Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences (JETEAS) 2 (1): 43-49

© Scholarlink Research Institute Journals, 2011 (ISSN: 2141-7016)

Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences (JETEAS) 2 (1): 43-49 (ISSN: 2141-7016)
jeteas.scholarlinkresearch.org

Digital Wiener’s Filtering in Seismic Data Processing in

Trans-Ramos Prospect of Rivers State

J. C. Egbai

Department of Physics
Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Abstract
The basic objective of seismic processing is to convert the information recorded in the field into 1Aa form that
most greatly facilitates geological interpretation. This was carried out in Trans-Ramos Prospect of Rivers State
by applying the Wiener’s digital filtering to the unprocessed data got from the field. The unprocessed data got
from the field operations are fed into automatic computer whose program is written in line with the theory. A
filter operator was designed if the observed trace is known to specify the desired signal. In this situation, a filter
operator when convolved with the recorded trace would yield an output as close as possible to the desired
signal. In this work, the processes of spiking deconvolution, prewhitening, Wiener shaping filter and predictive
deconvolution were applied to the unprocessed data for effective processing. The aim of spike deconvolution is
to flatten the output spectrum. The actual output from the Wiener filter using optimum delayed spike shows the
most possible result. These processes when fully and correctly carried out give room for effective interpretation
of the seismic data for oil wells.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Keywords: Seismic processing, deconvolution, filter operator, reflectivity, desired output and actual output.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
ITRODUCTIO
A seismic information data obtained from the field in In order to obtain the respective coefficients of the
a seismogram consists of a desired signal immersed desired filter operators the least-squares approach to
in noise. Wiener’s method of filtering turned out to filtering was considered, simultaneous equations are
have many other applications to information set up which are solved by computer. Fig. 2 compares
processing, including enhancement of seismic desired output with actual output from Wiener’s filter
reflection data. He designed a filter operator which which may not coincide exactly, but the differences
when convolved with the recorded trace would yield can be minimized by proper choice of parameters.
an output as close as possible to the desired signal. If Wiener filters can be used either in single-channel or
the observed trace is known, one will only need to multichannel processing.
specify the desired signal in order to determine this
operator. Fig. 1 explains the basic principle of a An output designed in form of a spike through
simple Wiener filter. The three signals are: the input deconvolution filtering could be regarded as being
x (t ) , the desired output d (t ) and the actual output closely related to Wiener filtering. Wiener filtering is
y (t ) . The aim of this work is to determine the filter applied in ghost suppression and velocity filtering.
operator k (t ) that brings y (t ) as close as possible The problem of ghost suppression arises from
removing undesired repetitions, or ghosts, of primary
to d (t ) by minimizing the differences between reflection signals caused by downward reflection of
y (t ) and d (t ) . energy from the shot at interface, a short distance
Desired
above (Dobrin 1976). The application of
Output multichannel Wiener filters is the problem of
Signal removing coherent noise on reflection records that
d (t ) has a different movement time or apparent velocity
than the desired reflection events. The objective of
velocity filtering is to suppress high-velocity noise
without detriment to the reflection quality. The
Filter k (t ) ( Actual Output Wiener filter is a solution to the restoration problem
Input
Signal To be Signal y (t ) based upon the hypothesized use of a linear filter and
designed)
the minimum mean-square ( or rms) error criterion (
Khireddine et al, 2007). The techniques available to
suppress noise can be divided into those techniques
Fig. 1: Principle of Wiener filtering. Desired output that are based on temporal information and those that
signal provides basis for designing filter. ( Source: are based on spatial information ( Gao and Wang ,
Robinson and Treitel,2006) 2003, Rajagopal and Potter, 2003).

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Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences (JETEAS) 2 (1): 43-49 (ISSN: 2141-7016)

are Opomoyo, Akarino, Dodo, Tumogbena,

Osuopele, Bulou-Ojobo, Opomoko, etc. These are all
in Western Ijaw Local Government Area of Rivers
A State, Nigeria.

THEORY
The theory of optimum Wiener filter is based on
(Robinson and Treitel 2006). The filtering involves
t designing the filter so that the least-square error
0 5
between the actual and desired outputs is minimum
(fig 1).
Error R is defined as
R = (d − y )2
∑ t t
(1)
t

The actual output is the convolution of the filter with

the input:
t t yt = kt * xt (2)
0 5 0 5 10
Fig. 2: Comparison of desired output and actual Substituting equation 2 into equation 1, we have
2
output from Wiener filter.  
(Source: Robinson and Treitel, 2006).
R = ∑ t
 d t −

∑τ k t x t − t 

(3)
The basic model for the filtering process considered The aim is to compute the filter coefficients
consists of input signal, a desired output signal, and
an actual output signal. If one minimizes the energy
( )
k 0 , k 1 − −− , k n− 1 so that the error is minimum
or power existing in the difference between desired and filter length l must be predefined. The minimum
and actual filter outputs, it becomes possible to solve error is obtained by setting the variation of R with
for the so-called optimum, or least squares filter, respect to k i to zero
commonly known as the “Wiener” filter (Robinson,
2006). ∂R
= 0
∂k i
Within the class of linear filter, the optimal filter for i = 0 ,1 ,2 ,− − − , (l − 1) (4)
restoration in the presence of noise is given by the
Wiener filter. The word “optimal” is used here in the Expanding equation (3), we have
2
sense of minimum mean-square error (mse). Because   (5)
R = ∑ d t2 − 2 ∑ d t ∑τ k τ x t −τ + ∑  ∑τ k τ x t − τ 

the square root operation is monotonic increasing , t t t

the optimal filter also minimizes the root mean- Obtaining the partial derivatives and equating to zero,
square error(rms) (Khireddine, et al, 2007). The we get
Wiener filter is characterized in the fourier domain ∂R  
= − 2 ∑ d t x t − i + 2 ∑  ∑ kτ x t −τ  x t − i = 0 (6)
and for addictive noise that is independent of the ∂k i t t  τ 
signal (Pei and Tseng, 2003). Further reading could or
be seen from the work of the following ; Towghi et al
∑τ kτ ∑ x t −τ x t − i = ∑ d t x t − i , i = 0 ,1 ,2 − −− , (l − 1 ) (7)
2001, Leonardis and Bischof, 2003 and Cherniakov t t
et al , 2000. By using

LOCATIO ∑ x t − τ x t − i = ri − τ
t
(8a)

The Trans-Ramos 3-D prospect spans a large area of

OMLS (Omission Lines) 46 to 62. It is located within
and ∑dt
t x t−i = g i (8b)
longitude 05000I to 05030IN and latitude 07000I to for each ith term, we have
07030IE. The total area of the prospect is
approximately 320 square kilometers. The area is ∑ k τ ri −τ = g i ,
swampy and low-lying with surface elevation i = 0 ,1 , 2 , − − − , (l − 1 ) (9)
gradually rising from 2.28m in the south to 1.98m up Putting in matrix form, equation (9) becomes:
north (Egbai, and Ekpekpo, 2003).

Vegetation varies from mangrove to rainforest

interspersed with raffia palms. The area is drained by
numerous rivers and creeks, which makes access to
some locations difficult. The prospect covers
Opukushi and Benisede fields. The adjoining villages

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Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences (JETEAS) 2 (1): 43-49 (ISSN: 2141-7016)

 r0 r1 r2 . . . rl − 1  k0  rγ 
 r0 r1 r2 − − − rl − 1  k0   g0  
r0 r1 . . . rl − 2    r 
       r1  k1   γ +1 
 r1 r0 r1 − − − rl − 2  k1   g1  (10) . . . . . . .  .  .  (19)
. . . .    .      = 
   =  . . . . . . .  .  . 
. . . .    . 
.   . 
. . . . . . .  .  . 
. . .       
     
 r l − 1 rl − 2 rl − 3 − − − r0  kl −1   gl −1   r l − 1 rl − 2 rl − 3 . . . r0  kl−1 rγ +l−1
where ri = autocorrelation lags of the input If γ = 1 a case of a unit prediction lag equation (19)
g i = lags of the cross-correlation between takes the form
 r0 r1 r2 − − − rl − 1  k  r 
the desired output and input.  − − −  0 1

 r1 r0 r1 rl − 2  k  r 
Applying the Levinson recursion (Claerbout, 1976.),  1   2  (20)
. . . − − − .  .  . 
the optimum Wiener filter coefficients k i can be  − − −    =  
. . . .  .  . 
computed. The least-squares error involved in this . . . − − − .  .  . 
process can now be computed. Equation (5) becomes      
− − −
2  r l − 1 rl − 2 rl − 3 r 0   k l − 1   rl 
    (11)
R min = 2
∑d t
t − 2  ∑
 t
∑τ d t x t − τ k τ  +

∑  ∑τ k τ x
t
t −τ 

If we augment the right side to the square matrix on
the left side, we have
Substituting the following relationships: − − −
 − r1 r0 r1 rl − 1  1  0
∑d t x t −τ = gτ 
 − r2
r1 r0 − − − rl − 2


k   
 0  0 (21)
(12a) . . . . . .  k1  0
.
and  . . . .   = 
. . .  .  . 
∑ t
x t x t − τ = rτ .

. . . . . . 

.  . 
   
. . . r
(12b)  − r l rl − 1 rl − 2 0  kl −1  0
into equation (11), we get If we add one row and putting the negative sign to the
(13) filter column, we obtain
R min = ∑d t
t
2
− 2 ∑ kτ gτ +
τ
∑τ k τ ∑ k ∑ i
i
t
x t −τ x t − i
 r0 r1 . . . rl   1  R
  − k   
or  r1
r0 . . . rl − 1   0
 0  (22)
R min = ∑d t
2
− 2 ∑ kτ gτ +
τ
∑τ k τ ∑ rτ −i ki .

. . 

.

 . 
  
 = . 
t i .
. . .  
(14) .  . 
. . . 
Using equation (9), we finally get      
 − k l −1  0
 r l rl − 1 . . . r 0   
R min = ∑ t
d t2 − ∑τ kτ gτ (15)    

There exist l + 1 equations and l + 1 unknowns,

If the desired output in the filter model of Fig. 1 is a (
e.g., k0 , k 1 ,..., k l − 1 , R . From equation (22) )
time-advanced version of the input,
d (t ) = x (t + γ ) we want to design a Wiener filter
R = r0 − r1 k0 − r2 k 1 − ... − rl k l − 1 (23)

k (t ) that predicts x (t + γ ) from the past value of Applying equation (15), the minimum error
the input x (t ) . The cross-correlation function associated with the unit prediction – lag filter can be
g becomes computed as follows. If we start with
d t = x t +1 (24)
gτ = ∑d t
t x t −τ = ∑x
t
t+γ x t −τ = ∑ t
x t x t − (γ + τ ) (16)
so that
We have by definition
rτ = ∑ x t x t − τ (17) ∑dt
t
2
= r0 (25a)
t
and
For γ + τ lag, equation (17) becomes
g t = rt + 1 (25b)
rγ + τ = ∑ x t x t − (γ + τ ) = g τ (18)
Sbstituting into equation (15), we obtain
Rmin = r0 − (r1 k 0 + r2 k 1 + ... + rl k l − 1 )
t
Substituting into equation (10), we have the (26)
set of normal equations that should be solved to get This is identical to R given by equation (23). The
the prediction filter ( k 0 , k 1 ,− − − , k l − 1 ) : desired output is x t + γ . The actual output is x t +γ
which is the estimate of the desired output. Equation
(19) gives the prediction filter with prediction lag γ .

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Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences (JETEAS) 2 (1): 43-49 (ISSN: 2141-7016)

The error series contains the unpredictable Input Desired Output

component of the series defined as:
C t+γ = x t + γ − x̂ t + γ = x t + γ − ∑τ k τ x t −τ (27)

We assume that the unpredictable component C t is Auto-correlation Cross-correlation

the uncorrelated reflectivity we want to extract from
the seismogram. Taking the Z-transform of equation
(27), we have
Z − γ E (Z ) = Z − γ X (Z ) − K (Z ) X (Z ) (28) Wiener Filter(F)
or
[ ]
E (Z ) = 1 − Z − γ K (Z ) X (Z ) (29)
A new filter a(t ) whose Z-transform is now defined
as
A (Z ) = 1 − Z γ F (Z ) (30)
If substituted into equation (29), we have
E ( Z ) = A( Z ) X ( Z ) (31)
Actual Output
The corresponding time-domain relationship is
C (t ) = a (t ) * x (t ) (32) Fig. 3: Flowchart for Wiener filter design
Reflectivity C (t ) is obtained by applying filter
( Source: Yilmaz O. , 1988)

a(t ) to the input seismogram x (t ) computing the The optimum Wiener filter k i is optimum if the
reflectivity series is a goal of deconvolution, least-squares error between the actual and desired
prediction filtering can be used for deconvolution. outputs is minimum. When the desired output is the
()
The time-domain form a t of the filter according to zero-lag spike ( 1 ,0 ,0 ,− − − ,0 ) , then the Wiener
equation (30) is filter is identical to the least-squares inverse filter
a t = (1 ,0 ,0 ,− − − 0 ,− k 0 ,− k 1 − −− ,− k n − 1 ) (33) (Yilmaz 1988.).
The filter a(t ) is obtained from the prediction filter
Fig 4 shows data which are highly contaminated with
k (t ) and this is the solution to equation (19). We 60Hz line interference. This was acquired from the
call a (t ) the prediction error filter. For unit- field in Trans-Ramos prospect of Rivers State. The
following processes are adopted to the unprocessed
prediction lag, the filter coefficients is given by data got from the field.
equation (33) are of the form:
(
a t = 1 ,− k 0 ,− k 1 ,− − − ,− k l − 1 ) (34)
This has the same solution as equation (22). A
prediction error filter with unit-prediction lag and
with l + 1 length is equivalent to an inverse filter of
the same length.

FIELD DATA EXAMPLE AD DISCUSSIO

The recording ground motion from reflected seismic
waves, it is customary to receive the signals from
each shot point. Dynamites are detonated from the
shot point with a large number of geophones and the
data obtained were highly contaminated with 60Hz
line interference (Egbai, 1999). Reflectors at late
record times are totally obscured by the line noise.
Fig. 4: Contaminated noise data with 60Hz line interference
The unprocessed data got from the field operations
are fed into automatic computer whose program is
written in line with the theory above. Fig 3 Spiking Deconconvolution
summarizes the flowchart for Wiener filter design This process of desired output known as zero-lag
and application. spike is called spiking deconvolution. Fig 5 shows
spike deconvolution based on the Wiener – Levinson
algorithm. The input mixed-phase wavelet is 5(a)
while 5(b) is the amplitude spectrum which indicates
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Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences (JETEAS) 2 (1): 43-49 (ISSN: 2141-7016)

that the wavelet has most of the energy within a 10- adding a constant to the zero lag of the auto-
to 50Hz range. The autocorrelation function 5(c) is correlation function.
used to compute the spiking deconvolution operation
in 5(d). The amplitude spectrum of the operator in
5(e) is the inverse of the amplitude spectrum of the
input wavelet in 5(b). The aim of spike deconvolution
is to flatten the output spectrum. If this operator is
applied to the input wavelet the result is shown in
5(h). The amplitude spectrum of the operator is the
inverse of the amplitude spectrum of the minimum-
phase equivalent to 5(e) and 5(g). The desired ouput

Prewhitening
5(i) is obtained if the input is minimum-phase
wavelet in 5(f). If the input wavelet is not minimum-
phase, then spike deconvolution cannot convert it to a

Amplitude
perfect zero-lag spike in 5(h).

Wavelet (a) Frequency Operator (Inverse) Spike Output (c)

(b) Frequency Frequency
Fig. 6: Prewhitening Process

Wiener Shaping Filter

The process that a desired output of desired arbitrary
shape is called wavelet shaping. The filter that does
this is called a wavelet shaping filter. This is a case of
a given input wavelet having series of desired outputs
as delayed spikes. The least-squares errors is plotted
as a function of delay. The actual output from the
Wiener filter using optimum delayed spike shows the
most compact possible result.

Fig 7 shows a series of wavelet shapings that use

delayed spikes as desired outputs. The purpose of the
shaping filter is to convert the mixed-phased wavelet
Fig. 5: Spike deconvolution based on the Wiener- (0) to a series of delayed spikes 7(a through h) by
Levinson algorithm using an operator. The best result is achieved by
using a 60-ms delay as shown in fig 7(e)
Prewhitening
This is achieved by applying a minimum-phase band-
pass filter with a wide passband (3–108Hz) to the
minimum-phase wavelet of Fig 5(f). This does not
produce a perfect spike because of high-frequency
pre and post cursor. Secondly, the deconvolution
operator tries to boost the absent frequencies as seen
from the amplitude spectrum of the output. Noise is
always generated in the seismogram and it is additive
in both the time and frequency domains. In
processing, numerical noise generated is additive in
the frequency domain. In order to ensure numerical
stability, an artificial level of white noise is
introduced before deconvolution and is called
prewhitening. This is shown in fig 6.

Prewhitening results to adding a bias to the amplitude

spectrum of the seismogram to be deconvolved. It
prevents dividing by zero since the amplitude
spectrum of the inverse filter 6(b) is the inverse of Fig. 7: Shaping filtering. (0) Input wavelet, (1) desired output,
that of the seismogram 6(a). This is achieved by (2) shaping filter operator, (3) actual output

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Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences (JETEAS) 2 (1): 43-49 (ISSN: 2141-7016)

Predictive Deconvolution COCLUSIO

The design of a prediction filter requires only Deconvolution is a process that improves the
autocorrelation of the input series. There are two temporary resolution of seismic data by compressing
approaches to predictive deconvolution. the basic seismic wavelet. It compresses the wavelet
1. The prediction filter may be designed and components and eliminate multiples, leaving only the
applied on input series. earth’s reflectivity in the seismic trace. The inverse
2. Predictive deconvolution is a general filter, when convolved with the seismic wavelet,
process that encompasses spiking converts it to a spike. The Wiener filter converts the
deconvolution. seismic wavelet into any desired shape. Like the
Fig 8 interrelates the various filter and indicates the inverse filter, a Wiener filter can be designed to
kind of process they imply. This shows that Wiener convert the seismic wavelet into a spike. The Wiener
filters can be used to solve a wide range of problems. filter differs from inverse filter in that it is optimal in
the least-squares sense.
Inverse Filter Least-squares Optimum Weiner Filters Wiener filters can be used to solve a wide range of
problems. In particular, predictive deconvolution is
an integral part of seismic data processing that is
Zero-Delay aimed at compressing the seismic wavelet thereby
Spike Time-Advanced increasing temporal resolution. It can be used to spike
Version of Input the seismic wavelet and obtain an estimate for
with Prediction Log
reflectivity.These processes when fully and correctly
carried out give room for effective interpretation of
Any the seismic data for oil wells.
Unit Prediction Other
Form
ACKOWLEDGEMET
I wish to express my gratitude and appreciation to
Spiking staff of United Geographical Company Limited,
Deconvolution Predictive Wavelet Warri and Exploration Department of Shell Company
Deconvolution Limited, Warri for enabling me do my industrial
Fig. 8: A flowchart for interrelations between various attachment where the data and analysis used for the
deconvolution filters research were obtained.
(Source: Yilmaz O. 1988).
REFERECES
Finally, the processed field data trace of spike Cherniakov M., Sisov, V.I, Donskov L., 2000,
deconvolution is as shown in fig 9. It shows spiking Synethesis of a periodically time-varying digital
deconvolution 9(c) on a shot record 9(a) followed by filter. VISP Vol.147(5): Pp. 393-399.
band-pass filtering 9(d). fig 9(b) shows
autocorrelograms before and after deconvolution. Claerbout, J. F, 1976. Fundamental of geophysical
data processing. McGraw-Hill Book Co. Pp 274

Dobrin, M. B, 1976 Introduction to geophysical

prospecting 3rd ed., 180-200.

Egbai, J. C, 1999. Noise reduction in seismic data

acquisition in Atala Prospect of Rivers State Nigeria.
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Egbai, J. C. and Ekpekpo, A, 2003. Migration

velocity analysis by Fourier transform in seismic data
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Khireddine , A Benmahammed,K. and Puech, W.

Fig. 9: Spiking deconvolution (c) on a shot record (a) 2007, Digital image restoration by Wiener filter in
followed by band-pass filtering (d). (b) 2D case Pub. By Elsevier Ltd. Advances in
Autocorrelograms before and after deconvolution. Engineering software 38, 512-516

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Leonardis A and Bischof, H. 2003, Kernel and

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Rajagopal R. and Potter, L.C.,2003, Multivariate

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Robinson, E. A. and Treitel, S, 2006. Principles of

Wiener filtering Geophysical Prospecting Vol. 15. Pp
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Towghi N, Pan L, Javidi B,2002, Noise robustness of

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