Slicing and dicing HR seismic acquisition: Varied approaches to delivery of high-resolution 3D seismic data volumes for drilling-hazard studies

Abstract

Experiences are described in delivering high-resolution 3D (HR3D) volumes to support the definition of drilling hazards for exploration and development drilling in different geologic settings around the world using differing levels of acquisition and processing intensity. The robustness of the HR3D approach delivers high-resolution volumetric imaging for the study of potential drilling hazards. Through acquisition trials and processing simulations, starting with a single-streamer, single-source approach to acquisition of HR3D, data can be delivered at equivalent effort to standard HR2D approaches but as a volume that allows all the advantages of 3D spatial analysis to be applied. Increasing the acquisition intensity increases the quality of the final processed volume and allows more advanced analysis approaches to be applied to the data. Use of multistreamer and multisource approaches offers the opportunity to improve acquisition efficiency with careful consideration of spread designs to maintain high frequencies without introducing directivity effects into the final data. In cases in which there is a need for HR data to support drilling-hazard or development studies, there is now no reason to not always acquire HR3D data. Similarly, in the processing of HR3D data, the full power of modern processing approaches, up to and including prestack depth migration, can be applied to provide further improvements in imaging in complex geologic settings to the benefit of drilling-hazard identification and ongoing improvements to drilling safety and operational integrity.