High-resolution Low-cost 3D and 4D Seismic Surveys for Deepwater Fields

We acquired high resolution 3D and 4D streamer seismic data (HR3D and HR4D) with a small (300 cu in) air-gun source array and 18 short (100m) hydrophone cables over three deep water fields. The resulting data show that high resolution 3D images can be obtained at reservoirs located up to 2000 m below the seafloor in deepwater environments. An additional 2D test of the system demonstrated a time-lapse repeatability of NRMS=15% in zones where the reservoirs lay above the first water bottom multiple. This work suggests that HR3D surveys are suitable for low-cost time-lapse seismic monitoring of deepwater reservoirs and geohazards that are shallow relative to the water depth.