Scorpion ®

and

System Four ®

SEG Y Format

November 2006
1018-010007B
Copyright

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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

i
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 The SEG Y format allows for a collection of trace data of similar sample rate
Requirements 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/O’s RSR system (Transcriber 2) system currently pads or trun-
cates traces to the same length.
I/O’s Scorpion and System Four systems set the Binary Header values for
Sample Interval and Number of Samples to zero (0), where zero means vari-
able 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 specifica-
tion 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 XTM’s 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 informa-
tion 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 0
3205-3208 * Line number 0
3209-3212 * Reel number Same as SEG Y Specification
3213-3214 * Number of data traces per record 0
3215-3216 * Number of aux. traces per record 0
3217-3218 * Sample interval, this reel Same as SEG Y Specification,
(in microseconds) (for Scorpion and System Four = 0, meaning variable)
3219-3220 Sample interval, original record Same as SEG Y Specification,
(in microseconds) (for Scorpion and System Four = 0, meaning variable)
3221-3222 * Number of samples per data trace Number of samples per data trace. Traces are padded
(this reel) with zeros or truncated if necessary to match this
length. (For Scorpion and System Four = 0, meaning
variable)
3223-3224 Number of samples per data trace Number of samples per data trace. Traces are padded
(original record) with zeros or truncated if necessary to match this
length. (For Scorpion and System Four = 0, meaning
variable).
3225-3226 * Data sample format: Add:
1 - IBM floating point (4 bytes) 5 - IEEE floating point single precision (4 bytes)
2 - fixed point (4 bytes)
3 - fixed point (2 bytes) Note: RSR Transcriber 2 only outputs formats: 1-IBM
4 - fixed point w/gain code (4 bytes) and 5 - IEEE.
Scorpion and System Four only outputs format:
5 - IEEE.
3227-3228 * CDP fold 0
3229-3230 Trace sorting code: 0
1 - as recorded (no sorting)
2 - CDP ensemble
3 - single fold continuous profile
4 - horizontally stacked
3231-3232 Vertical sum code: 0
1 - no sum
2 - two sum
....
N - N sum (N = 32767)
3233-3234 Sweep frequency at start 0
3235-3236 Sweep frequency at end 0
3237-3238 Sweep length (in milliseconds) 0
3239-3240 Sweep type code: 0
1 - linear 3 - exponential
2 - parabolic 4 - other
3241-3242 Trace number of sweep channel 0
3243-3244 Sweep taper length at start 0
(in msec)
3245-3246 Sweep taper length at end 0
(in msec)

2-4 SEG Y Format

 Reel Identification Header Format

400 Byte Binary Reel Header

Bytes SEG Y Specification I/O Specification
3247-3248 Taper type: 0
1 - linear 3 - other
2 - cosine squared
3249-3250 Correlated data traces: 0
1 - no 2 - yes
3251-3252 Binary gain recovered: 0
1 - yes 2 - no
3253-3254 Amplitude recovery method: 0
1 - none
2 - spherical divergence
3 - AGC
4 - other
3255-3256 * Measurement system: Same as SEG Y Specification
1 - meters 2 - feet
3257-3268 Impulse signal polarity: Increase in 0
pressure or upward case movement
gives:
1 - negative number
2 - positive number
3259-3260 Vibratory polarity code: 0
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
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 for-
mat 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 121- Largest absolute value written to tape Smallest absolute value written to tape,
122 (mV) 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 G’s
Least Significant Largest absolute Smallest absolute value written to tape, Multiplier to apply to data
Bit (LSB) Setting - value written to other than zero (only LSB on) to get LSB setting
value in nanoG’s tape

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 G’s

RSR using the current version of VectorSeis receivers, and Scorpion and Sys-
tem 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 - Largest absolute value written to Smallest absolute value written to
value in nanoG’s tape (G’s) 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 Smallest absolute value written to
tape (mV) tape, other than zero (only LSB on)

0 2500 0.000 310 462 589 257 994

2 625 0.000 077 615 647 314 499

4 156.25 0.000 019 403 911 828 625

6 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 The original SEG Y binary coded trace header consists of 240 bytes, of which
Identification the first 180 bytes have assigned definitions and the remaining 60 bytes are
Header 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 SEG Y Specification I/O Specification
1-4 * Trace sequence number within line = Trace sequence number, counts through one write process.
Starting with 1.
5-8 Trace sequence number within reel Starting with 1.
09-12 * Original field record number = 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)
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/O’s 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.
29-30 * Trace identification code: 9 - Unknown Aux Type
1 - seismic data 10 - Killed (data zeroed) due to VLFF
2 - dead (Scorpion and System Four only)
3 - dummy 62 - GPS Aux / External Data
4 - time break 63 - 32767 – optional use
5 - uphole
6 - sweep
7 - timing
8 - water break
9 - 32767 - optional use
31-32 Number of vertically summed traces Same as SEG Y Specification
yielding this trace
33-34 Number of horizontally summed 0
traces yielding this trace
35-36 Data use: Same as SEG Y Specification
1 – production 2 - test
37-40 Distance from source pt to receiver 0
41-44 Receiver group elevation 0 if not known
45-48 Surface elevation at source 0 if not known

SEG Y Format 2-9

Chapter 2. Blocks in Format

240 Byte Trace Header

Original SEG Y Specification vs. I/O Specification
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 0
65-68 Water depth at group 0
69-70 Scale factor for previous seven 0 if not known
entries (power of 10 - i.e., 10^X)
71-72 Scale factor for next four entries 0 if not known
(power of 10 - i.e., 10^X)
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: 0 if not known
1 - length (meters or feet)
2 - seconds of arc
91-92 Weathering velocity 0
93-94 Subweathering velocity 0
95-96 Uphole time at source 0 if not known or not applicable, in 0.1 msec
97-98 Uphole time at group 0
099-100 Source static correction 0
101-102 Group static correction 0
103-104 Total static applied 0
105-106 Lag time A. Time in msec between For Scorpion and System Four: MS word of 4 byte Time shift
trace ID header and time break for Asynchronous Time-break, in microseconds.
107-108 Lag time B. Time in msec between For Scorpion and System Four: LS word of 4 byte Time shift
time break and initiation time of value from System time-break for Asynchronous time-break,
energy source units of microseconds.
109-110 Delay recording time. Time in msec 0
between initiation time of energy
source and time when recording of
samples begins
111-112 Mute time - start 0
113-114 Mute time - end 0
115-116 * Number of samples this trace. Same as SEG Y Specification
117-118 * Sample interval in microseconds Same as SEG Y Specification
119-120 Instrument gain type: 1
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) 0

2-10 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
125-126 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: 0 if not known or not applicable
1 - linear 3 - exponential
2 - parabolic 4 - other
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: 0 if not known or not applicable
1 - linear
2 - cosine squared
3 - other
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 0
153-154 Low cut filter slope Variable low cut slope: 12 dB/octave, 0 = off
155-156 High cut filter slope 0
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: 2 - GMT
1 - local 2 - GMT 3 - other
169-170 Trace weighting factor (defined as 0
2^-N volts for least significant bit)
171-172 Geophone group number of roll For RSR Transcriber 2 VectorSeis, Windowed Data Start Time,
switch position 1 in sample counts
173-174 Geophone group number of trace For RSR Transcriber 2 VectorSeis, Windowed Data Length, in
number one in original record 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 SEG Y Specification I/O Specification
175-176 Geophone group number of last trace For RSR Transcriber 2 VectorSeis,
in original record 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 For RSR Transcriber 2 VectorSeis,
1 - down 2 - up 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 Tran-
scriber 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 seis-
mic data.

2-12 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
189-192 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 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” ver-
sion) = 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

2-14 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 Ampli-
tude 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 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

2-16 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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