Patent ID: 7239578
Filing Date: 2007-07-03
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
1. A method of processing seismic data to remove unwanted noise from meaningful reflection signals indicative of subsurface formations, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining field records of seismic data detected at a number of seismic receivers in an area of interest, said seismic data comprising amplitude data recorded over time and containing primary reflection signals and unwanted noise events; (b) assembling said amplitude data into common geometry gathers in an offset-time domain, said assembled amplitude data being uncorrected for normal moveout; (c) transforming said assembled amplitude data from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain using a Radon transformation; (d) filtering at least a subset of said transformed data to enhance the coherent noise content and to diminish the primary reflection signal content of said transformed data (e) inverse transforming said first and second subsets of filtered data from the time-slowness domain back to the offset-time domain using an inverse Radon transformation, thereby restoring the amplitude data for said first and second subsets of filtered data; and (f) subtracting said restored amplitude data of said first and second subsets of filtered data from said data assembled in step (b), thereby diminishing the low slowness coherent noise and high slowness coherent noise content of said assembled amplitude data and enhancing the primary reflection signal content thereof.