Ocean-bottom cable use surges for seismic data acquisition
- Western Atlas International Inc., Houston, TX (United States)
During the last 5 years, a significant resurgence has occurred in the use of ocean-bottom cable (OBC) methods for acquiring seismic data in water as deep as 100 m. There are a number of reasons for this increased activity. The first is the growing need to acquire high-quality 3D seismic data in producing fields, where pipelines and platforms populate all or part of the survey area. Such obstacles make towed-streamer operations hazardous or impossible. The second reason for renewed OBC use is a recently developed method that eliminates data degradation caused by water-layers reverberations. This method properly combines signals from both hydrophones and geophones at each receiver location and yields data whose quality is equal to or superior to that obtained from towed streamers. Other reasons contributing to the growth in OBC crew activity include methods to accurately measure shot and receiver positions, provision of true surface-consistent geometry for effective application of refraction and reflection statics, flexibility to shoot any geometry that can be configured on land, and the ability to seamlessly merge 3D data acquired with this method with data from towed streamers. This article discusses the current state of the art of OBC recording equipment, methods, and processing technology.
- OSTI ID:
- 6916957
- Journal Information:
- Oil and Gas Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Oil and Gas Journal; (United States) Vol. 92:43; ISSN OIGJAV; ISSN 0030-1388
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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