Method for geophysical prospecting

Claim 3

A method of geophysical prospecting as set forth in claim 1 which is further characterized to include the step of: processing separately said received energy from all sources in the same line as the receivers to derive two crossed lines of common depth point data relative to said selected sub-stratum.

Claim 4

A method of geophysical prospecting as set forth in claim 2 which is further characterized to include the step of: further processing said strike, dip, velocity data derived for each quadrant in relation to the derived crossed line common depth point data to further validate the localized data for said selected sub-stratum of said location.

Claim 5

A method of geophysical prospecting as set forth in claim 1 which is further characterized to include the steps of: placing at a second location, spaced from said first location, third and fourth lines of transducers at bisecting, perpendicular disposition, said third and fourth lines of transducers consisting of both seismic sources and receivers, and said third and fourth lines defining four quadrants therebeneath; successively energizing all seismic energy sources at said second location to receive seismic energy from said selected sub-stratum; and processing separately said received energy from the sub-stratum beneath each quadrant of said second location to determine strike, dip, velocity data for each.

Claim 6

A method of geophysical prospecting as set forth in claim 4 which is further characterized to include the step of: further processing said strike, dip, velocity data derived for each quadrant of said second location in relation to said strike, dip, velocity data derived for each quadrant of said second location to derive compound strike, dip, velocity data related to said selected sub-stratum from said first location to said second location.

Claim 7

A method of geophysical prospecting as set forth in claim 4 which is further characTerized to include the steps of: processing separately said received energy from all sources in the same line as the receivers of said third and fourth lines at said second location to derive two crossed lines of common depth point data relative to said selected sub-stratum.

Claim 8

A method of geophysical prospecting as set forth in claim 6 which is further characterized to include the step of: further processing said strike, dip, velocity data derived for each quadrant of said second location in relation to the corresponding second location common depth point data to further validate the localized data for the selected sub-stratum at said second location.

Claim 9

A method of geophysical prospecting as set forth in claim 7 which is further characterized to include the step of: compounding strike, dip, velocity data derived for each of said first and second location underlying quadrants and said first and second location common depth point data to derive strike, dip, velocity data relating to said sub-stratum extending from said first location to said second location.

Claim 10

A method of geophysical prospecting as set forth in claim 6 which is further characterized to include the step of: further processing separately said received energy from selected sources at said first location as received by selected receivers at said second location to derive offset strike, dip, velocity data for the selected sub-stratum at a location intermediate said first and second locations.

Claim 11

A method of geophysical prospecting as set forth in claim 9 which is further characterized to include the step of: deriving offset common depth point data along a substratum line intermediate said first and second locations from reflected energy emanating from a selected line of sources at said first location and received by a selected line of receivers at said second location, and augmenting said offset strike, dip, velocity data in accordance therewith.

Claim 14

A method as set forth in claim 11 which is further characterized to include steps of: positioning third and fourth lines of alternating seismic energy sources and receivers arrayed in bisecting, generally perpendicular disposition at a second, spaced earth location; successively energizing all sources of each of said third and fourth lines and receiving reflected seismic energy from said selected substratum at, respectively, receivers of other lines and receivers of same lines; and recording reflected seismic energy indications from successive energizations of all sources of said third and fourth lines as quadrantal related reflection data and common depth point related reflected data for said substratum at said spaced earth location.

Claim 15

A method as set forth in claim 12 which is characterized to include further steps of: recording offset quadrantal reflected seismic energy indications for said substratum which emanate from sources of said first and second lines to those receivers of said third and fourth lines which are aligned generally perpendicular to said direction of the spaced location from said first earth location; and recording offset quadrantal reflected seismic energy indications for said substratum which emanate from sources of said third and fourth lines to those receivers of said first and second lines which are aligned generally perpendicular to said direction of said first earth location from said spaced earth location.

Claim 16

A method as set forth in claim 12 which is characterized to include further steps of: recording offset common depth point seismic energy indications from energy emanating from linearly arrayed sources at both earth locations to the alternate receivers of the same respective linear arrays in order to establish common depth point data for said substratum intermediate said first and spaced earth locations.

Claim 17

A method as set forth in claim 13 which is characterized to include further steps of: recording offset common depth point seismic energy indications from energy emanating from linearly arrayed sources at both earth locations to the alternate receivers of the same respective linear arrays in order to establish common depth point data for said substratum intermediate said first and spaced earth locations.

Claim 18

In a method for processing seismic energy data for selected substrata of an earth location where said data is acquired by cross-pattern energization of plural seismic energy sources in predetermined order, and wherein said cross-pattern consists of a first row of alternating seismic energy sources and receivers and a second row of alternating sources and receivers intersecting and generally perpendicular relative to said first row, and wherein selective energization of seismic energy sources establishes patterns for both quadrantal data for a selected substrata and common depth point data for a selected substrata, the method of processing received seismic energy data utilizing automatic data processing equipment which comprises the steps of: assembling seismic energy data for a selected substratum as received by plural seismic energy receivers in each line which seismic energy emanates from seismic energy sources in the other line of the cross-pattern thereby to define a quadrature array of energy reflection point groups at said substratum; assembling seismic energy data for a selected substratum as received by plural seismic energy receivers of each line which seismic energy emanates from plural seismic energy sources of the same line of the cross-pattern, thereby to define common depth point energy reflection point groups at said substratum; and evaluating the relative strike and dip parameter variations between each quadrature arrayed group of energy reflection points at said substratum in relation to said common depth point groups to provide an indication of the attitude trend of the selected substratum relative to said earth location.

Claim 19

In a method for processing seismic energy data for selected substrata of an earth location where said data is acquired by cross-pattern energization of plural seismic energy sources in predetermined order, and wherein said cross-pattern consists of a first row of alternating seismic energy sources and receivers and a second row of alternating sources and receivers intersecting and generally perpendicular relative to said first row, and wherein selective energization of seismic energy sources establishes patterns for both quadrantal data for a selected substrata and common depth point data for a selected substrata, the method of processing received seismic energy data utilizing automatic data processing equipment which comprises the steps of: assembling seismic energy data for a selected substratum as received by plural seismic energy receivers in each line which seismic energy emanates from seismic energy sources in the other line of the cross-pattern thereby to define a quadrature array of energy reflection point groups at said substratum; assembling seismic energy data for a selected substratum as received by plural seismic energy receivers of each line which seismic energy emanates from plural seismic energy sources of the same line of the cross-pattern, thereby to define common depth point energy reflection point groups at said substratum; and evaluating the relative strike and dip parameter variations between each quadrature arrayed group of energy reflection points at said substratum in relation to said common depth point groups to provide an indication of the attitude trend of the selected substratum relative to said earth location.

Claim 20

The method as set forth in claim 16 which includes the further steps of: assembling seismic energy data derived from a second cross-pattern energization for said selected substratum underlying said earth location at a spaced distance from the first earth location thereby to define second quadrature arrayed energy reflection point groups and second common depth point energy reflection point groups; and evaluating relative strike and dip parameter variations for all quadrature arrayed reflection point groups and common depth point reflection point groups thereby to compile an attitude trend indication for the selected substratum underlying the first earth location and extending to said spaced earth location.

Claim 21

The method as set forth in claim 17 which includes the further step of: selectively processing received seismic energy from the first cross-pattern at said second cross-pattern and received seismic energy from the second cross-pattern at said first cross-pattern to establish data indicative of a quadrature array of reflection point groups from said selected substratum underlying said earth location intermediate said crosS-patterns.

Claim 22

A method as set forth in claim 16 which further comprises the step of: processing said plural groups of quadrature arrayed reflection point data and common depth point reflection point data to determine strike, dip and velocity of incident seismic energy, and providing a trend display of said data over the inclusive earth location.

Claim 23

A method as set forth in claim 19 which comprises the further steps of: deriving quadrature arrayed reflection point data and common depth point reflection point data for each of plural cross-patterns periodically disposed along a line of survey; and deriving quadrature arrayed reflection point data and common depth point reflection point data for each position intermediate each successive pair of cross-patterns along said line of survey.