Method for Visualizing Multi-Component Seismic Data Including Rotational Data

Abstract

The present invention provides visualization of a seismic wavefield as measured by various multi-component sensors, including, but not limited to, pressure, 3-component vector spatial pressure gradients, 3-component linear motion, and 3-component rotational motion. The visualization of the present invention employs combinations of dynamic displacement; dynamic rotation; dynamic dilation and compression; and dynamic color and transparency variations to display various measurements of a seismic wavefield. The visualization of the present invention may be applied to various seismic data sets, including, but not limited to, pre-stack data sets; post-migration data volumes; micro-seismic passive or active source monitoring; and vertical seismic profiles. The method has a wide range of application in seismic surveys in oil and gas exploration and production.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for visualize multi-component seismic data comprising a plurality of display element volumes, sometimes referred to as SeisBalls, which dynamically can change position, change size, change shape, change color, and rotate to represent seismic motion including linear motion with up to 3-Components, rotational motion with up to 3-Theta components, scalar pressure, and Pressure Gradient with up to 3-Components. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein dynamic spinning motion is used to depict rotational seismic motion for 1, 2, or 3-Theta components. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein dynamic linear vibrational motion with exaggerated parallax is used to depict linear seismic motion for 1, 2, or 3 Components. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein color changes are used to depict temporal scalar pressure changes due to seismic wavefields. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein color changes are used to depict spatial scalar pressure gradients due to seismic wavefields, for 1, 2, or 3-Components of Pressure Gradient. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein changes in the size of the display element volumes are used to depict temporal scalar pressure changes due to seismic wavefields. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein changes in the shape of the display element volumes are used to depict spatial pressure gradients due to seismic wavefields, for 1, 2, or 3 Components of Pressure Gradient. 
     
     
         8 . A system to visualize multi-component seismic data comprising one or more display devices, and software to display one or more display element volumes which dynamically can change position, change size, change shape, change color, and rotate to represent seismic motion including linear motion for 1, 2, or 3 Components, rotational motion for 1, 2, or 3 Theta components, scalar pressure, and Pressure Gradient for 1, 2, or 3 Components.