Patent Document ID: 20090292476
Application ID: 12464907
Patent Status: 0

Claim One:
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 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.