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PUBLICATION: 3D Seismic Data Acquisition In Southern Louisiana: Considerations For Technical And Commercial Success
HOUSTON, November 17, 2003 - Seitel will present the publication "3D Seismic Data Acquisition In Southern Louisiana: Considerations For Technical And Commercial Success, Canada" (co-authors: Callaghan, K., Knapp, S., Sides, R.) at the GSH Technical Luncheon of the Geophysical Society of Houston, November 18th, 2003.
Abtract
Over the last two decades 3D seismic data has changed the way exploration and production companies discover and exploit subsurface hydrocarbons. Technical and commercial drivers that have made this high-resolution image available to a wide audience have accelerated its impact. Several key technical milestones have aided the advancement of the technique over the course of time: portable recording systems which can withstand the elements, recording systems that can acquire a large number of channels, radio telemetry, GPS positioning, and processing capabilities (prestack migration, AVO). On the commercial side, non-exclusive surveys rather than proprietary ownership has allowed for many explorers to benefit from one dataset with shared cost and limited liability, thereby lowering the cost for accessing the seismic data. In the end it is the team effort combining the data owner, the acquisition company, and the oil company that results in success from both a technical and commercial viewpoint.
The planning and execution of current 3D surveys bear little resemblance to their predecessors, especially when operations encroach upon urban areas. Project management has taken on added dimensions that require coordination of a multifaceted operation with stringent quality control procedures. Land work to secure permits, both surface and mineral, in the area of seismic operations is clearly one of the major logistical hurdles. In urban areas, nearly half of the project costs are allocated to permitting. In addition, the regulatory approval process involves interaction with many different municipal entities, ranging from local (town council), parish (Utilities Commission or Parish Police), state (Wildlife and Fisheries Commission), and federal (U.S. Army Corp of Engineers).
Project management also includes survey design, a cumbersome task in areas of restricted access due to environmental and cultural considerations or other factors that may restrict shot and/or receiver placement. Planning that considers these limitations facilitates efficient operations once the crew is actually in the field. In order to ensure optimal shot and receiver placement, aerial photographs or satellite images are typically used to determine exclusion zones and to assist in making adjustments in shot/receiver positioning and charge sizes for dynamite shots.
Surveys require extensive planning and this management, along with other considerations control costs, while maintaining data integrity. Typically data acquisition comprises half of the project cost distributed as follows: surveying (10%), drilling (15%) and recording (25%). Permitting and other land work constitutes an additional 45%, with miscellaneous extras filling out the remaining 5%. These include quality control in the field, data processing, and other items such as maps, aerial or satellite imagery and deliverables. Non-exclusive surveys allow for these costs to be shared while at the same time limiting liability.
In summary one finds that careful attention to the technical requirements for a given area, combined with close control of the decisions that effect cost yield a 3D seismic program with can be considered successful on both technical and commercial aspects. Cooperation and teamwork between the data owners, the acquisition contractors and the oil
companies ensures that the geophysical objectives are satisfied in a manner that benefits everyone. Technical and commercial risk needs to be managed when making decisions, not only by the oil company consumer, but also by the data owner provider. With these concepts in mind one can foresee an exciting future for seismic data acquisition in south Louisiana and in other challenging operational areas.
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