From Raw Data to an Image Field Record (marine) Data Processing Stream Offset Time SLIDE 17 This first image shows what the raw seismic data for one “explosion” recorded at about 50 “listening” devices looks like The raw seismic data is sent to a data processing center Here specialists in signal analysis, data analysis, imaging, math, computer science, etc. transform the raw data into an image of the subsurface Again at large companies, there are many experts in data processing that can spend an entire career processing seismic data Seismic imaging is an area that remains a focus of R&D – obtain better images faster and cheaper We cover some basics of data processing in Unit 5 Once the data are processed and we have an image of the subsurface, the next step is to interpret the data – turn images such as the one in the lower right into a model of the subsurface rocks and fluids Several Units focus on sesimic interpretation and data anlysis http://www.ig.utexas.edu/people/staff/mrinal/Results/carlos_nn1_files/image006.jpg Subsurface ‘Image’ Courtesy of ExxonMobil L 3 - Types of Data