The present invention pertains to the fields of geology and geophysics, is designed for use for onshore seismic acquisition. The method involves distributing and arranging the elements used in the acquisition of two-dimensional seismic data from dynamite sources, enabling imaging quality to be improved. The use of sources of dynamite with single charges and variable weight at each shot point results in the generation of seismic waves with variable energy that provide reflections with complementary frequency and amplitudes content for use in the geophysical imaging of geological features. The stacking of this incremental content generated by charges of variable weights results in a significant improvement in the resolution of the processed seismic data on both the continuity of stratigraphic reflectors and existing geological framework.

A method may include obtaining seismic data regarding a geological region of interest. The method may further include obtaining a property model regarding the geological region of interest. The method may further include determining an adjoint migration operator based on the property model. The method may further include updating the property model using the seismic data and a conjugate gradient solver in a least-squares reverse time migration to produce a first updated property model. The conjugate gradient solver is based on the adjoint migration operator. The method may further include updating the first updated property model using a threshold shrinkage function to produce a second updated property model. The threshold shrinkage function comprises a sign function and a maximum function that are applied to the first updated property model. The method may further include generating a seismic image of the geological region of interest using the second updated property model.

A method for performing a seismic survey of an earthen subterranean formation includes deploying a node patch including a plurality of seismic receivers to an offshore seabed in a survey area, deploying a surface vessel towing an array of seismic sources to the survey area located, and activating the array of seismic sources to generate seismic waves as the array of seismic sources are transported in an inline direction through the survey area whereby an imaging activation pattern and a velocity activation pattern are formed, wherein a lateral offset between the velocity activation pattern and the node patch is greater than a lateral offset between the imaging activation pattern and the node patch.

A method and apparatus for data acquisition including: acquiring a first set of data for a survey area with streamer receivers on a streamer spread; and simultaneously acquiring a second set of data for the area with ocean bottom receivers, the first and second sets of data together forming a complete dataset for velocity modeling and imaging. A method including: navigating a first propulsion source along a first path in the area, wherein a streamer spread and a first seismic source are coupled to the first propulsion source; navigating a second propulsion source along a second path in the area, wherein a second seismic source is coupled to the second propulsion source; while navigating the first and second propulsion sources, activating at least one of the first and second seismic sources; and acquiring data with receivers on the streamer spread and with ocean bottom receivers distributed throughout the area.

Systems and methods of placing wells in a hydrocarbon field based on seismic attributes and quality indicators associated with a subterranean formation of the hydrocarbon field can include receiving seismic attributes representing the subterranean formation and seismic data quality indicators. A cutoff is generated for each seismic attribute and seismic data quality indicator. A weight is assigned to each seismic attribute and seismic data quality indicator. The weighted seismic attributes and data quality indicators are aggregated for each location in the hydrocarbon field. A risk ranking is assigned based on the weighted seismic attributes and data quality indicators associated with each location in the hydrocarbon field based on the cutoffs. A map is generated with each location on the surface of the subterranean formation color-coded based on its assigned risk ranking.

A method for 2D seismic data acquisition includes determining source-point seismic survey positions for a combined deep profile seismic data acquisition with a shallow profile seismic data acquisition wherein the source-point positions are based on non-uniform optimal sampling. A seismic data set is acquired with a first set of air-guns optimized for a deep-data seismic profile and the data set is acquired with a second set of air-guns optimized for a shallow-data seismic profile. The data are de-blended to obtain a deep 2D seismic dataset and a shallow 2D seismic dataset.

A method for estimating a far field seismic energy source signature includes using detected near field seismic signals corresponding to actuation of each one of a plurality of seismic energy sources in an array of seismic energy sources. The near field seismic signals are detected at two spaced apart locations in the near field of each seismic energy source, the at least two spaced apart locations being arranged such that a direction of propagation of the detected near field seismic signals is determinable from the detected near field signals. A notional source signature for each seismic energy source and a notional ghost for each seismic energy source using the detected near field seismic signals. A far field signature is determined for the plurality of seismic energy sources using the determined notional source signature and notional ghost signature from each seismic energy source.

Methods and systems to separate seismic data associated with impulsive and non-impulsive sources are described. The impulsive and non-impulsive sources may be towed through a body of water by separate survey vessels. Receivers of one or more streamers towed through the body of water above a subterranean formation generate seismic data that represents a reflected wavefield produced by the subterranean formation in response to separate source wavefields generated by simultaneous activation of the impulsive source and the non-impulsive source. Methods and systems include separating the seismic data into impulsive source seismic data associated with the impulsive source and non-impulsive source seismic data associated with the non-impulsive.

A system for seismic surveying, method for performing seismic and a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored therein that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method for performing seismic surveying including emitting seismic waves into a substrate, receiving seismic waves reflected from discontinuities within the substrate, converting the seismic waves into seismic traces, and representing the seismic traces by superimposed multiple tone sinusoidal waves using a parameter estimation. An optimized residual of the modelling is compressed using entropy coding or quantization coding techniques, and the optimized residual and the parameter sets are transmitted to a remote processing station for reconstruction and analysis of the discontinuities.

Methods and apparatus are described for performing a 4D monitor marine seismic survey that repeats a previous survey. A number of sources may be used during the 4D monitor survey that differs from a number of sources that were used during the previous survey. Shot points from the previous survey are repeated by the 4D monitor survey, and additional shot points may be produced during the 4D monitor survey that were not produced during the previous survey. Embodiments enable efficiency and data quality improvements to be captured during 4D survey processes, while preserving repeatability.