Patent ID: 6324478
Filing Date: 2001-11-27
Classification: G01V

Abstract:
A computer-implemented three-dimensional seismic data processing method comprising the steps of:a) providing a set of seismic signals for a seismic exploration volume;b) providing a velocity model for the volume;c) generating a set of accepted traveltimes for the volume byproviding accepted traveltimes for an accepted grid region within the volume,providing tentative traveltimes for a set of trial grid points arranged in a narrow band around the accepted grid region,arranging the tentative traveltimes on a heap,selecting a minimum traveltime from the heap as an accepted traveltime, thereby adding to the accepted grid region a minimum-traveltime grid point corresponding to the minimum traveltime,adding a neighbor of the minimum-traveltime grid point which is not in the accepted grid region to the set of trial grid points,determining whether enough accepted traveltimes are available for a high-order traveltime computation for the neighbor,if enough accepted traveltimes are available, computing a tentative traveltime for the neighbor using a high-order traveltime computation operator,if enough accepted traveltimes are not available, computing the tentative traveltime for the neighbor using a first-order traveltime computation operator,putting the tentative traveltime for the neighbor on the heap, andadvancing the accepted grid region to generate the set of accepted traveltimes; andd) processing the seismic signals using the set of accepted traveltimes to characterize a propagation of the seismic signals through the volume.