Methods to estimate formation shear wave slowness from multi-firings of different types of acoustic sources and multi-mode dispersion estimation systems are presented. The method includes obtaining waveform data of waves traversing through a downhole formation, where the waves are generated from multi-firings of different types of acoustic sources. The method also includes performing a multimode dispersion analysis of the waveform data for each firing of the multi-firings, and removing one or more tool waves generated from the multi-firings. The method further includes determining a formation type of the formation the waves traverse based properties of the waves and determining an initial shear wave slowness estimate of the waves. The method further includes generating a modeling of the waves, and reducing a mismatch between the modeling of the waves and a slowness dispersion of the waves to improve the modeling of the waves.

A method for modelling and migrating seismic data, that includes using an acoustic wave equation and a spatial distribution of one or more earth-model parameters. The acoustic wave equation is modified by including at least one secondary source term, and based on a seismic acquisition configuration, either calculating the seismic signals that would be detected from the modelled wavefield or migrating observed seismic signals or migrating residual signals as part of an inversion.

A method for estimating all five transversely-isotropic (TI)-elastic constants using borehole sonic data obtained from at least one subterranean borehole in a transversely isotropic formation. In an embodiment, the method includes: solving for a quasi-compressional qP-wave velocity V.sub.qP using inversion algorithms based on exact solutions of the Kelvin-Christoffel equations for plane wave velocities in arbitrarily anisotropic formations, where the five TI-elastic constants may include C.sub.11, C.sub.13, C.sub.33, C.sub.55, and C.sub.66.

This disclosure presents processes and systems for estimating a source wavelet from seismic data recorded in a seismic survey of a subterranean formation. In one aspect, a base wavelet is determined based on recorded seismic traces obtained in a seismic survey of a subterranean formation. Processes and systems include a phase-only wavelet based on the base wavelet and the recorded seismic data. An estimated source wavelet is obtained by convolving the base wavelet with the phase-only wavelet. Properties of the subterranean formation are determined based on the estimated source wavelet and the recorded seismic data.

Embodiments deal with a method, a computer program as well as an apparatus for detecting one or more objects in the sea floor. The method comprises obtaining a receiver signal. The receiver signal is based on a scattering of multiple acoustic signals at the one or more objects in the sea floor. The receiver signal is generated by a plurality of receivers. The method further comprises grouping portions of the receiver signal to points of a detection grid. The detection grid represents a grid at the points of which the one or more objects are being localized. The method further comprises performing a travel time correction of the portions of the receiver signal with respect to the points of the detection grid. The method further comprises combining the travel time corrected portions of the receiver signal at the points of the detection grid. The method further comprises detecting the one or more objects at the points of the detection grid based on the combination of the travel time corrected portions of the receiver signal. The detection of the one or more objects is based on the scattering of the multiple acoustic signals at the one or more objects.

A method for generating a high-resolution pseudo-reflectivity image of a subsurface region includes receiving seismic data associated with a subsurface region and captured by one or more seismic receivers, constructing a velocity model of the subsurface region based on the received seismic data, performing a seismic migration of the received seismic data based on the constructed velocity model to obtain migrated seismic data, computing polarized normal vectors associated with one or more subsurface reflectors of the subsurface region based on the migrated seismic data, and generating a pseudo-reflectivity image of the subsurface region based on both the computed polarized normal vectors.

A soil probing device includes a probing rod with a measuring probe, a driving for penetrating the probing rod into the ground, generators for generating acoustic compression and shear waves into the ground, detectors for detecting the generated acoustic compression and shear waves. The detectors are built into the measuring probe. Also the generators are built into the measuring probe at positions that are interspaced at fixed distances in a z-direction from the detectors in the measuring probe. A processing unit CPU is provided for calculating velocities of the generated acoustic compression and shear waves that get to travel from the generators towards the detectors through local ground layers that lie adjacent the measuring probe in between the generators and detectors.

The present invention discloses a system and method for phased array sound wave advanced geological exploration for a shield tunneling machine. The system includes a phased array sound wave emitting and receiving apparatus, a probe automatic telescopic apparatus, an automatic protection and cleaning apparatus, and a signal processing and imaging system. Sonic probes are installed on a side wall of a main spoke, opposite to a rotation direction, of a cutterhead of the shield tunneling machine, on the basis of automatic detection of a telescopic state and a contact state, sonic array probes are enabled to make contact with a tunnel face by a hydraulic push rod, a focus sound wave is emitted by using a phased array emitting technology, and a reflected wave signal with front geological information reflected from the front of the tunnel face is received. A scanning direction of a sound wave beam is controlled and changed continuously through a host system, on the premise of obtaining a suspected abnormal body position, the suspected position is imaged in detail by using a focusing image till scanning of a whole two-dimensional section is completed, then the cutterhead is rotated to change an arrangement direction of an array to continue scanning of a next two-dimensional section, and finally three-dimensional geological exploration in front of the tunnel face is realized.

A method, article and system are provided for processing and interpreting acoustic data. The method and system includes providing a number of acoustic processing elements, each element being associated with an acoustic mode of a number of acoustic modes of a sonic measurement tool adapted to acquire data representing acoustic measurements in a borehole. In addition the method and system includes providing a user interface to organize a processing chain of the number of acoustic processing elements such that the acoustic processing elements process the acquired data according to a predefined workflow.

A system can be provided for applying a dynamic filter to a velocity model for converting the domain of seismic data. The system can receive a velocity model for a geological area of interest. The system can apply a dynamic filter to the velocity model for smoothing an anomaly included in the velocity model. The system can apply the velocity model with the smoothed anomaly to seismic data associated with the geological area of interest for converting the domain of the seismic data.