GB1411602A - Method and system for processing seismic data - Google Patents

Abstract

1411602 Seismic signal processing TEXAS INSTRUMENTS Inc 13 Dec 1972 [30 Dec 1971] 57468/72 Heading H4D An interactive device, comprising a stylus movable by an operator over a graph of seismic velocity versus seismic energy travel time, is used for data input into a computer controlling the display of computed velocity functions, whereby the effect which changes in the input data have on the computed functions can be readily observed. In one embodiment the graphical input data for a given region along a seismic survey line results in the Fig. 2 display, on a first storage tube screen, of an RMS velocity function with "breakpoints" 50, 52 ... 70 linked by vectors, of an interval velocity function 72 ... 74, and of numerical values of RMS and interval velocity and associated times. By using further graphs for other regions (i.e. other depth points along the survey line) for input to the computer there are built up, on second, third and fourth storage tube screens, displays of RMS velocity in travel-time versus depth-point co-ordinates (Fig. 3, not shown), of interval velocity in traveltime versus depth-point co-ordinates (Fig. 4, not shown) and of interpolated RMS velocity contours in travel-time versus depth-point coordinates (Fig. 5, not shown). If the interactive device is used to substitute graph breakpoints in region 76 for those in regions 62, 64 of Fig. '2 as computer input data, the Fig. 2 display is updated at 76 and 78 and the other displays are modified concurrently by the computer. This assists the selection of breakpoints to determine velocity profiles which give best continuity over the survey line or which best fit available velocity data for the surveyed region. The breakpoint substitution may be an incremental semi-automatic process initiated by the operator. Permanent records of the displays may be printed out if the operator so chooses. A detailed flow chart of the complete system operation is given (Figs. 6 to 10, not shown).