A computer implemented method for denoising a set of seismic datasets, specifically belonging to different 3D subsets of a 4D survey the method including: (a) receiving a baseline and a monitor seismic dataset which were acquired by surveying over the same subsurface formation over different periods of time; (b) cross-equalizing the monitor seismic dataset to match to the baseline seismic dataset in terms of amplitude, frequency, phase and timing of events; (c) computing an initial 4D difference between the monitor and baseline seismic datasets; (d) formulating a common noise template from the initial 4D difference; (e) de-noising the baseline and monitor seismic datasets, independently, using the common noise template in a curvelet domain; (f) updating the initial 4D difference to form an updated 4D difference, which reflects de-noised baseline and monitor datasets from step (e); and iterating the steps (d) through (F) until the updated 4D difference satisfies a predetermined criteria.

Methods and systems that attenuate noise in seismic data. In one aspect, noise attenuation methods iteratively generate a low-speed noise model of low-speed noise recorded in the seismic data. The seismic data is arranged into a sparse seismic-data matrix. Low-speed noise refers to noise that propagates at speeds less the speed of sound in water. The low-speed noise model includes the low-speed noise and includes interpolated low-speed noise that approximates portions of the low-speed noise typically affected by spatial aliasing and streamer surface irregularities. The low-speed noise model may be subtracted from the sparse seismic-data matrix to obtain a noise-attenuated sparse seismic-data matrix.

A method of reducing surface-scattered noise includes receiving seismic data associated with a marine region, where the marine region includes an ocean bottom, a first zone including water above the ocean bottom, and a second zone including earth subsurface layers below the ocean bottom, and the received seismic data includes signals reflected from the earth subsurface layers and surface-scattered noise reflected from the ocean bottom and an ocean surface; determining a water velocity for the first zone; determining bathymetric values of the ocean bottom; based on the determined water velocity and the bathymetric values, determining a velocity model for the marine region; based on the determined velocity model and wavelet functions of seismic source signals, calculating the surface-scattered noise by solving a wave equation; and determining the signals reflected from the earth subsurface layers by subtracting the calculated surface-scattered noise from the received seismic data.

Methods and apparatuses for obtaining and/or processing slip sweep seismic survey data. The methods compute harmonic weight ratios using two types of data: 1) direct survey data where a harmonic sweep does not overlap with the fundamental component of responses of Earth interior and 2) another set of data representative of fundamental component of responses of Earth interior where the harmonic sweep does overlap with the fundamental component of responses of Earth interior. The set of data representative fundamental component of responses of Earth interior can be extracted from ground force measurements or a different sweep. The harmonic weight ratios using ground force measurements at overlapped frequencies may be calibrated with one or more harmonic weight ratios at non-overlapped frequencies.

The subject technology relates to estimation of flow rates using acoustics in a subterranean borehole and/or formation. Other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed. The subject technology includes drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The subject technology includes logging the wellbore using an acoustic sensing tool to obtain logged measurements, and obtaining acoustic pressure data associated with a leak source in the wellbore using the logged measurements. The subject technology also includes determining a flow rate (volumetric for fluid-based or mass for gas-based) of the leak source from the acoustic pressure data, and determining an area of the leak source from the determined flow rate. The subject technology also includes generating and providing, for display, a representation of the leak source using the flow rate and the area of the leak source.

A method for wavefield separation of sonic data is provided. The method comprises estimating direct phases of waveforms of sonic data observed with two or more sensors by using cross-correlation of waveform traces at adjacent sensor locations, removing the direct phases from the observed waveforms, and extracting event signals from the waveforms after removing the direct phases.

Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium to perform operations including: generating a first time-frequency spectrum of a first seismic trace from an original seismic dataset; generating a second time-frequency spectrum of a second seismic trace from an enhanced seismic dataset, where the second seismic trace; calculating a difference between the first time-frequency spectrum and the second time-frequency spectrum to generate a noise estimate in the first seismic trace; constructing, based on (i) the noise estimate, (ii) the first time-frequency spectrum, and (iii) the second time-frequency spectrum, a time-frequency mask (TFM); and using the constructed TFM to generate a third time-frequency spectrum of an output trace that corresponds to the first and second seismic traces.

Methods, systems, and computer-readable medium to perform operations including: generating a first time-frequency spectrum of a first seismic trace from an original seismic dataset; generating a second time-frequency spectrum of a second seismic trace from an enhanced seismic dataset, where the second seismic trace corresponds to the first seismic trace; calculating a difference between the first time-frequency spectrum and the second time-frequency spectrum to generate a noise estimate in the first seismic trace; characterizing the initial noise estimate as White Gaussian Noise (WGN); calculating, based on the characterization of the initial noise estimate, a third time-frequency spectrum of a refined noise estimate; constructing, based on the first time-frequency spectrum, the second time-frequency spectrum, and the third time-frequency spectrum, a time-frequency mask (TFM); and using the constructed TFM to generate a fourth time-frequency spectrum of an output trace that corresponds to the first and second seismic traces.

A method for attenuating noise in seismic data signals is described wherein seismic signals are transmitted using a pseudo-random frequency sweep signal. Noise is then attenuated from the resulting, acquired seismic data on pre-phase subtraction basis, e.g., before correlating or de-convolving the acquired seismic data. In this way, repetitions associated with, for example, diversity stacking techniques can be avoided.

In the present invention that considerable advantage is to be gained in the provision of apparatus and methods for spectral noise logging that exhibit improved frequency resolution and thus sensitivity over those systems known in the art since this would allow for improved detection and characterization of fluid flow through, or behind, a casing of a well penetrating subsurface formations.