A method of generating a four dimensional seismic signal based on multiple sets of seismic data representing a subterranean formation. The method can include generating a tomographic velocity model based on a first set of raw seismic data and determining at least one Green's function based on the tomographic velocity model. The method can include generating a first image of a target region based on the first set of raw seismic data and the at least one Green's function. The method can include generating a second image of the target region based on a second set of raw seismic data and the at least one Green's function. The first and the second images can be compared, and a four-dimensional seismic signal can be determined based on the comparison.

Systems and methods that include receiving reservoir data of a hydrocarbon reservoir, receive an indication related to selection of a wavefield propagator, application of the wavefield propagator utilizing Fourier Finite Transforms and Finite Differences to model a wavefield associated with a Tilted Orthorhombic media representative of a region of a subsurface comprising the hydrocarbon reservoir, and processing the reservoir data in conjunction the wavefield propagator to generate an output for use with seismic exploration above a region of a subsurface comprising the hydrocarbon reservoir and containing structural or stratigraphic features conducive to a presence, migration, or accumulation of hydrocarbons.

A process for seismic imaging of a subterranean geological formation includes generating a source wavefield from seismic data representing a subterranean formation. The process includes generating a receiver wavefield from the seismic data representing the subterranean formation. The process includes decomposing the source wavefield to extract a source depth component and decomposing the receiver wavefield to extract a receiver depth component. The process includes applying a transform to each of the source depth component and the receiver depth component. The process includes combining the source depth component and the receiver depth component to generate an imaging condition. The process includes extracting a low-frequency term from the imaging condition to generate a wave-path tracking data, generating a wave path from the wave-path tracking data, and rendering a seismic image of at least a portion of the subterranean geological formation from the generated wave path.

Drilling systems and related methods are disclosed. A drilling systems may include a tool configured to be positioned at an end of a drill string adjacent a drill bit, and the tool may be configured to detect localized seismo-electromagnetic conversion from one or more predetermined positions within a medium ahead of the drill bit. The tool may include two or more pressure sources configured to generate focused acoustic and/or elastic energy at the one or more predetermined positions to generate the localized seismo-electric conversion.

A method for efficiently injecting sources and retrieving receiver wavefields using finite difference models for wavefield simulations on a GPU, when the source and receiver are not on numerical grid points, and therefore arbitrarily located. To accomplish that, the method employs GPU texture memory to increase the memory read bandwidth, and then positions at arbitrary or simulated locations the sources in a finite difference grid, as well as extends them over a newly generated number of grid points.

In a general implementation, systems, apparatus, and methods for AVO of imaging condition in ERTM include the described system provides for an efficient and accurate vector wavefield decomposition with a corresponding modified dot-product imaging condition of ERTM by employing a modified AVO algorithm. In some implementations, the phases of source wavelet and multicomponent records are modified using a 1/ω2 filter and the amplitudes of the extrapolated wavefields are scaled using α2 and β2, where ω, α and β are the angular frequency, local P- and S-wave velocities, respectively. The results yield correct phases, amplitudes, and physical units for separated P- and S-mode wavefields. Divergence and curl operators may then be applied to the phase-corrected and amplitude-scaled elastic wavefields to extract vector P- and S-wavefields. With the separated vector wavefields, a modified dot-product imaging condition can be employed to produce PP and PS reflectivity images.

Methods and devices use improved FWI techniques for seismic exploration of subsurface formations including salt bodies using a travel-time cost function. In calculating the travel-time cost function, time-shifts may be weighted using cross-correlation coefficients of respective time-shifted recorded data and synthetic data generated based on current velocity model. The improved methods enhance the resulting image while avoiding cycle-skipping and issues related to amplitude difference between synthetic and recorded data.

A computer-implemented method for seismic event localization includes: generating, with at least one processor, a vectorized snapshot matrix representing wave propagation data at a series of snapshots in time for a subterranean formation; computing a reduced orthonormal column basis matrix based on the vectorized snapshot matrix; constructing a reduced order wave propagation model based on the reduced orthonormal column basis matrix; receiving seismic data collected from a plurality of receivers at the subterranean formation; generating a time-domain coefficient matrix based on back propagation of the received seismic data and the reduced order wave propagation model; reconstructing time-reversed wavefield data based on the time-domain coefficient vector; and generating signals for outputting wavefield or seismic event location information based on the time-reversed wavefield data.

A system for seismic imaging of a subterranean geological formation uses a two-way imaging condition. A seismic signal is emitted into a subterranean formation and recorded at receiver(s). Source and receiver wavefields are decomposed into respective right-down/left-up and left-down/right-up propagating waves. The right-down/left-up and left-down/right-up direction can be defined along the direction emitted from the source or receiver to corresponding direction in two dimensional (2D) case. An imaging condition for generating both a positive-dip structure image and a negative-dip structure image is the inner product of the wavefields. Applying the sample-by-sample multiplication imaging condition to the opposite dip images, the diffraction energy is retained while the reflection energy is significantly attenuated. The diffraction image can be used to detect faults and fractures in subsurface regions.

A method includes receiving, via a processor, input data based upon received seismic data, migrating, via the processor, the input data via a pre-stack depth migration technique to generate migrated input data, encoding, via the processor, the input data via an encoding function as a migration attribute to generate encoded input data having a migration function that is non-monotonic versus an attribute related to the input data, migrating, via the processor, the encoded input data via the pre-stack depth migration technique to generate migrated encoded input data, and generating an estimated common image gather based upon the migrated input data and the migrated encoded input data. The method also includes generating a seismic image utilizing the estimated common image gather, wherein the seismic image represents hydrocarbons in a subsurface region of the Earth or subsurface drilling hazards.