Patent ID: 7773455

Claim:
A method for generating a time lapse difference image, comprising: sorting a first seismic data set acquired using a first seismic survey into one or more common mid-point (CMP) gathers based on one or more CMPs; and sorting a second seismic data set acquired using a second seismic survey into one or more CMP gathers based on the CMPs; estimating a trace in each CMP gather of the first seismic survey at each CMP offset coordinate of the second seismic survey; estimating a trace in each CMP gather of the second seismic survey at each CMP offset coordinate of the first seismic survey; and calculating trace differences, using a processor, between the first seismic survey CMP gathers and the second seismic survey CMP gathers at each CMP offset coordinate of the first seismic survey and the second seismic survey.