Scorpion

and

System Four
SEG Y Format

November 2006
1018-010007B

Copyright
Copyright 2006 Input/Output, Inc. All rights reserved.
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at any time without notice.
Original publication date: November 2006
P/N: 1018-010007B

Contents
Chapter 1. History and Current Requirements............... 1-1
History ......................................................................................................................................... 1-1
Current Requirements.................................................................................................................. 1-1

Chapter 2. Blocks in Format .......................................... 2-1

Reel Identification Header Format ........................................................................................................... 2-2
Text Block ................................................................................................................................... 2-2
Binary Block................................................................................................................................ 2-3
Trace Data Block Format.......................................................................................................................... 2-6
Trace Data Block ......................................................................................................................... 2-6
Trace Identification Header ......................................................................................................... 2-8

Index ............................................................................... I-1

ii

Chapter 1. History and Current Requirements

History

The SEG Y format was published in 1975 and reflects the state of seismic
data recording at that time. The original format specified bit positions and
signal patterns for 800 bpi NRZI (Non-Return to Zero Inverted) and 1600 bpi
PE (Phase Encoded) recording formats. The original format also mentions
IBM's proposed 6250 bpi GCR (Group Coded Recording) format. Currently,
the type of media and recording technology used is not relevant to discussion
of the application specific format of data written to sequential media.

Current
Requirements

The SEG Y format allows for a collection of trace data of similar sample rate
and trace length on one tape. It specifies that all the data on one reel be from
one line. With 3D recording, it is not practical to have the restriction of all the
data on a given tape being from one receiver line. Therefore, Input/Output
Land Recording Systems do not restrict data to be from only one receiver line.
The restrictions on sample rate and trace length are also unnecessary.
However, I/Os RSR system (Transcriber 2) system currently pads or truncates traces to the same length.
I/Os Scorpion and System Four systems set the Binary Header values for
Sample Interval and Number of Samples to zero (0), where zero means variable Sample Interval and variable Number of Samples. Each Trace Header
contains the Sample Interval and the Number of Samples for that trace. This
was done to allow different record lengths and different sample intervals per
reel.
This document describes the differences between the I/O SEG Y specification and the original SEG Y specification, now referred to as SEG Y 1975
or Rev 0.
NOTE
This document does not make reference to the second SEG Y publication
by the Society of Exploration Geophysicists: SEG Y rev 1 Data Exchange
Format, SEG Technical Standards Committee, Release 1.0, May 2002.

SEG Y Format 1-1

Chapter 1. History and Current Requirements

1-2

SEG Y Format

Chapter 2. Blocks in Format

The tape consists of a Reel Identification header, consisting of a 3200-byte
block of EBCDIC card image information and a 400-byte binary encoded
block. The Reel Identification header is followed by blocks of demultiplexed
trace data, consisting of a 240-byte Trace Identification header. The Trace
Identification header is followed by the Trace Data samples. As designed, free
areas were left in the both the EBCDIC and binary blocks of the Reel
Identification header and in the Trace Identification header for future
expansion.
Tables 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3 are from the original SEG Y specification. The data
on tape appears in the following order:

Table 2-1. SEG Y Demultiplexed Format

Table 2-2. SEG Y Reel Identification Header

Table 2-3. SEG Y Trace Data Block

NOTE
I/O systems write two EOF marks at the end of data instead of one.

SEG Y Format

2-1

Chapter 2. Blocks in Format

Reel Identification Header Format

Text Block

The first part of the Reel Identification Header consists of 3200 bytes of
EBCDIC data, which is the equivalent of 40 data cards. The original SEG Y
specified format for this block is illustrated in Table 2-4:

Table 2-4. 3200 Byte EBCDIC Reel Header

Each card image contains the character C in the first column. By definition,
card image numbers 23 through 39 are unassigned for optional use, so the text
shown in Table 2-4 is in the specified format. Unused characters are EBCDIC
Blank.
Proper system setup by the operator is required to ensure that all fields are
populated. It is also possible to treat the entire 3200 bytes as a free form
EBCDIC text block.

2-2

SEG Y Format

Reel Identification Header Format

Starting with the RSR Transcriber 2 version 1.3.2, the EBCDIC block will be
populated in one of three ways. If there is a segyhdr.txt file in the project
directory, then the EBCDIC block will be filled with information from the
segyhdr.txt file. If there is no segyhdr.txt file but there is XTM information,
the first 6 lines of the EBCDIC block will be populated with the following
information, which comes from the XTMs Job Text packet:

Client

Prospect

Contractor

Crew ID

Location

Observer

If there is no segyhdr.txt file and there is no XTM information available for

the output data range, the EBCDIC block will be blank, except for a C in
column 1 of all 40 lines. The data will be in EBCDIC format if the data
sample format is IBM floating point or IEEE with EBCDIC option. The data
will be in ASCII format if the IEEE ASCII option is selected. Column one in
each line is uppercase C. Blank characters are used to fill the 80 character
lines.
The Scorpion and System Four EBCDIC block will be populated by information from their respective databases.

Binary Block

The binary coded section of the Reel Identification header consists of 400
bytes, of which the first 60 bytes have assigned definitions and the remaining
340 bytes are unassigned for optional use. I/O systems use 14 of the
unassigned bytes as shown in Table 2-5.
It is strongly recommended that information on the following nine entries
always be recorded:

Line number

Reel number

Number of data traces per record

Number of auxiliary traces per record

Sample interval this reel

Number of samples per trace

Data sample format

CDP fold

Measurement system

These are denoted with an asterisk in column 2 of Table 2-5. I/O systems set
many of these fields to 0 because the information is either unknown or more
appropriately documented in the Trace Identification header.

SEG Y Format

2-3

Chapter 2. Blocks in Format

Table 2-5. 400 Byte Binary Reel Header

400 Byte Binary Reel Header
Bytes

SEG Y Specification

I/O Specification

3201-3204

Job ID number

3205-3208

Line number

3209-3212

Reel number

Same as SEG Y Specification

3213-3214

Number of data traces per record

3215-3216

Number of aux. traces per record

3217-3218

Sample interval, this reel

(in microseconds)

Same as SEG Y Specification,

(for Scorpion and System Four = 0, meaning variable)

Sample interval, original record

(in microseconds)

Same as SEG Y Specification,

(for Scorpion and System Four = 0, meaning variable)

Number of samples per data trace

(this reel)

Number of samples per data trace. Traces are padded

with zeros or truncated if necessary to match this
length. (For Scorpion and System Four = 0, meaning
variable)

Number of samples per data trace

(original record)

Number of samples per data trace. Traces are padded

with zeros or truncated if necessary to match this
length. (For Scorpion and System Four = 0, meaning
variable).

Data sample format:

1 - IBM floating point (4 bytes)
2 - fixed point (4 bytes)
3 - fixed point (2 bytes)
4 - fixed point w/gain code (4 bytes)

Add:
5 - IEEE floating point single precision (4 bytes)

3219-3220
3221-3222

3223-3224

3225-3226

3227-3228

CDP fold

3229-3230

Trace sorting code:

1 - as recorded (no sorting)
2 - CDP ensemble
3 - single fold continuous profile
4 - horizontally stacked

3231-3232

Vertical sum code:

1 - no sum
2 - two sum
....
N - N sum (N = 32767)

3233-3234

Sweep frequency at start

3235-3236

Sweep frequency at end

3237-3238

Sweep length (in milliseconds)

3239-3240

Sweep type code:

1 - linear
3 - exponential
2 - parabolic 4 - other

3241-3242

Trace number of sweep channel

3243-3244

Sweep taper length at start

(in msec)

3245-3246

Sweep taper length at end

(in msec)

2-4

Note: RSR Transcriber 2 only outputs formats: 1-IBM

and 5 - IEEE.
Scorpion and System Four only outputs format:
5 - IEEE.

SEG Y Format

Reel Identification Header Format

400 Byte Binary Reel Header

Bytes

SEG Y Specification

I/O Specification

3247-3248

Taper type:
1 - linear
3 - other
2 - cosine squared

3249-3250

Correlated data traces:

1 - no
2 - yes

3251-3252

Binary gain recovered:

1 - yes
2 - no

3253-3254

Amplitude recovery method:

1 - none
2 - spherical divergence
3 - AGC
4 - other

Measurement system:
1 - meters
2 - feet

Same as SEG Y Specification

3257-3268

Impulse signal polarity: Increase in

pressure or upward case movement
gives:
1 - negative number
2 - positive number

3259-3260

Vibratory polarity code:

Seismic signal lags pilot signal by:
1 - 337.5- 27.5
2 - 27.5- 67.5
3 - 67.5-112.5
4 - 112.5-157.5
5 - 157.5-202.5
6 - 202.5-247.5
7 - 247.5-292.5
8 - 292.5-337.5

3261-3262

Unassigned

RSR Data Collection Unit (DCU) Serial Number if

Tape from one DCU, 0 otherwise

3263-3264

Unassigned

Manufacturers code = 18

3265-3266

Unassigned

Format Version = 1

3255-3256

3267-3268

Unassigned

Reel Header Revision = 1

3269-3270

Unassigned

BigEndian or LittleEndian (headers and data)

0 = BigEndian
257 = LittleEndian (only a disk file option on
RSR Transcriber 2, Scorpion and System Four is
always BigEndian)

3271-3272

Unassigned

Line spacing in tenths of measurement unit.

3273-3274

Unassigned

Station spacing in tenths of measurement unit.

3275-3600

Unassigned

UNUSED

SEG Y Format

2-5

Chapter 2. Blocks in Format

Trace Data Block Format

Trace Data Block

Each Trace Data block consists of a 240-byte Trace Identification header

followed by the number of data samples specified in the Reel Identification
header binary block, bytes 3221-3222. The original format allows four data
sample formats. Of these four original data sample formats defined, only IBM
4-byte floating point is supported. I/O systems allow the use of a fifth data
sample format, the IEEE floating point format. This IEEE format is also the
recommended data sample format for the RSR Transcriber 2 and the only format for Scorpion and System Four.
Data from RSR/VRSR and MRX (Miniaturized Remote Extender) boxes are
normalized to their equivalent input voltage, expressed in millivolts (mV).
The maximum millivolt value depends on the preamp K-gain used in the box.
See Table 2-6 to relate the largest and smallest possible values on tape to a
given K-gain. The preamp K-gain is stored in trace header bytes 121-122.

RSR or MRX K-gain vs. Largest and Smallest values written to SEG Y tape
RSR or MRX K-gain (dB), Bytes 121122

Largest absolute value written to tape

(mV)

Smallest absolute value written to tape,

other than zero (only LSB on)

12

2048

0.000 244 140 625 000 000

24

512

0.000 061 035 156 250 000

36

128

0.000 015 258 789 062 500

48

32

0.000 003 814 697 265 625

Table 2-6. RSR or MRX K-gain vs. Largest and Smallest Values Written
to SEG Y Tape

Data recorded by VectorSeis receivers are in acceleration, with the Least

Significant Bit (LSB) equal to 20, 40, or 160 nano (10e-9) units of Gravity
(nG), depending on setting. For the RSR Transcriber 2, using a silver bullet
version of VectorSeis, data is normalized to a maximum possible value of 1.0.
A fixed multiplier is needed to convert the normalized values back to the 20,
40, or 160 nG LSB setting as shown in Table 2-7. See trace header byte 202
for the VectorSeis receiver sensor scaling code.

2-6

SEG Y Format

Trace Data Block Format

RSR VectorSeis LSB Setting vs. Largest and Smallest values written
to SEG Y tape and multiplier to apply to return values to Gs
Least Significant
Bit (LSB) Setting value in nanoGs

Largest absolute
value written to
tape

Smallest absolute value written to tape,

other than zero (only LSB on)

Multiplier to apply to data

to get LSB setting

20

1.0

0.000 000 119 209 289 550 781 250

0.167 772 160

40

1.0

0.000 000 119 209 289 550 781 250

0.335 544 320

160

1.0

0.000 000 119 209 289 550 781 250

1.342 177 280

Table 2-7. RSR (Transcriber 2) with silver bullet VectorSeis

Multipliers to Convert Values to Gs

RSR using the current version of VectorSeis receivers, and Scorpion and System Four preserve the 20, 40, or 160 nG LSB values for VectorSeis data. No
scaling is necessary to read the data. Largest and smallest values are shown in
Table 2-8. See Trace Header byte 202 for the VectorSeis receiver scaling
code.

RSR VectorSeis (current version) Scorpion and System Four LSB Setting vs.
Largest and Smallest values written to SEG Y tape
Least Significant Bit (LSB) Setting value in nanoGs

Largest absolute value written to

tape (Gs)

Smallest absolute value written to

tape, other than zero (only LSB on)

20

0.167 772 160

0.000 000 020

40

0.335 544 320

0.000 000 040

160

1.342 177 280

0.000 000 160

Table 2-8. RSR (Transcriber 2) with current VectorSeis, Scorpion and

System Four Largest and Smallest Values Written to SEG Y Tape

Analog data from Scorpion and System Four is normalized to their equivalent
input voltage, expressed in millivolts (mV). The maximum millivolt value
depends on the preamp scale factor used in the box. See Table 2-9 to relate
the largest and smallest possible values on tape to a given gain factor. The
preamp gain factor is stored in trace header byte 202.

SEG Y Format

2-7

Chapter 2. Blocks in Format

Scorpion and System Four Analog Gain Factor vs. Largest

and Smallest values written to SEG Y tape
Gain Factor

Largest absolute value written to

tape (mV)

Smallest absolute value written to

tape, other than zero (only LSB on)

2500

0.000 310 462 589 257 994

625

0.000 077 615 647 314 499

156.25

0.000 019 403 911 828 625

39.0625

0.000 004 850 977 957 156

Table 2-9. Scorpion and System Four Analog Largest and Smallest

Values Written to SEG Y Tape

Trace
Identification
Header

The original SEG Y binary coded trace header consists of 240 bytes, of which
the first 180 bytes have assigned definitions and the remaining 60 bytes are
unassigned. I/O systems use all of the remaining 60 bytes and redefine some
obsolete bytes when recording VectorSeis data.
It is strongly recommended that information on the following six entries
always be recorded:

Trace sequence number within line

Original field record number

Trace number within field record

Trace identification code

Number of samples this trace

Sample interval in microseconds

These fields are denoted with an asterisk in column two of Table 2-10 and are
described in detail in the following paragraphs.
The trace sequence number within line entry (bytes 1-4) is used to count
traces through an entire write process. A write process may span more than
one tape. In this case, the first value of trace sequence number within line
entry on Tape 2 would not start with 1 but rather with a number one greater
than the last trace sequence number within line entry from Tape 1.
The original field record number entry (bytes 9-12) equals the file number
set by the RSR Transcriber 2, Scorpion and System Four operator. The file
number can also be taken from an IMAGE SEG-D tape when merged into a
RSR Transcriber 2 project. The original field record number entry can also
equal the Shot Id for unordered data that is made directly by reading an RSR
Data Collector Unit (DCU).
The trace number within field record entry (bytes 13-16) equals the trace
number within a record (an I/O Energy Point (EP)) starting with 1.
The trace identification code entry (bytes 29-30) is the same as the original

2-8

SEG Y Format

Trace Data Block Format

SEG Y specification with the addition of code 9 as unknown Aux type and
code 62 as GPS Aux/External data.
The number of samples this trace and the sample interval in microseconds
entries (bytes 115-116 and 117-118, respectively) are the same as in the reel
binary header block for RSR Transcriber 2. For Scorpion and System Four,
only the trace header contains the correct values for each trace. The reel
header values are set to zero (0) meaning that the trace length and interval can
vary throughout the reel.
Table 2-10 shows the I/O 240 Byte Trace Header in comparison with the
original SEG Y specification.
Table 2-10. 240 Byte Trace Header Original SEG Y Spec. vs. I/O Spec.
240 Byte Trace Header
Original SEG Y Specification vs. I/O Specification
Bytes
1-4

5-8

SEG Y Specification

I/O Specification

Trace sequence number within line

= Trace sequence number, counts through one write process.

Starting with 1.

Trace sequence number within reel

Starting with 1.
= File number for shot ordered data.
Controlled by RSR Transcriber 2 operator or value taken from
merged IMAGE SEG D file.
= Shot Id for unordered data (e.g. SEG Y from an RSR DCU)

09-12

Original field record number

13-16

Trace number within field record

= Trace number within a record (an I/O EP). Starting with 1.

17-20

Energy source point number

1 for the first event at a shot point, 2 for the 2nd, and so on. (-1)
for Stacked. For RSR Transcriber 2: (-64,-65, ) for Correlated
File (I/Os EP number).

21-24

CDP ensemble number

For Scorpion and System Four: Total number of traces within a

record (an I/O EP).

25-28

Trace number within CDP ensemble

For Scorpion and System Four: Reel/Volume number.

Trace identification code:

1 - seismic data
2 - dead
3 - dummy
4 - time break
5 - uphole
6 - sweep
7 - timing
8 - water break
9 - 32767 - optional use

9 - Unknown Aux Type

10 - Killed (data zeroed) due to VLFF
(Scorpion and System Four only)
62 - GPS Aux / External Data
63 - 32767 optional use

31-32

Number of vertically summed traces

yielding this trace

Same as SEG Y Specification

33-34

Number of horizontally summed

traces yielding this trace

35-36

Data use:
1 production 2 - test

Same as SEG Y Specification

37-40

Distance from source pt to receiver

41-44

Receiver group elevation

0 if not known

45-48

Surface elevation at source

0 if not known

29-30

SEG Y Format

2-9

Chapter 2. Blocks in Format

240 Byte Trace Header

Original SEG Y Specification vs. I/O Specification

2-10

Bytes

SEG Y Specification

I/O Specification

49-52

Source depth below surface

0 if not known

53-56

Datum elevation at receiver group

0 if not known

57-60

Datum elevation at source

0 if not known

61-64

Water depth at source

65-68

Water depth at group

69-70

Scale factor for previous seven

entries (power of 10 - i.e., 10^X)

0 if not known

71-72

Scale factor for next four entries

(power of 10 - i.e., 10^X)

0 if not known

73-76

Source coordinate - X

0 if not known

77-80

Source coordinate - Y

0 if not known

81-84

Group coordinate - X

0 if not known

85-88

Group coordinate - Y

0 if not known

89-90

Coordinate units:
1 - length (meters or feet)
2 - seconds of arc

0 if not known

91-92

Weathering velocity

93-94

Subweathering velocity

95-96

Uphole time at source

0 if not known or not applicable, in 0.1 msec

97-98

Uphole time at group

099-100

Source static correction

101-102

Group static correction

103-104

Total static applied

105-106

Lag time A. Time in msec between

trace ID header and time break

For Scorpion and System Four: MS word of 4 byte Time shift

for Asynchronous Time-break, in microseconds.

107-108

Lag time B. Time in msec between

time break and initiation time of
energy source

For Scorpion and System Four: LS word of 4 byte Time shift

value from System time-break for Asynchronous time-break,
units of microseconds.

109-110

Delay recording time. Time in msec

between initiation time of energy
source and time when recording of
samples begins

111-112

Mute time - start

113-114

Mute time - end

Number of samples this trace.

Same as SEG Y Specification

115-116

117-118

Sample interval in microseconds

Same as SEG Y Specification

119-120

Instrument gain type:

1 - fixed
2 - binary
3 - floating point
4 to N - optional use

121-122

Instrument gain constant

Preamp K-gain, dB (For Scorpion and System Four Analog =

0).

123-124

Instrument early or initial gain (dB)

SEG Y Format

Trace Data Block Format

240 Byte Trace Header

Original SEG Y Specification vs. I/O Specification
SEG Y Specification

I/O Specification

125-126

Bytes

Correlated: 1 - no 2 - yes

Data Type:
0 - Raw
1 - Stacked only,
2 - Correlated before Stacked
3 - Correlated after Stacked
4 - Correlated only
5 - Raw noise edit

127-128

Sweep frequency at start

0 if not known or not applicable, in 0.1 Hz

129-130

Sweep frequency at end

0 if not known or not applicable, in 0.1 Hz

131-132

Sweep length in milliseconds

0 if not known or not applicable

133-134

Sweep type:
1 - linear
3 - exponential
2 - parabolic 4 - other

0 if not known or not applicable

135-136

Sweep taper length at start in msec

0 if not known or not applicable

137-138

Sweep taper length at end in msec

0 if not known or not applicable

139-140

Taper type:
1 - linear
2 - cosine squared
3 - other

0 if not known or not applicable

141-142

Alias filter frequency

in Hertz

143-144

Alias filter slope

in dB per octave.
For VectorSeis: minimum phase anti-alias slope = 261 dB/
octave, linear phase anti-alias slope = 260 dB/octave

145-146

Notch filter frequency

Notch #1 (0.01Hz)

147-148

Notch filter slope

Notch #1 bandwidth, % of the notch freq. in .1% units.

149-150

Low cut filter frequency

Variable low cut freq. (0.1 Hz), 0 = off

151-152

High cut filter frequency

153-154

Low cut filter slope

Variable low cut slope: 12 dB/octave, 0 = off

155-156

High cut filter slope

157-158

Year data recorded

Year data recorded, 4 digits used.

(For RSR Transcriber 2: Derived from SID)

159-160

Day of year

Day of year. (For RSR Transcriber 2: Derived from SID)

161-162

Hour of day (24 hour clock)

Hour of day (24 hour clock),

(For RSR Transcriber 2: Derived from SID)

163-164

Minute of hour

Minute of hour. (For RSR Transcriber 2: Derived from SID)

165-166

Second of minute

Second of minute. (For RSR Transcriber 2: Derived from SID)

167-168

Time basis code:

1 - local 2 - GMT 3 - other

2 - GMT

169-170

Trace weighting factor (defined as

2^-N volts for least significant bit)

171-172

Geophone group number of roll

switch position 1

For RSR Transcriber 2 VectorSeis, Windowed Data Start Time,

in sample counts

173-174

Geophone group number of trace

number one in original record

For RSR Transcriber 2 VectorSeis, Windowed Data Length, in

sample counts

SEG Y Format 2-11

Chapter 2. Blocks in Format

240 Byte Trace Header

Original SEG Y Specification vs. I/O Specification
Bytes

2-12

SEG Y Specification

I/O Specification

175-176

Geophone group number of last trace

in original record

For RSR Transcriber 2 VectorSeis,

Byte 175: MS byte and
Byte 176: Mid byte of the 3 byte Windowed Data RMS value
(Offset value removed). (For units, see byte 202 and Table 2-7
or Table 2-8).

177-178

Gap size

For RSR Transcriber 2 VectorSeis,

Byte 177: LS byte of the 3 byte Windowed Data RMS value
(Offset value removed).
Byte 178: MS byte of the 3 byte Windowed Data Offset value.
(For units, see byte 202 & Table 2-7 or Table 2-8).

179-180

Overtravel associated with taper

1 - down
2 - up

For RSR Transcriber 2 VectorSeis,

Byte 179: Mid byte and
Byte 180: LS byte of the 3 byte Windowed Data Offset value.
(For units, see byte 202 & Table 2-7 or Table 2-8).

181-182

Unassigned

Revision number of this trace header. Starting with RSR Transcriber 2 version 1.6.5, the Trace Header Revision Number will
be the version number of the Transcriber 2 application software,
e.g. 165. For Scorpion and System Four (release 1.0 and up),
the Trace Header Revision number starts at 500.

183-186

Unassigned

Shot ID (SID - unique number that identifies shot)

187

Unassigned

Aux channel signal description (0 if seismic data)

Also Aux channel order on tape.
08(h) Master Clock Timebreak
09(h) Master Confirmation Timebreak
0A(h) Slave Clock Timebreak
0B(h) Slave Confirmation Timebreak
0C(h) Analog Uphole
0E(h) Digital Uphole
10(h) Waterbreak
14(h) User Specified #1
18(h) User Specified #2
1C(h) User Specified #3
20(h) Unfiltered Pilot
24(h) Filtered Pilot
28(h) User Specified #4
2C(h) User Specified #5
30(h) User Specified #6
31(h) Vibrator Reference
32(h) Vibrator Out
33(h) Vibrator User
34(h) User Specified #7
38(h) User Specified #8
3C(h) User Specified #9
3D(h) Aux channel from I/O Image System
3E(h) GPS Aux / External Data
3F(h) unused channel

188

Unassigned

Aux. channel ID from RSR (0-63). This number uniquely

identifies an Auxiliary channel across the system. When used
with a source, this number uniquely identifies this source within
a source set controlled by one shooter ID. Zero value for seismic data.

SEG Y Format

Trace Data Block Format

240 Byte Trace Header

Original SEG Y Specification vs. I/O Specification
SEG Y Specification

I/O Specification

189-192

Bytes

Unassigned

Shotpoint line in hundredths

193-196

Unassigned

Shotpoint station in hundredths

197-198

Unassigned

Receiver line

199-200

Unassigned

Receiver station, or for RSR Transcriber 2: source EP number

when trace is a correlated Aux.

201

Unassigned

Vector Seis Receiver Type (VSMT): VSM (silver bullet

version) = 18, SVSM (current version) = 21

202

Unassigned

VSMT sensor scaling code in hex:

2, 4, 5, 7, 16 or 17: 20 nG LSB
0, 1, or 6:
40 nG LSB
3:
160 nG LSB (Strong Motion Mode)
128:
Invalid for SVSM, (scaling set to 40 ng).
For Scorpion and System Four Analog: gain factor.

203-204

Unassigned

VSMT horizontal orientation angle, numbers are in 0.0001

radians.

205-206

Unassigned

VSMT VOA - Vertical Orientation Angle, numbers are in

0.0001 radians.

207

Unassigned

Source type: (from XTM)

0: LatId
1: DynamiteId
2: VibratorId
3: AirGunId
4: WaterGunId
5: WeightDropId
6: OtherId
7: MixedSourcesId
8: NoSourceId (8 is used if unknown).
9: TestOscId
10: ImpulsiveId

208

Unassigned

Sensor type: (SEG D Rev 2)

0: Unknown Sensor type unknown
1: Hydrophone
2: Geo-Vertical Geophone, Marshphone or Z
3: Geo-Horiz Inline
Geophone - X
4: Geo-Horiz Cross-Line Geophone - Y
5: Geo-Horiz Other
6: Acc-Vert - Z
7: Acc-Horiz Inline - X
8: Acc-Horiz Cross-line - Y
9: Acc-Horiz Other

SEG Y Format 2-13

Chapter 2. Blocks in Format

240 Byte Trace Header

Original SEG Y Specification vs. I/O Specification
Bytes

2-14

SEG Y Specification

I/O Specification

209

Unassigned

Auxiliary Channel Set Type:

00(h) Unused channel
02(h) Timebreak
03(h) Uphole
04(h) Waterbreak
05(h) Time Counter
06(h) External Data
07(h) Other
08(h) Unfiltered Pilot
09(h) Filtered Pilot
0A(h) Special #1
0B(h) Special #2
0D(h) Special #3
0E(h) Special #4
0F(h) Special #5
FA(h) Reserved (Transcriber 2 only)

210

Unassigned

Noise edit type:

None = 0 Burst = 1 Diversity = 2 Both = 3

211-212

Unassigned

Noise edit gate length in ms. Burst edit gate length if type 1,
Diversity gate length if type 2 or type 3.

213

Unassigned

Device type: MRX = 7, RSR = 9, VRSR (silver bullet version) = 17, VRSR (current version) = 20,
AuxUNIT-1C = 23, DUNIT-3C = 25, Analog-1C = 29

214-216

Unassigned

Device serial number

217

Unassigned

Device channel number

218

Unassigned

For RSR Transcriber 2: Auxiliary Channel Source set ID.

For Scorpion and System Four: Sim Unit Vib ID (1-255).

219

Unassigned

Device Status Bits:

Bit 0 = Analog A/D Overscale
Bit 1 = Analog A/D Overflow, for VectorSeis with Scorpion or
System Four: set when VOA could not be calculated due
to error
Bit 2 = Analog Preamp Overscale or SVSM Sensor Overscale
Bit 3 = VectorSeis VLFF error
Bit 4 = Invalid Receiver Line/Station (RSR Transcriber 2 only)
Bit 5 = Trace was Zero filled (RSR Transcriber 2 only)
Bit 6 = Battery improperly removed (RSR Transcriber 2 only)
Bit 7 = For Scorpion and System Four & RSR Transcriber 2
VectorSeis: Dynamic Offset Filter mode, 0 = Static

SEG Y Format

Trace Data Block Format

240 Byte Trace Header

Original SEG Y Specification vs. I/O Specification
Bytes

SEG Y Specification

I/O Specification

220

Unassigned

LAT test type and codes:

1 Calibrate K-Gain
2 SEG Pulse
3 User Pulse
4 Box Common Mode Rejection
5 Box Crossfeed
6 HPE Performance
7 Dynamic Range
8 Shot Noise
9 Long Noise
10 Signal Level Dist.
11 Attenuator Accuracy
12 Signal Dep. Noise
13 Harmonic Dist.
14 Cable Comm. Mode Rejection
15 Cable Crossfeed
16 Ohming Seis Group
17 Geophone Response
18 Spread Noise
19 Geophone Pulse
20 Amplifier Accuracy
21 Sine Wave Internal
22 Vertical Orientation
23 Digital Telemetry Test
24 VSMT sensor Loop-Back Test
25 Seismic Channel DC Offset
26 Reserved
27 Common Mode Imbalance Leakage

221-222

Unassigned

Fixed low cut frequency: on = 3.0 Hz (units = 0.1 Hz), 0 = off

223

Unassigned

Fixed low cut slope: on = 12 dB (units = dB/octave), 0 = off

224

Unassigned

Box function:
0 - Seis
1 - Auxiliary
2 - Aux source (Aux-D)
6 - Aux pilot (Aux-P)

225-226

Unassigned

For RSR, Notch #2 frequency (0.01Hz).

For VRSR,
Byte 225: MS byte &
Byte 226: Mid byte, of the 3 byte Maximum Absolute Amplitude value in trace. (For units, see byte 202 & Table 2-7 or
Table 2-8).

227-228

Unassigned

For RSR, Notch #2 bandwidth, % of the notch freq in .1% units.

For VRSR,
Byte 227: LS byte of Maximum Absolute Amplitude.
Byte 228: MS byte of the 3 byte Filter Offset value. (For units,
see byte 202 & Table 2-7 or Table 2-8).

229-230

Unassigned

For RSR, Notch #3 frequency (0.01Hz).

For VRSR,
Byte 229: Mid byte &
Byte 230: LS byte of Filter Offset value. (For units, see byte
202 & Table 2-7 or Table 2-8).

SEG Y Format 2-15

Chapter 2. Blocks in Format

240 Byte Trace Header

Original SEG Y Specification vs. I/O Specification
Bytes

2-16

SEG Y Specification

I/O Specification

231-232

Unassigned

For RSR, Notch #3 bandwidth, % of the notch freq in .1% units.

For VRSR, VSMT ASIC Build Date, Week/Year. Year 0 =
1999, 1 = 2000, 2 = 2001...

233

Unassigned

Event type:
00(h) for a zeroed or truncated trace
40(h) LAT data Raw Trace
80(h) Seis Data normal, Raw
88(h) Seis Data normal, Stack
90(h) Seis Data normal, Correlated
A0(h) Seis Data test, Raw
A8(h) Seis Data test, Stack
B0(h) Seis Data test, Correlated

234

Unassigned

Sensor type ID
00(h) No sensor defined.
01(h) Geophone 1 component vertical
02(h) Marshphone
03(h) Hydrophone
04(h) Aux.
05(h) Geophone - 3C Horizontal, X - In-line
06(h) Geophone - 3C Horizontal, Y - Cross-line
07(h) Geophone - 3C Vertical, Z
08(h) 0B(h) reserved
0C(h) Accelerometer - 3C Horizontal, X - In-line
0D(h) Accelerometer - 3C Horizontal, Y - Cross-line
0E(h) Accelerometer - 3C Vertical, Z

235-237

Unassigned

VSMT serial number

238

Unassigned

VSMT version number

239

Unassigned

VSMT revision number

240

Unassigned

Data Modified flags

Bit 0 = VRSR static offset removed
Bit 1 = VOR Applied
Bit 2 = RSR Phase Adjusted Pilot (to match VectorSeis data), or
Correlated Seis or Correlated Aux produced from RSR
Phase Adjusted Pilot
Bit 3 = Reserved
Bit 4 = All data zeroed due to VLFF (Scorpion and System Four
VectorSeis only) or partial data zeroed due to missing packets
(Scorpion and System Four only)
Bit 5 = Time shift applied for Asynchronous
Time-break (Scorpion and System Four only)
Bit 6 = Reserved
Bit 7 = Reserved

SEG Y Format

Index
Numerics
240 byte Trace Header 2-9
3200 byte EBCDIC Reel Header 2-2
3D recording 1-1
400 byte Binary Reel Header 2-4
A
Analog-1C Gain Factor 2-8
B
bit positions 1-1
D
Data Collector Unit (DCU) 2-8
E
EBCDIC
Blank 2-2
block 2-3
data 2-2
format 2-3
text block 2-2
Energy Point (EP) 2-8
G
GCR (Group Coded Recording) format 1-1
GPS Aux/External data 2-9
I
IBM
4-byte floating point 2-6
floating point 2-3
IEEE
ASCII 2-3
floating point 2-6
with EBCDIC 2-3
J
Job Text packet 2-3
K
K-gain 2-6
L
Least Significant Bit (LSB) 2-6
M
MRX (Miniaturized Remote Extender) boxes 2-6
MRX K-gain 2-6
N
NRZI (Non-Return to Zero Inverted) recording format 1-1
number of samples
this trace 2-9

SEG Y Format

I-1

O
original field record number 2-8
P
PE (Phase Encoded) recording format 1-1
R
Reel Header
400 byte Binary 2-4
Reel Identification header 2-1, 2-6
Rev 0 1-1
RSR 1-1, 2-6
RSR (Remote Seismic Recorder) boxes 2-6
S
sample interval
in microseconds 2-9
SEG Y
1975 1-1
Current Requirements 1-1
current requirements 1-1
differences with original 1-1
History 1-1
published 1-1
specification 1-1
SEG Y format 1-1
SEG Y Specification vs. I/O Specification 2-9
segyhdr.txt file 2-3
sensor scaling code 2-6
signal patterns 1-1
Society of Exploration Geophysicists 1-1
T
Text Block 2-2
Trace
Data Block 2-6
Identification code 2-8
Identification header 2-1, 2-3, 2-6
number within field record 2-8
sequence number within line 2-8
Trace Header
240 byte 2-9
Transcriber 2 1-1, 2-3, 2-6
V
VectorSeis 2-6, 2-7, 2-8, 2-11, 2-12
VRSR 2-7
VRSR LSB Setting 2-7
X
XTM information 2-3

I-2

SEG Y Format

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