DATA CONDITIONING

In order to optimize seismic data for advanced pre-stack time (PreSTM) and depth migration (PreSDM), raw acquired data requires data conditioning to enhance its signal-to-noise ratio. Relative amplitude processing, rigorous noise analysis (and its removal with appropriate tools) and stringent quality control using proprietary techniques are all critical elements to accomplish this goal.

AXIS Geophysics, a fully integrated part of ION's GX Technology (GXT) imaging group, has long excelled in its ability to condition land-acquired data during pre-processing. AXIS has a special competency in statics, including techniques to make corrections for topography, account for differences in elevations among sources and receivers, and model near-surface velocity anomalies caused by the weathering layer, Arctic permafrost, ice lakes, desert hard pan, and sand dunes.

Key offerings within the GXT data conditioning portfolio include:

• Vector filtering.  To remove source-generated or ambient noise from data acquired with single-point sensors like VectorSeis and deliver a broadband P-wave data stream. 
• Noise attenuation.  Frequency dependent, data adaptive methods to attenuate spikes and noise bursts, or remove organized or coherent noise.
• Residual velocity analysis.  Application of AVEL techniques (patent owned by BP) to estimate optimum velocity using AVO methods rather than stack power.
• Data regularization and interpolation.  Wavefield reconstruction and interpolation tools, including AMO for data regularization, and proprietary algorithms capable of interpolating regularly and irregularly sampled data beyond aliasing.
• Signal processing.  Robust methods for estimating far field source signature wavelets along with algorithms to derive and apply detailed time and space variable Q factors.
• Quality control.  A comprehensive suite of data validation and QC tools capable of rapidly detecting and correcting geometry errors and sequence, shot, and channel amplitude anomalies.