US 11,940,585 B2
System and method for estimating one-way propagation operators
Yimin Sun, The Hague (NL); and Dirk Jacob Verschuur, Alphen aan den Rijn (NL)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/223,361.
Prior Publication US 2022/0317325 A1, Oct. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. G01V 1/50 (2006.01); G01V 1/28 (2006.01); G01V 1/30 (2006.01)
CPC G01V 1/50 (2013.01) [G01V 1/282 (2013.01); G01V 1/306 (2013.01); G01V 2210/6222 (2013.01); G01V 2210/6224 (2013.01); G01V 2210/67 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
obtaining, from a seismic survey, a seismic data set and a multi-dimensional seismic wave propagation velocity model;
using a seismic processing system:
approximating the seismic wave propagation velocity model as a plurality of layers each bounded by a first bounding depth and a second bounding depth,
for each of the plurality of layers:
simulating propagation of a seismic wave from the first bounding depth to the second bounding depth using a two-way seismic wave propagation simulator;
forming an over-determined system of linear equations relating at least one mono-frequency component of the seismic wave at the first bounding depth to at least one mono-frequency component of the seismic wave at the second bounding depth;
determining a plurality of one-way seismic wave propagation operators by inverting the over-determined system of linear equations; and
verifying that the plurality of one-way seismic wave propagation operators has been determined for each layer of the plurality of layers,
processing the seismic data set using at least one of the one-way seismic wave propagation operators for at least one of layer;
using a computer processor:
determining a presence and a location of a hydrocarbon reservoir based, at least in part, on the processed seismic data set, and
determining a borehole trajectory through a subterranean region of interest based, at least in part, on the presence of the hydrocarbon reservoir; and
drilling, using a drilling system, a borehole guided by the borehole trajectory.