Method to separate compressional and shear waves during seismic monitoring by utilizing linear and rotational multi-component sensors in arrays of shallow monitoring wells
US9817141B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 21, 2012 |
| Grant date | Nov 14, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 1, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01V2210/144
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides a technique to separate compressional seismic waves from shear seismic waves and to determine their direction of propagation to enhance the seismic monitoring oil and gas reservoirs and the seismic monitoring of hydrofracturing in oil and gas wells. The invention utilizes various combinations of multi-component linear seismic sensors, multi-component rotational seismic sensors, and pressure sensors. Sensors are jointly deployed in arrays of shallow monitoring wells to avoid the complicating effects of the free surface of the earth. The emplacement of sensors in the shallow monitoring wells may be permanent. The method has a wide range of application in oil and gas exploration and production. This abstract is not intended to be used to interpret or limit the claims of this invention.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.