Marine Seismic Acquisition Techniques and Survey Design

The course is designed to familiarize the student with the latest developments in conventional 3D Marine towed streamer seismic acquisition before moving on to cover the more recent developments in: Wide-Azimuth towed streamer; Broadband techniques (boosting the high and low frequencies); Seabed receivers for both P-wave and Converted-wave recording; Time-Lapse surveys and the emerging technology of Simultaneous Source acquisition. Learning is supported through numerous case histories that illustrate the value of each acquisition technique. Central to the success of these techniques is how the surveys are designed to deliver fit-for-purpose data in a cost-effective manner.

In the second half of the course the students are taken through the principles of survey design. Learning is supported via hands-on practice where participants work together to design solutions to typical survey objectives and challenges.

At the end of the course, students will be familiar with: all current and emerging marine seismic acquisition technology and techniques; the principles and workflows employed to design marine seismic surveys; how to make a “first-pass” assessment of whether a proposed survey design will be successful; and how and what to recommend as further areas of investigation if required. 

• Agenda
• Topics
• Audience
• Prerequisites

• Agenda

  Day 1

  Marine Seismic Acquisition

  • Overview of course content and learning objectives
  • Review of conventional marine seismic acquisition
  • Wide-azimuth towed streamer seismic acquisition
  • Seabed seismic acquisition
  • Exercises on: CMP coverage, calculation of fold, matching offset & azimuth distribution to acquisition geometry. Class discussion on acquisition geometry attributes and survey design metrics

  Learning objectives: Understand how conventional marine seismic acquisition techniques have developed over the last 10 years. Understand the limitations of conventional towed streamer seismic acquisition. Understand the economics and cost-benefit of new “advanced” marine seismic acquisition techniques. Appreciate the potential improvements in data quality and the interpretational benefits of the new techniques. Understand why, where and when the new techniques are applicable

  Day 2

  Marine Seismic Acquisition

  • Broadband acquisition
  • Time lapse acquisition
  • Simultaneous source acquisition
  • Exercise on Ghost notch design
  • Team survey design exercise: match 7 survey techniques to the description of their objectives, followed by team presentation of results and reasoning

  Learning objectives: Understand how broadband data improves resolution. Understand the importance of low frequencies and how they can be obtained in the field. Understand the importance of repeatability and how it may be obtained in 4D acquisition. Understand how and when simultaneous source acquisition can be used to deliver improved data quality and/or more efficient operations

  Day 3

  Survey Design

  • Objectives and methods in survey design
  • Building and earth model
  • Resolution and sampling
  • Survey design exercise: Students start working in teams on different survey designs to be presented on the final day

  Learning objectives: Understand how the objectives of a new 3D survey are met by overcoming geophysical challenges. Understand the use of existing data in a survey design workflow. Understand what constitutes a viable earth model for 1D and 3D seismic modeling. Understand the different types of resolution in seismic data required for successful interpretation and reservoir characterization. Understand the sampling requirements in seismic acquisition for subsequent processing and interpretation of results.

  Day 4

  Survey Design

  • Modeling, using a 1D earth model, to determine offset/angle limits, muting, bin size, fold and migration aperture
  • Designing a 3D acquisition geometry
  • Seismic sources and modeling
  • Modeling using a 3D earth model for sub-surface coverage
  • 3D raytracing and wave-equation illumination modeling

  Learning objectives: Understand how to determine the basic acquisition geometry using a few simple equations. Understand the choices and limitations of seismic source options. Recognize when subsurface complexity requires the use of 3D raytracing. Continue to work on survey design exercise.

  Day 5

  Survey Design

  • Logistics and efficiency in the field
  • Choice of shooting area and shooting direction for survey duration and cost
  • Finalization of survey design exercises
  • Presentation of team survey designs
  • Review of course objectives and feedback

  Learning objectives: Understand how preferred survey design parameters need to be modified in the light of field logistics and environmental factors. Review course content and understand those acquisition parameters have a major impact on data quality and those that have a major impact on acquisition cost.

• Topics

  Marine Seismic Acquisition

  • Overview of course content and learning objectives
  • Review of conventional marine seismic acquisition
  • Wide-azimuth towed streamer seismic acquisition
  • Seabed seismic acquisition
  • Broadband acquisition
  • Time lapse acquisition
  • Simultaneous source acquisition

    Survey Design

    • Objectives and methods in survey design
    • Building and earth model
    • Resolution and sampling
      • Modeling, using a 1D earth model, to determine offset/angle limits, muting, bin size, fold and migration aperture
      • Designing a 3D acquisition geometry
      • Seismic sources and modeling
      • Modeling using a 3D earth model for sub-surface coverage
      • 3D raytracing and wave-equation illumination modeling
      • Logistics and efficiency in the field
      • Choice of shooting area and shooting direction for survey duration and cost

• Audience

  Geophysicists with limited experience of seismic acquisition, or more experienced staff including Interpreters and Operational Geophysicists who need to keep up with the rapidly developing field of modern seismic acquisition techniques.

• Prerequisites

  Foundation level Seismic Acquisition and Processing or equivalent practical experience of marine seismic acquisition operations.

• Prerequisites