore Louisiana”; The Leading Edge; Apr. 2001; p. 408-418; 20; No. 4.
P. R. Vail and R. M. Mitchum, Jr.; “Seismic Stratigraphy and Global Changes of Sea Level, Part 1: Overview”; Seismic Stratigraphy-applications to hydrocarbon exploration; AAPG Memoir 26; Dec. 1977; p. 51-52.
R. M. Mitchum, Jr. and P. R. Vail and S. Thompson, III; “Seismic Stratigraphy and Global Changes of Sea Level, Part 2: The Depositional Sequence as a Basic Unit for Stratigraphic Analysis”; Seismic Stratigraphy-applications to hydrocarbon exploration; AAPG Memoir 26; Dec. 1977; p. 53-62.
M. T. Taner and R. E. Sheriff; “Application of Amplitude, Frequency, and Other Attributes to Stratigraphic and Hydrocarbon Determination”; Seismic Stratigraphy—applications to hydrocarbon exploration; AAPG Memoir 26; Dec. 1977; p. 301-327.
Becky Leigh Wood; “Development of a Structural Framework from Seismic Reflection Data”; University of Texas Master's thesis; May 1988; p. i-xviii and p. 1-102.
E.Poggiagliolmi and A.J. Berkhout and M. M. Boone; “Phase Unwrapping, Possibilities and Limitations”; Geophysical Prospecting; 30 ;1982; p. 281-291. Reprinted in Seismic Source Signature Estimation and Measurement; Geophysics Reprint Series No. 18; Society of Exploration Geophysicists; 1996; p.250-260.
Toshifumi Matsuoka and Tad J. Ulrych; “Phase Estimation Using the Bispectrum”; Proceedings of the IEEE; 72; 1980; p. 1403-1411. Reprinted in Seismic Source Signature Estimation and Measurement; Geophysics Reprint Series No. 18; Society of Exploration Geophysicists; 1996; p. 261-269.
J. P. Lindsey; “Measuring wavelet phase from seismic data”; (This article is based on Lindsey's 1987 Fall Distinguished Lecture, “Wavelet extraction from seismic data with no phase assumption,” presented to many SEG Sections.) Reprinted in Seismic Source Signature Estimation and Measurement; Geophysics Reprint Series No.
McElheny Jr. Donald E.
Thigpen E. Eugene
LandOfFree
System for utilizing geologic time volumes does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System for utilizing geologic time volumes, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for utilizing geologic time volumes will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3285810