High Resolution Seismic Source Specifications Applications and Misapplications

Abstract

Source specifications for high resolution seismic surveys have only recently been introduced into contract documents and this development is significant in terms of the data quality which can be achieved if the specifications are properly applied. Over the past ten years it has been traditional that site surveys, and other similar projects involving the use of digitally-recorded high resolution seismic data, have not been regarded very highly by the managements and exploration and production departments of the Client companies. Accordingly, it was often left to the survey department, if one existed, or an operations group, to acquire the high resolution data as quickly and as cheaply as possible, with minimal disruption to the “more important” operations in progress. Processing and interpretation of the data were viewed in the same way. As long as a basic “bright spot” detection exercise could be said to have been carried out, all the requirements and interests existing at that time were satisfied. Given these circumstances, it is not surprising that seismic source specifications were not even considered when planning high resolution surveys.