Vertical Integration


The Life of a Geophysical Program

The mission of a Geophysical Program is to provide information for decisions. The Value of Information depends on whether and how decisions are affected. A Geophysical Program starts from the decision makers. Typically the decision makers are not geophysicists and they need information about what is reasonable to expect from which geophysical method. A feasibility study that includes a review of available legacy data follows. Both signal and noise in legacy data must be analysed. If time allows, the feasibility study includes modeling that may go beyond subsurface coverage. A survey design follows. The survey design requires good understanding of the needs and detailed knowledge of applicable geophysical methods. It is important to note that the survey design covers not the acquisition but also the processing. The Acquisition is tailored to a data processing plan. For example, velocity model building with certain methods such as Full Waveform Inversion require long offsets. Next is the data acquisition. One or more crews execute the design. The data must be quality controlled onboard to make sure that the crew would not leave the area without good data. If the data acquired is very different from what is expected based on modeling, the earlier we know the better. If possible, data processing starts onboard during the data acquisition. Next us data processing onshore. Data interpretation should starts during the data processing.

Note that we describe a Geophysical Program rather than a Seismic Survey. Obviously Geophysics includes also non-seismic methods such as Electro Magnetic waves and Gravity. The other distinction between a Program and a Survey is because each survey is part of a program. The program usually start with a 2D seismic survey and continues to exploration 3D seismic survey and EM (MT and Controlled Source EM). Then high resolution Development 3D which provides information for development and also baseline data for 4D monitoring. Monitoring surveys support production decisions by better understanding and prediction of the Dynamic Reservoir Model. However, because our understanding of the area and geophysical technology are developing, the monitoring surveys provide increasing resolution and quality that add value by improving the Static Reservoir Model.

In addition to legacy data from the same area, it is often useful to review analog case histories. For example, if another field was successfully imaged or monitored with nodes, it may encourage the operator to try the same nodes; after a review of how similar are the local streamer data to those of the analog case history.

The handover challenge

Different people, often different companies, perform different stages. Poor handover of material from one stage to another destroys value. For example,

How can Totum Geo help?

Vertical Integration: smooth handovers from survey design to acquisition to processing to interpretation add value by saving time and improving quality.

Examples:

It is better to learn from other people's experiences!

References

OTC 2014


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