This document discusses seismic surveying methods used in geophysical exploration. It describes how seismic waves are generated artificially and recorded to map subsurface structures and lithologies. The main methods discussed are 2D and 3D seismic surveys. 2D surveys involve collecting seismic data along widely spaced lines, while 3D surveys acquire closely-spaced data to generate high-resolution 3D images of the subsurface. The document outlines the objectives, preparation, data acquisition, and interpretation of seismic data to infer the presence of oil and gas reservoirs.

1. • Measurement of seismic-wave travel time is one of the most common geophysical
method.
• The main objective of this method is to map the structures of subsurface formations
in order to infer the existence of possible petroleum traps.
• In addition, the method can be used to identify lithology (rock type), fluid content
(oil, gas, or water), and fine structures (fractures).
• In this method, seismic energy is generated artificially at the near surface and the
generated waves travel in the subsurface and get reflected and refracted off layer
boundaries.
• Seismic exploration is divided into refraction and reflection surveys, depending on
whether the predominant portion of the seismic waves travel is horizontal or
vertical.
• Refraction seismic surveys are used in engineering geophysics and petroleum
exploration.
• Seismic reflection surveys, on the other hand is widely used in petroleum
exploration; e.g. to detect boundaries between different kinds of rocks, this detection
assists in the mapping of geological structures.
• The reflected waves are recorded at the surface and the travel times and amplitudes
analyzed to map the subsurface.
• Almost all of petroleum exploration is done using the seismic method.
• Seismic energy is detected on land by using devices called geophones, which react to
on-site ground motions.
Compared to other exploration methods, the seismic method gives, by far, the best
subsurface structural and lithological image.
SEISMIC METHOD

2. SEISMIC METHOD

3. SEISMIC SURVEY
• OBJECTIVES
• PREPARATION
• PLANNING & DESIGNING
• PARAMETER SELECTION
• DATA ACQUISITION

4. OBJECTIVES
REGIONAL EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATIONS
• Delineation of structural and stratigraphic anomalies
FIELD DEVELOPMENT
• To mark suitable locations for field development and for reservoir
studies
PROSPECT DELINEATION
• To mark the depth of prospective horizon and trap
closures

5. PREPARATION
AVAILABLE BUDGET & TIME
AVAILABLE DATA
Geological Data
Geophysical Data
Other Information

6. GEOLOGICAL DATA
Surface maps
Cross sections
Contour maps
Isopachs
Formation depths/thickness
Lithologies
Well history
Wire Line Logs
MAPS
WELL DATA

7. GEOPHYSICAL DATA
Time / Depth contour maps
Isochore / Isopach maps
Velocity maps
MAPS
SECTIONS
Field monitors
Migrated / Unmigrated sections
REPORTS

8. Isochore Map
A contour map that displays the variation in time between two seismic
events or reflections.
Isopach Map
An isopach map illustrates thickness variations within a tabular unit, layer
or stratum. Isopachs are contour lines of equal thickness over an area.

9. OTHER DATA
• Topographic Maps
• Arial Photographs
• Cultural Information

10. KEY INFORMATION
• Depth of Target Horizon
• Dip of the Target Horizon
• Arial Extension of Target
• Accessibility in the Area
• Noise Type in the Area
• Thickness of the Weathered Layer
• Structural Settings of the Area
• Terrain
• Climate

11. PLANNING & DESIGNING
1. ACQUISITION PARAMETERS
2. BID INVITATION
a. Minimum Offset b. Maximum Offset
c. Source Interval
e. No. of Channels
d. Receiver Interval
g. Source

12. PARAMETER SELECTION
• SPREAD TYPE
• RECEIVER LAYOUT
• SOURCE TYPE

13. SPREAD TYPE

14. The shot or the vibration point can be situated:
• At the extremity of the active geophones (End shot)
• At the center of the geophones. (Split spread shot)
• At a certain distance (offset) of first geophone
The last geometry allows to have a long distance of offset,
The second is more adapted if the reflectors are tilted.

16. SYMMETRIC SPLIT SPREAD
Maximum
Offset
Minimum
Offset
Minimum
Offset
Maximum
Offset
Shot pointCH 1 CH 61CH 60 CH 120
For a symmetric split spread, equal number of channels are laid out on
both sides of the shot
Minimum Offset: The distance between shot and very first live channel on either side
of spread.
Maximum Offset: The distance between shot and last live channel on either side of
spread

17. RECEIVER TYPE
GEOPHONES
HYDROPHONES

18. SEISMIC DETECTORS
• Land detectors (Geophone):
It is a device used to detect the seismic vibrations.
A geophone is a transducer which transform mechanical energy (seismic vibrations) into
electrical energy.
It consists of a moving coil and a stationary magnet. The movement of the coil due to
vibration creates electromagnetic flux proportional to the magnitude of vibration.
• Marine detectors (Hydrophone):
It is a device used to detect the pressure waves.
A hydrophone is a transducer which convert a sound signal into an electrical signal, since
sound is a pressure wave.
Most hydrophones are based on a piezoelectric transducer that generates electricity when
subjected to a pressure change.

20. Hydrophone

21. RECEIVER LAYOUT
Linear Array
Weighted Array
Parallel array
G1 G2 G2
3
G2
4
G1 G12
G24G13
G1 G10 G11 G12
G13 G14 G15 G24

23. Weight drop
Dynamite
SOURCE TYPE
Vibroseis
Hammer
LAND SURVEY

24. MARINE SURVEY
Air Gun

25. SEISMIC SOURCES
• Land Sources:
• 1‐Impulsive sources: which are divided to Explosive sources such as Dynamite
(common in Petroleum exploration), and Non Explosive such as Weight drop &
Hammers (common in shallow seismic investigation).
• 2‐Non impulsive sources: the main common is Vibroseis which is a designed
vehicle lift its weight on large plate in contact with ground surface in sweeps.
• Up Sweep: Frequency begins low & increase with time.
• Down Sweep: Frequency begins high & decrease with time.
• Marine sources:
• Air gun: the common in offshore survey (first produced in 1960). This gun
releases highly compressed air into water. It uses a compressed air at 2000‐
5000PSI to produce an explosive blast of air. Several air guns with different sizes
are fired to enhance their initial pulses & reduce their bubble effects.

26. DYNAMITE
• SHOT HOLE DEPTH
• CHARGE SIZE
• SHOT POINT INTERVAL
• NUMBER OF HOLES
• SOURCE ARRAY PATTERN
SP Interval
Hole Depth
Charge Size
PARAMETERS:

27. •The blast of explosives produces a very
strong energy,
•Placing of the explosives to the bottom of
a hole from 1 to 35 meters,)and the energy
is better distributed.
•In order to make the holes, a hammer
perforator, an auger or drilling rig is used.
•In the sand, a simple metallic tube is very
efficient.
•In some desert regions, where the drilling
is impossible, explosives can be suspended
and exploded in the air about 1.5 m from
the ground
•This method, very noisy & dangerous

28. VIBROSEIS

33. ENERGY SOURCE USED IN SEISMIC WORK
1- Dynamite: %60 of seismic work used dynamite.
Advantage
1- It has sharp peak
2- Decrease surface noise
3- It has wide range of frequency
Disadvantage
1- It require drill hole
2- It is dangerous
3- Stack of charge
2- Dropping weight: It is composed of a rectangular steel plate,
2 to 3 tons usually, and dropped 3 to 4 times at height of 3 m, used in desert area.
Advantage
1- Not dangerous
2- Easley used , cheap
3- Not distort the surface
Disadvantage
1- Record is weak
2- Low frequency
3- Not used in mountainous area

34. 3- Vibroseis: It is used to generate seismic wave in the form of a
wave train of control energy. Always 4 vibrators are used
Advantage
1- The frequency is controlled
2- The energy is controlled
3- Not distort the surface
Disadvantage
1- Not suitable when soil is too thick
2- Expensive
3- Not used in mountainous area
4- Hammer: It is used to generate seismic wave of small energy, and
it is used for shallow investigation.
Advantage
1- Very cheap
2- easily used
3- Not distort the surface
Disadvantage
1- Give small energy
2- used only for shallow
3- Low frequency

35. SOURCE POINT
Due to different types of sources the source
point is referred as:
• Shot Point (SP) for Dynamite Sources
• Vibroseis Point (VP) for Vibroseis Sources

36. It is the generation and recording of seismic data.
Acquisition involves many different receiver configurations,
including laying geophones on the surface of the Earth
or seafloor, towing hydrophones behind a marine seismic
vessel to record the seismic signal. A source, such as a
vibrator unit, dynamite shot, or an air gun, generates
acoustic or elastic vibrations that travel into the Earth, pass
through strata with different seismic responses and filtering
effects, and return to the surface to be recorded by
seismograph as seismic data.
SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION

37. INSTRUMENT FOR SEISMIC SURVEYING
1. Geophone/Hydrophone
2. Energy Source
3. Seismic Crew
4. Seismic Cables
5. Recorder/Seismograph

40. REFLECTION FROM A HORIZONTAL
REFLECTOR
Offset
CMP
Surface
Reflector
Source Detector

41. SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION ON LAND
Shot Hole
Geophones
Recording
Truck
Seismic Waves
Reflector

42. SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION IN MARINE
Hydrophones
Seismic ship
Seismic Waves
Shot
Reflector
Streamer
Sea surface

43. • Survey Crew
• Drilling Crew
• Loading Crew
• Layout Crew
• Recording Crew
• Shooting Crew
• LVL Crew
• Safety Crew (HSE)
SEISMIC CREWS

44. Trimble Man Pack - 4700 GPS
• GPS used by the Survey Crew
for locating the Source & Receiver
Points of the Seismic lines, carried
on their shoulders
External Batteries and Receiver
• It is connected with two external
batteries and a receiver which receives
the signal from the satellite.
SURVEY CREWC

45. • Trimble Survey Controller is
connected with the GPS, it has
the designed coordinates of each
source & receiver points, given
by the Operating Company
Trimble Survey Controller
• When it gets the coordinates from the satellite it compares
the designed and actual coordinates and gives the original
values

46. Shot Points Receiver Points
• After locating the points, the crew mark the places of
source and receiver points finally marking a seismic line
Source Points with red paint Receiver Points with white paint

47. Drilling Jackhammer
• Drilling Crew uses Jackhammers
for shallow holes
Man Portable Drilling Rig
• For deep holes, Portable
Drilling Rigs are used
DRILLING CREW

48. Dynamite Stick for Deep Shots
• After drilling shot holes dynamite is
loaded in them, using dynamite sticks
Detonator
• Detonators are placed in the dynamite
stick, used to initiate the blasting of
dynamite
LOADING CREW

49. • Lowering of Charge in a Drilled Hole
with detonator in them
• Hole is loaded and filled with Sand
• Loading is done and place is marked

50. Other then dynamite, Vibroseis is also a source in
Seismic Acquisition Surveys

51. Geophone Stings
Takeout Point of a Takeout Cable
• This crew first of all layout the
Geophones on the seismic lines
as spread.
• These geophones are connected to
each other by the Takeout Cable
LAYOUT CREW

52. CABLE & GEOPHONE
Link cableGeophone string

53. LAYOUT(FRONT CREW)

54. CABLE LAYOUT

55. GEOPHONE PLANTATION

56. ROAD CROSSING

57. LINE
SOURCE
RECEIVER

58. Station Unit Box
• Takeout cable is then connected to
Station Unit Box
Crossing Station Unit Box
• All the Station Unit Box is further
connected with one Crossing Station
Unit Box (of an array)
• Then yellow cable called Jumper Cable
is finally connected to Recording Truck
through which all the information goes
into it

59. RECORDER
RECORDING

60. Color Line Monitor
Recorder
Tape Driver
• Monitor on which the Observer control
all the activities on a seismic line
• The recorder which records all the data
coming through cables
• The tape driver records all the data
on the magnetic tapes or cartridges
RECORDING TRUCK

61. Camera
Seismic Source Synchronizer
• The thermal plotter used to make a hard
copy of the recorded data
• Device which synchronizes the blaster.
Before shooting, recorder presses ARM
button to charge the detonators, at the
same time the blaster operator presses
the ARM button in the blaster
• Then recorder presses GO button to
blast the dynamite

62. Blaster
• Bag carried by the shooting crew is called
The Blaster, it works in coordination with
the Seismic Source Synchronizer
• “Blast view” on seismic
line
SHOOTING CREW

63. Portable recording system
SEISOMOGRAPH

67. A recorded result of shot point after the blast
SEISOMOGRAM

71. Camera For LVL
Blaster used For LVL
• Camera used for Low Velocity Layer
showing the status of spread, it has
built in floppy drive, printer and hard
disk
• Refraction blaster which is connected
with the camera for blasting the
dynamite
(REFRACTION) LVL CREW

72. LVL Spread
• A view of a spread for the Refraction
Survey
• Recorded result of an Low
Velocity Layer shot

73. • Safety Caps
• Foot Wears
• Coveralls
• Loose Clothing
• Water Bottles
• Fire Extinguishers, Fire Alarms, Smoke Alarms
• Sign Boards
• The job of this crew is to provide the following things
to all the crews
SAFETY CREW

74. • After all the shots are recorded every thing is wounded
• The data is send to the Operator Company
• The place is restored by the Green Team and inspected by
the Client Company
• Then Operator Company sends data to client

75. Seismograph:
It is the instrument that measure motions of the
ground, including those of seismic waves
generated by earthquakes, nuclear explosions, and
other seismic sources.
Seismogram:
It is a graph output by a seismograph. It is a record of
the ground motion at a measuring station as a function
of time.

76. Two‐dimensional survey (2‐D):
Seismic data or a group of seismic lines acquired individually such that there typically
are significant gaps (commonly 1 km or more) between adjacent lines.
A 2D survey typically contains numerous lines acquired orthogonally to the strike of
geological structures (such as faults and folds) with a minimum of lines acquired
parallel to geological structures to allow line‐to‐line tying of the seismic data and
interpretation and mapping of structures.
The seismic data recorded by 2‐D survey is seismic line.
Three‐dimensional survey (3‐D):
The acquisition of seismic data as closely spaced receiver and shot lines such that
there typically are no significant gaps in the subsurface coverage.
The seismic data recorded by 3‐D survey is seismic cube.
LAND SURVEY

77. The 2-D method, which can be used to map structures along widely spaced
traverses.
Geometry
2‐D SURVEY

78. Result

79. The 3-D method, which can be used to accurately map subsurface structures in a
three-dimensional sense.
The majority (> 80%) of seismic exploration is done using the 3-D method.
Geometry
3‐D SURVEY

80. Result

81. Seismic cube

82. 2‐D and 3‐D survey in marine differ from land survey by:
‐The seismic source is Air gun & not dynamite or Vibroseis
‐The seismic detector is Hydrophone & not a geophone
‐The sources and detectors are always at depth below the sea level & the depth
of the cable is controlled by Streamer‐Birds
‐The receivers are connected together by streamer.
MARINE SURVEY

83. 2‐D marine

84. 3‐D marine

85. Tail buoy:
A floating device used in marine seismic acquisition to identify the
end of streamer. It allows the seismic acquisition crew to monitor
location and direction of streamers.
Streamer Bird:
A device connected with the streamer to control the depth of
streamer.

86. Streamer Bird

90. SIGNAL AND NOISE
• Any events of interest are called signals while rest are
called noise.
• Signals and noise are relative terms as in certain set of
analysis an event may be considered as signal, while in
another analysis it is considered as noise.
• In seismic acquisition and processing our major emphasis
is to enhance the Signals and suppress the noise. Thus
increase the signal to noise ratio (S/N).

91. Noise is the undesired information contained on
a seismic record which one does not wish to use
and these are to be filtered. There are two types
of seismic noises encountered in seismic survey
are;
(1) Coherent Noise.
(2) Incoherent Noise or Random Noise.
SEISMIC NOISE

92. • It displays some regular patterns on seismogram.
• It is seismic energy which aligns from trace to trace or record to
record on seismic record .
• Often, it is very similar to the signal and usually more difficult to
overcome than the incoherent/random noise.
• By examining the patterns of coherent noise, we can
devise field procedures to reduce it.
(1) COHERENT NOISE
It has various sources such as:
Ground Rolls
Direct arrivals
Refracted events
Multiples reflections
Diffraction events

94. • Head waves are always the first events seen on a record.
• They are linear and often very visible and strong.
• Sometimes they can disappear with large offset.
• Many geophysicists try to remove head wave using
•surgical mute,
•FK filtering
•adapted NMO stretch mute value,
• but in some case, uppermost reflection and refraction can be very
close and difficult to distinguish.
Direct and Refracted waves

95. Refracted Waves
In Seismic reflection survey the refracted events
comes as first arrival.

96. Ground Roll
Ground rolls are Rayleigh waves which appear as
second arrival on seismic section.

97. • Surface waves (Rayleigh, Love) primarily Rayleigh are
– low velocity,
– low frequency signal,
– With relatively higher amplitude seen below shots.
They override the useful reflections.
• They can be reduced using
– frequency filtering.

98. Diffracted Events
At faults and some unconformities diffracted waves are
generated on seismic section.

99. • The seismic reflection takes an interest essentially to the P
compression waves, in the setting of seismic studies for the geo-
technical; the recording of the S waves can to prove out to be
useful for the shearing modules calculation.
• In knowing the velocity of the P waves and S, it is possible of
calculating the Poisson’s ratio:
S Waves

101. It is the seismic energy that does not align up from
trace to trace or record to record on seismic record. It
displays no systematic pattern.
This noise is uncorrectable.
We can overcome random noises by recording more
than one traces from the same location.
It has various sources such as given below.
i. Wind Noise
ii. Water Flow Noise
iii. Small Movement With in the Earth
iv. Local Noise
v. Bad Geophone Noise
(2) INCOHERENT NOISE OR RANDOM NOISE

102. FILTERING
A process or algorithm using a set of limits used to eliminate unwanted portions of
seismic data, commonly on the basis of frequency or amplitude, to enhance the signal-
to-noise ratio of the data.
The common use of digital filter in data processing is to filter out unwanted frequencies.
Types of filters:
Band-Pass filter:
A filter used to pass a defined band of frequencies.
Any high or low frequencies outside this range will be attenuated.
Low-Cut filter (High pass):
A filter that pass only the high frequencies and eliminate the low frequencies.
High-Cut filter (Low-Pass):
A filter that pass only the low frequencies and eliminate the high frequencies.
Notch filter:
It is used to filter out narrow band of frequencies within frequency range of
data.
The most common use of this filter is to attenuate noises caused by power
lines.