Expanding the Limits of Operational Feasibility in Marine Seismic Acquisition: Deploying a Source-Over-Spread Solution

In this paper we propose a strategy for successfully implementing a radically new acquisition solution. When operational constraints that previously have been considered inflexible are adjusted a number of key steps need to be taken to ensure the operational feasibility, safety, and required uplift in imaging. The first step is defining the desired balance between geophysical illumination and acquisition efficiency. When the requirement for imaging resolution is defined the next step is to evaluate the threshold of how far operational parameters can be pushed and draw up a proposed acquisition solution. Then follows a thorough de-risking of the imaging and operational solution, both on paper and with the use of field tests, and the development of the required software and hardware. Finally there is hands-on de-risking required in the field while the new acquisition solution commences. The recent development of a new acquisition design ( V. Vinje et.al. (2017) ), where the seismic sources are positioned on top of the seismic spread, is used as a case study in this paper