Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is WiseCloud and WiseUser?

A: WiseCloud is a cloud platform, and WiseUser is the user end application. They cooperate with each other to complete FB picking.

Q: How does it work?

A: First, use WiseUser on the user computer to transform a SEG-Y file into a WDF file. Next, upload the WDF file to WiseCloud and pick FB in the cloud. Finally, download the CFB file created in the cloud, calibrate it, and transform it into a CAL file that can be edited in WiseUser. The methodology of FB picking is similar to WiseBreak. The picking quality is much better because of technical improvements. Try it! The result will certainly give you a surprise.

Q: How to tackle the transfer of seismic data, which is generally of huge volume?

A: The WDF file transformed from a SEG-Y file is about one twentieth the size of the raw SEG-Y file, making it easier to transfer over the internet. Besides, WiseUser supports resumable data transfer.

Q: Could I upload more than one file at the same time?

A: Not yet. Because computation resources are limited, WiseCloud can keep only one WDF file (and its CFB file) on cloud for each user account. If you upload a new WDF file, the old one will be replaced.

Q: Do I have to worry about the security of WDF files?

A: No, it is not necessary. Firstly, in the WDF file the length of trace is very short, which is normally not longer than 500 ms. Secondly, the sample interval is 8ms or 4ms, and the value is written in 1-byte/2-byte integer, which is of poor precision. Finally, the coordinates may have been encrypted.

Q: How long does it take to pick on cloud?

A: For a WDF file including 10 million traces, it takes about 5 minutes to pick on cloud. If the server is busy, the processing job may need to wait in the queue.

Q: What are your suggestions for the security of raw data?

A: Install WiseUser on one computer connected to the internet (WiseCloud) and on another computer that is offline or inside your company LAN. Transform SEG-Y to WDF on the offline computer and copy the WDF files to a removable disk, then upload the WDF and download the CFB file on the internet-connected computer. Finally, calibrate and edit the FB on the offline computer. For more details, please read this page.(if connecting to the internet, click here to check.)

Q: Is WiseUser multi-language?

A: Yes, but only in English and Chinese now. You can switch between them by the menu “Tools->Language”

Q: What is the requirement for the seismic(SEGY) data?

A: It must be in compliance with SEG-Y Rev. 1.0. The format of sample data must be: (1) 4-byte IBM floating-point, (2) 4-byte IEEE floating-point, or (3) 2-byte, two's complement integer.

Q: How to prepare the data and get high quality result of FB picking?

A: It is very important to include complete geometry parameters in the trace header, except the coordinate scalar, all the parameters must be included. Furthermore, the data should include some high SNR shots for the sake of correct near-surface modeling. It is a good idea to limit the offset range(say, 0-3500m, if you want to get the FB of 0-3000m for static). It is strongly suggested that the data should not be processed, such as static correction, filtering, etc.

Q: What is the maximum size of WDF file allowed?

A: Now the maximum size allowed to be uploaded is 10 GB. If your SEG-Y file is very large(say, 100 GB or larger) and the transformed WDF may be larger than 10 GB, it is wise to divide it into 2-3 offset segments, for instance, transforming the offset range 0-2000 to the first WDF, and 2000-4000 to the 2nd WDF.

Q: How to set the "sample rate" and "data precision" when transforming SEGY to WDF?

A: For the seismic data with a main frequency between 20-50Hz(P&G industry), "8ms-1byte", which we suggest, is good enough. If the data is for high resolution survey(coal mining), or its SNR is very low, you can choose "4ms-1byte". For civil engineering with small volume of data, you can even choose "1ms-2byte". Obviously, setting different parameters leads to different size of the WDF file.

Q: For vibroseis data picking what is your suggestion?

A: The vibroseis data is normally with low SNR. A dataset should include some shots of high SNR. In first arrivals of vibroseis data, more often than not, the event of negative polarity has a better coherence, it is a good practice to compare the pickings with different polarities(positive and negative). Moreover, it is not suggested that the data be processed for denoising or minimizing wavelet phase.

Q: Can I edit the FB with WiseUser?

A: Yes! The user can manually edit the FB in WiseUser with high efficiency. For more details, please read this page.

Q: What is the difference between the "red" FB and the "purple" one?

A: Statistically, the purple FB is more likely correct than the red one. After auto-picking, WiseCloud distinguishes erroneous FB picks from correct ones by modeling the near surface. For erroneous picks, WiseCloud automatically modifies them using the model and still labels them in red. For correct picks, WiseCloud labels them in purple.

Q: Do I need to modify all the "red" FB?

A: Not necessarily. The red FB is likely correct after WiseCloud modifies it. The purple one is not totally correct because of modeling error and may need to be modified manually as well.

Q: What are the suggestions about FB editing for different processing situations?

A: For urgent situations, such as on-site processing, or, in a survey with simple near-surface structure, we suggest that the user edit FB with the "Error_FB_Only" mode. In this mode the purple FB is hidden(by checking "Display Err. FB Only"), so the processor can efficiently edit the red FB. In processing practice, more often than not, this mode is used because of the huge workload. On the contrary, for careful processing, or, in a survey with complicated near-surface structure, it is reasonable to check every FB with the "All-FB" mode and make necessary modifications. In fact, the processor can switch between the two modes at any time while editing. For more details, please read this page.

Q: How to export the FB data?

A: In WiseUser, you can either export FB times to a text file, or write them to the SEG-Y trace header. In order to speed up the header writing, it is necessary to trim the SEGY trace into a shorter length with only one or several samples.

Q: Is 2D line different from 3D for FB picking in WiseUser?

A: We take the 2D line as a special type of 3D survey. The processing flow is almost the same except for setting "0" to "s-line" and "g-line" while defining trace header.