Patent ID: 8103453
Filing Date: 2012-01-24
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
1. A method of exploration for hydrocarbons within a predetermined volume of the earth containing structural and stratigraphic features conducive to the generation, migration, accumulation, or presence of said hydrocarbons, comprising the steps of: (a) accessing a digital representation of a seismic survey that images at least a portion of said predetermined volume of the earth; (b) selecting at least a portion of said seismic survey, thereby selecting a plurality of seismic traces; (c) selecting at least one target seismic trace proximate to said plurality of seismic traces, said plurality of seismic traces and said at least one target seismic trace together comprising a seismic data set; (d) calculating a frequency spectrum from each seismic trace in said seismic data set, each of said frequency spectrum being comprised of a plurality of spectral values; (e) selecting a plurality of spectral values from each of said frequency spectrum; (f) determining a distribution of said selected plurality of spectral values from each of said frequency spectrum; (g) using at least said distribution to obtain a threshold schedule, said threshold schedule at least approximately dividing said distribution into equal-energy partitions; (h) using at least said threshold schedule and said plurality of seismic traces to calculate a projection onto convex sets (POCS) interpolation of said at least one target seismic trace, thereby producing at least one interpolated target seismic trace; and, (i) using at least a portion of said seismic survey and said at least one interpolated target seismic trace to explore for hydrocarbons within the predetermined volume of the earth, and wherein at least one of (d), (f), (g), or (h) is performed on one or more computers.