What's New in the Ω-Suite

At WesternGeco we are continually working to improve our technology offerings through the development of advanced algorithms and innovative new workflows. Our goal is to reduce your exposure to exploration risk and help you optimize the performance of your reservoirs across their entire production cycle.

Recent additions (October 2008) to the Ω-Suite, our data processing and reservoir seismic portfolio include:

Ω-Signal

• True-azimuth 3D GSMP - advanced 3D multiple attenuation is key to success with Coil Shooting data 
  You might expect the acquisition of towed-marine seismic data with a circular geometry to present a challenge for data processing technology that often assumes 2D geometries and straight cables. However, our unique 3D general surface multiple prediction (GSMP) and Coil Shooting acquisition technology complement each other perfectly. The improved azimuthal sampling that coil acquisition provides without the loss of near offsets ensures the optimum attenuation of complex multiples with true-azimuth geometry independent 3D GSMP, revealing underlying primary data and reducing noise from residual multiple energy.
  
  In areas with complex imaging challenges, 3D GSMP also ensures the preservation of complex primary events, such as double bounces, which may be removed with techniques such as conventional or shifted-apex Radon demultiple. This means that high-end imaging algorithms, such as reverse-time migration, can correctly migrate these events for the best possible reservoir image.
  
  
• iManage - planning and managing high-channel-count seismic surveys 
  iManage software from WesternGeco is the central tool, both in the office and on a seismic crew, to plan and manage all land and transition-zone seismic surveys, starting from the initial theoretical geometry creation and attribute analysis through to adapting the plan to local circumstances. Also, the iManage software checks that that surveying and recording were performed according to plan and generates final attribute plots and SPS for processing. It runs under the Windows operating system and uses the ESRI ArcGIS Engine to support the latest graphics formats and provide an easy interface for display and interactive editing.
  
  Generation of recorder script files and the QC of observer logs is fully supported for our proprietary Q-Land and UniQ seismic acquisition technology, as well as for third-party recording instruments.
  
  A full range of attribute plots is available such as fold with optional offset/azimuth min-max ranges and others, profile and statistical plots, as well as numerical statistics and queries. Vibrator attribute data is stored and can be analyzed graphically and numerically.
  
  iManage software also supports the layout and provides the equipment plan for UniQ land point-receiver high-channel-count surveys.
  
  
• Data handling and infield QC of high-channel-count seismic surveys 
  A pivotal element of the UniQ land point-receiver system is its ability to manage and process extraordinary volumes of data, the likes of which have never been seen before in the seismic, or any other domain. To ensure success, WesternGeco has created a mobile infield data handling and processing system that is able to handle high-productivity vibroseis techniques that could produce as much as 15 terabytes of data per day.
  
  
• High-productivity vibroseis data - processing for simultaneous sources on land 
  Simultaneous source techniques offer the opportunity for higher productivity in land vibroseis operations. While techniques such as phase-encoded sweeps and slip-sweeps have been around for many years, they have not been universally accepted due to concerns regarding the separation of concurrent acquisition records. However, with recent improvements in data processing separation algorithms, and the introduction to the industry of additional simultaneous-source acquisition techniques, there has been renewed interest shown in the use of simultaneous shooting.
  
  WesternGeco has produced a ‘toolbox’ of processing applications to provide not only improved data separation, but also a reduction in overall noise contamination for all the most popular acquisition methods. These include licensed HFVS separation algorithms as well as proprietary methods and workflows. Our most recent developments include a new slip-sweep harmonic removal technique named SHARP to support high-productivity vibroseis operations for our customers. This product combines slip-sweep acquisition and data processing techniques to remove the harmonic contamination in slip-sweep data.
  
  WesternGeco are well positioned to offer processing solutions to all current simultaneous source acquisition techniques.

• Full Waveform Inversion 
  WesternGeco has implemented a high-end 3D prestack data-driven acoustic Full Waveform Inversion (FWI). Our FWI has successfully generated high-quality models on multiple commercial projects, and continues to push the frontiers of complex model building and imaging.
  
  FWI provides high-resolution, accurate models for imaging in areas of greatest structural and velocity complexity. It is based on a two-way wavefield extrapolation modeling algorithm and is suitable for all acquisition configurations, including wide-and rich-azimuth geometries.
  
  Combined with sophisticated migration algorithms such as Reverse-Time Migration (RTM), the result is a model building and imaging workflow based on a consistent wavefield solution.
  
  
• Model refinement using Reverse-Time Migration 
  Reverse-Time Migration has rapidly become the algorithm of choice for the final imaging step in various geological contexts: for example, in areas of complex subsalt imaging.
  
  Where required, WesternGeco can now incorporate RTM as an integral part of a model refining workflow. Accounting for VTI or TTI anisotropy reduces uncertainty in the interpretation of key events such as steep flanks or base salt.
  
  The use of advanced wavefield extrapolation techniques during the model building process ensures consistency during the migration step, and increases confidence in your final images.
  
  
• i2i: Velocity modeling combines the power of Petrel with Omega 
  i2i applications provide the complete interpretation-to-imaging workflow for building velocity models. It leverages the strength of the Petrel interactive environment with the power of the Omega processing system for compute intensive velocity inversions and imaging. i2i workflows, therefore, link the interactive and batch tasks required to build accurate earth models for depth imaging.
  
  The i2i system offers flexibility in creating workflows tailored to different geologic challenges and exploration, appraisal, or development objectives. This includes access to the complete Petrel seismic interpretation toolbox, quantitative analysis of prestack interpretation attributes, high-resolution multi-azimuth common image point tomography, and well and anisotropy calibration.
  
  i2i workflows increase confidence in the quality of your velocity model, from everyday depth imaging requirements through to the most complex subsurface environments.

• Wave-height corrected seismic - improved repeatability for 4D surveys 
  Ideally, towed-marine seismic data would always be acquired in flat, calm seas. Usually, however, this is not the case, and the rough sea surface introduces perturbations in the recorded seismic data from both the source and receiver side.
  
  WesternGeco can now correct for these perturbations using a combination of newly developed data processing technology and unique Q-Marine measurements. The result is improved reflector continuity, improved wavelet stability and, most significantly, improved repeatability between time-lapse (4D) surveys.