Seismic Survey Design

Audience

Designed for people who work in any of the fields of acquisition/operations/processing or interpretation to obtain a more thorough understanding of survey design and its implications on the cost of acquisition, consequences during processing and the quality of the final interpreted seismic product.

Content

This course reviews the basic geophysical theories relating to survey design, in conjunction with the imaging requirements for the final product. It incorporates examples of survey design studies in both land and marine acquisition to reinforce the theoretical constraints in a practical manner. Examples are also used to highlight difficulties experienced in processing due to acquisition methods, and also some of the more recent technologies that can be used to assist with acquisition problems when planned correctly.

• Theoretical review of geophysical equations commonly used in survey design.
- Resolution and imaging requirements for target(s), bin size and fold, offset and azimuth distributions, frequency determination.
• Land case study
• Survey design geometry exercises
• Marine case study using illumination and ray tracing methods
• Processing steps most impacted by the acquisition geometry and whether this can help or hinder the survey design planning.
• Reservoir characterization considerations when planning a seismic survey.
• Review of 3C and 4D survey requirements for success.
• Economical impacts of survey design.
• Operational considerations that affect survey cost and ways to mitigate this while preserving data quality.

Learning Objectives

• Determine necessary data required to complete an adequate analysis for survey design
• Calculate theoretical parameters necessary to obtain client specified requirements for resolution at target levels
• Understand the difference between spatial sampling requirements and geophysical objectives
• Provide basic survey design options that meet imaging requirements
• Understand implications of operational survey constraints on the design survey
• Be aware of other important aspects such as illumination and amplitude at target depth
• Gain knowledge of the constraints and limitations of processing techniques, and how these can impact the survey design and acquisition in both positive and negative ways