High Density 3D Seismic Acquisition in Murchison National Falls Park in Uganda

The ever increasing demand for high precision geological research(such as highly accurate structural imaging, thin-layer identification, prediction of hydrocarbons for future development), is increasingly justifying the necessity for cost effective, high-density but low impact 3D seismic acquisition technology. Homogeneity, symmetry, sufficiency and wide azimuth are the basic idea of high-density 3D seismic acquisition technology. However, considering the surface conditions (such as sensitive environment area, biodiversity etc.) and production efficiency, the implementation of the basic idea of high density 3D seismic acquisition faces big challenges, which results in non uniform sampling or asymmetrical sources and/or receivers distributions).

Between May 2013 and May 2014, one such high density 3D project took place in Uganda, which holds sub-Saharan Africa’ s fourth-largest oil reserves. The survey covered 340 square kilometers, with grid spacing of 100 m producing a density of 451 and 891 source and receiver points respectively per square kilometer. From the onset the project design incorporated an autonomous cable-less nodal system for terrestrial areas and conventional telemetry cable and OBC system to acquire the marine portion. Three energy sources were utilized, light weight vibrators, emulsion explosives and a 600 cu in airgun array. All sources were acquired into the different receiver types.