Patent attributes
There is provided herein a system and method for the imaging and monitoring of hydrocarbon reservoirs and other subsurface features preferably using seabed or surface sensors in conjunction with one or more downhole sensors. In one preferred embodiment, recordings will be simultaneously made using both seabed and downhole receivers. The energy source might be either a controlled seismic source or ambient noise. In one embodiment, the data will be used to compute a virtual VSP, checkshot, or similar survey by cross correlating a trace recorded at the surface with a trace recorded at depth. In another embodiment, the surface and well sensors will be permanently emplaced and repeated recordings over time will be used to form a time-varying (4-D) image of the subsurface.
