DESIGNED FOR 

Geophysicists who work in seismic data acquisition and experienced interpreters or team leaders who want to learn more about seismic data acquisition

YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO

• Understand the seismic field acquisition process better

• Design appropriate field acquisition strategy

• Plan and conduct pertinent field tests

• Supervise field operations controlling both data quality and cost-efficiency

ABOUT THE COURSE

This course develops analytical ability in the aspects of seismic field acquisition, particularly to the design of customized seismic strategy, field tests, quality control techniques and cost efficiency. It is built upon the belief that each seismic venture is unique, requiring special attention to the details of the geological questions to be solved. It is structured such that it builds upon the very basics of seismology towards the more complex in a manner that a geophysicist will be able to follow. Classroom exercises will be included between pertinent chapters to provide hands-on work with discussion and learning opportunities. Equipment samples, photographs and video may also be shown.

Field acquisition consumes about 90% of a seismic budget, data processing about 10% and interpretation, however important is only about 1%. The current scientific effort on these however is mostly the other way around. Engineering provides increased efficiency but it is Science that finds hydrocarbons. Ultimate cost-efficiency is in the finding. 

COURSE CONTENT

• Introduction

• Fundamentals: review of basics in exploration seismology and related physics

• Borehole Seismics: sonic logs, synthetics, check-shot surveys, VSP and seismic while drilling

• Marine Seismic Survey Methods: terminology, streamer and drag modes, explosive and implosive sources, marine vibroseis, ghosting, the dual sensor techniques

• Seismic Design Strategy: the geological database, the velocity function, optimum spread design, sample rates, fold, resolution, emergence and beaming, amplitude and spectral decays, non-hyperbolics, migration aperture, array designs, source receiver and recorder selection

• Field Tests and Parameter Optimization: acceptance tests, receiver optimization, the stack-array, source optimization, vibrosis optimization, sweep designs, redundancy, signal-to-noise, HPVA techniques, noise tests, noise classification, filtering, the dynamic range/resolution, the seismic scatter, scatter analyses, spectral analyses, repeatability studies

• 3D and 4D Concerns: marine and land 3D, binning, acquisition footprints, broad and narrow distribution of azimuths and offsets, crossequalization, migration stack fold, wide and narrow azimuth array designs

• Seismic Correction Issues: weathering corrections, datum corrections, uphole surveys, shallow refraction surveys, The Kerekes Method, crossover velocity solution

• Cost-efficiency Issues: RFT preparation, bid evaluation, flexible-effort acquisition technique, on-site client representation

• Special Field Techniques: Undershooting, volcanics, salt diapers, environmental seismic techniques, cross-well seismic, in-mine seismic, GPR

• HSE variables and considerations