Patent ID: 8050867

Claim:
An automated method of adaptively modifying a seismic survey of a survey area to achieve survey goals within survey resource constraints, said survey resources including one or more seismic energy sources, said method comprising: (a) identifying survey goals for the survey area and survey resource constraints, selecting an initial set of acquisition parameters including source operating parameters, and selecting sensor type and location in the survey area for at least one adaptive feedback sensor, wherein the survey goals include at least one of a group consisting of: a minimum energy per unit area required for imaging of seismic data; a maximum earth particle velocity allowed at a structure or facility element located in the survey area; a minimum signal-to-noise ratio for a target subsurface zone, including any stricter requirement for pre-stack azimuth and offset analysis; a criterion based on how much variation an RMS amplitude ratio of a window containing surface waves to a window containing primary reflections may have compared to that of its neighbors; pre-specified polarization and velocity characteristics of surface waves; and minimum frequency spectral density values required for imaging of seismic data; (b) assigning a value to each survey goal; (c) selecting a minimum acceptable survey value to define satisfying the survey goals; (d) activating the seismic energy sources in accordance with the selected acquisition parameter set; (e) collecting measurement data from the adaptive feedback sensors; and (f) comparing the sensor data or a quantity extracted therefrom with the survey goals as the survey progresses, and predicting a probability of satisfying the survey goals within the resource constraints; (g) if the probability of satisfying the survey goals falls at any time below a pre-selected minimum value, predicting the probability for at least one alternative set of acquisition parameters; (h) selecting a parameter set with a probability of satisfying the survey goals above the pre-selected minimum value, and returning to step (d); and (i) if no parameter set has a predicted probability of satisfying the survey goals above the pre-selected minimum value, displaying a notice to the effect that the survey cannot be completed within the resource constraints; wherein steps (f)-(i) are performed using a computer.