Advanced Seismic Data Acquisition and Processing

At the end of the course participants will have a solid foundation in seismic acquisition and processing theory and practice. They will have the basic knowledge to specify the requirements for designing a seismic acquisition processing project in cooperation with experts, be it in-house or from service companies. Although mathematical equations/formulations will be mentioned, the course, however, will mainly concentrate on understanding the concepts behind correct acquisition and processing and the role that acquisition and processing play in the total sequence of activities.

Course content

Although the role of seismic as one of the data sets to be used in obtaining a clear image of the subsurface will be highlighted, the main topic will be acquisition and processing of seismic data. As such the following topics will be dealt with:

• Acquisition strategies in view of the survey objectives
• 2D, 3D and 4D acquisition
• Basics of wave propagation
• Design of a 2D survey
• Design of a 3D survey using a Design Wizard
• Methods of comparing design parameters
• Processing Objectives
• Processing sequences
• Improving signal-to-noise, vertical and horizontal resolution
• Imaging
• Survey comparing through use of model-based resolution or point-spread functions
• Time-Depth conversion
• Anisotropy
• What to spend on a new survey (Value of Information)
• Special processing for interpretation (Spectral Decomposition)

Day 1

Fundamentals of Geophysical methods

1. Introduction, biography, course schedule, defining teams

2. Seismic & non-seismic methods

3. Seismic workflow, 2D-3D-4D seismic

4. Seismic wave propagation, exercises

5. Seismic acquisition

Day 2

1. Summary and quiz questions of day 1

2. Survey design, QA/QC checklist,

3. 2D survey design, exercise

4. Land seismic surveys

5. Marine seismic surveys

6. 3D survey design, resolution aspects, wide azimuth, exercise

Day 3

1. Summary and quiz questions of day 2

2. Generic processing sequences

3. Reflection & transmission, velocities, exercises

4. Understanding the Fourier transform

5. Seismic objectives: improving S/N, vertical & horizontal resolution

6. Signal processing, deconvolution, exercises

Day 4

1. Summary and quiz questions of day 3

2. Multiple elimination, exercise

3. Imaging, migration operators, exercise

4. RTM, isotropic imaging

5. TD conversion

Day 5

1. Summary and quiz questions of day 4

2. Anisotropy

3. Anisotropic imaging

4. Value of Information (VOI), exercise

5. Multiple choice quiz

6. Course evaluation