Patent Document ID: 6018499
Application ID: 09175743
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A computer-implemented three-dimensional seismic data processing method comprising: a) providing a set of seismic signals for a seismic exploration volume; b) providing a complex velocity model for said volume; c) generating a set of accepted traveltimes for said volume by providing accepted traveltimes for an accepted grid region within said volume, providing tentative traveltimes for a set of trial grid points arranged in a narrow band around said accepted grid region, arranging said tentative traveltimes on a heap, selecting a minimum traveltime from said heap as an accepted traveltime, thereby adding to said accepted grid region a minimum-traveltime grid point corresponding to said minimum traveltime, adding a neighbor of said minimum-traveltime grid point which is not in said accepted grid region to said set of trial grid points, computing a tentative traveltime for said neighbor using said velocity model and said accepted traveltimes, putting said tentative traveltime for said neighbor on said heap, and advancing said accepted grid region to generate said set of accepted traveltimes; and d) processing said seismic signals using said set of accepted traveltimes to characterize a propagation of said seismic signals through said volume.