Dynamic water velocity correction
US6799118B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 17, 2001 |
| Grant date | Sep 28, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 11, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V2210/52
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
This invention removes the effects of variable water velocity by calculating and applying corrections that map the seismic data to an ideal case of constant water velocity. All of the corrections assume, from a separate analysis step, that the vertical (zero-offset) timing errors induced by the water-velocity variations and that the zero-offset water bottom times are available. Equivalently, the water velocities are assumed known. The timing errors and water velocities are related. The zero-offset water-bottom times are also assumed available. From this information, and an arbitrarily-defined “ideal” water velocity, it is possible to calculate an observed (actual) water velocity relative to the “ideal” case. The only additional information needed is the angle of the ray path through the water layer. The angle may be calculated directly from normal moveout velocities derived from conventional analysis of the seismic data, and the information above. A time-dependent and offset-dependent correction may be derived for each sample of the seismic data prior to normal moveout correction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.