Method of imaging in an underground formations steep-sloping geologic interfaces, giving rise to prismatic reflections
US7453764B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 2005 |
| Grant date | Nov 18, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 14, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V1/301
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of imaging in an underground formation one or more steep-sloping geologic interfaces, which are not necessarily in a plane, by forming with primary reflectors, which are not necessarily in a plane, dihedra giving rise to prismatic seismic reflections (double reflections). The geometry of the steep-sloping interface is determined from choosing seismic records of one or more events corresponding to prismatic reflections for different source-pickup pairs of an acquisition device. A new reflection tomography technique is used, wherein introduction of specific constraints guarantees the convergence of the algorithm. The velocity distribution in the geologic formation and/or the geometry of the interface(s) between the sedimentary layers can be known otherwise or determined by means of the method. The method can apply to a formation comprising several different sloping interfaces.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.