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  Wide tow enabled by multicomponent marine seismic cableThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080008036. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Field of the Invention [0002]The present invention pertains to marine seismic surveying and, in particular, to towed-array surveys. [0003]2. Description of the Related Art [0004]Seismic exploration involves surveying subterranean geological formations for hydrocarbon deposits. A survey typically involves deploying acoustic source(s) and acoustic sensors at predetermined locations. The sources impart acoustic waves into the geological formations. The acoustic waves are sometime also referred to as "pressure waves" because of the way they propagate. Features of the geological formation reflect the pressure waves to the sensors. The sensors receive the reflected waves, which are detected, conditioned, and processed to generate seismic data. Analysis of the seismic data can then indicate probable locations of the hydrocarbon deposits. [0005]Some surveys are known as "marine" surveys because they are conducted in marine environments. Note that marine surveys may be conducted not only in saltwater environments, but also in fresh and brackish waters. One type of marine survey may be referred to as a "towed-array" survey. In a towed-array survey, a survey vessel tows an array of seismic cables extending linearly from the stern of the survey vessel. Each seismic cable, or "streamer", includes a variety of instruments that provide a number of functions. Some of these instruments, typically acoustic receivers called "hydrophones", receive the reflected waves and generate data as described above. [0006]In conventional towed-array surveys, the seismic cables are commonly towed some 50-100 meters apart. This design specification arises from the theory of discrete spatial sampling, which dictates the maximum cable spacing for array detection of broadside seismic signal and the discrimination and suppression of broadside linear noise. The maximum cable separation, in turn, imposes a limit on overall cross-line receiver array coverage, since the total number of seismic cables is constrained by the towing capacity of any given seismic vessel. [0007]This limitation on cable separation has a number of important consequences. For instance, it limits the maximum spread of the array, which increases the number of passes the survey vessel and towed array must make to cover the survey array. This increases the cost of the survey. It also imposes technological constraints on the survey. For instance, it limits the angle of incidence for the acoustic waves both at reflectors in the subterranean geological formation as well as the receivers of the streamers. [0008]The present invention is directed to resolving, or at least reducing, one or all of the problems mentioned above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009]The invention includes, in its many aspects and embodiments, a method and apparatus for use in towed-array, marine seismic surveys. More particularly, the method comprises: accessing a set of multicomponent seismic data acquired in a wide tow, marine seismic survey; and interpolating a set of seismic data from the acquired seismic data in the crossline direction such that the combined acquired and interpolated seismic data meet the discrete spatial sampling theory requirements for array detection of broadside seismic signal and the discrimination and suppression of broadside linear noise. In some aspects, the invention includes programmed storage media and/or programmed computers for use in executing such a method. The apparatus is a wide tow array, comprising a plurality of streamers spaced apart by a cable separation exceeding the maximum cable spacing for array detection of broadside seismic signal and the discrimination and suppression of broadside linear noise as determined by discrete spatial sampling theory. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010]The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which: [0011]FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B depict a marine seismic survey practiced in accordance with one aspect of the present invention; [0012]FIG. 2 conceptually depicts a sensor arrangement for the marine seismic survey of FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B; [0013]FIG. 3 shows selected portions of the hardware and software architecture of a computing apparatus such as may be employed in some aspects of the present invention; [0014]FIG. 4 depicts a computing system on which some aspects of the present invention may be practiced in some embodiments; [0015]FIG. 5 illustrates the Cartesian coordinate system employed in the description of the illustrated embodiment; [0016]FIG. 6 illustrates one particular embodiment of a method practiced in accordance with one aspect of the present invention; [0017]FIG. 7 graphically illustrates an interpolation for a single receiver position which may be iterated to meet the technical requirements of discrete spatial sampling theory; [0018]FIG. 8 graphically illustrates an interpolation for a single receiver position alternative to that shown in FIG. 7; and [0019]FIG. 9 illustrates one particular embodiment of a method practiced in accordance with another aspect of the present invention; [0020]While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, the drawings illustrate specific embodiments herein described in detail by way of example. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Continue reading... Full patent description for Wide tow enabled by multicomponent marine seismic cable Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Wide tow enabled by multicomponent marine seismic cable patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Wide tow enabled by multicomponent marine seismic cable or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Method and apparatus for estimating a seismic source signature Next Patent Application: Seismic data processing Industry Class: Communications, electrical: acoustic wave systems and devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Wide tow enabled by multicomponent marine seismic cable patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 1.71432 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error |
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