A case study of the acquisition of a high-density, broad-bandwidth vibroseis survey on Alaska's North Slope, using a high-productivity slip-sweep technique, shows the merits of this technique for acquisition of high-density data in a short time frame in extreme conditions as well as the benefits of high-density broadband data for subsequent processing, imaging, and seismic inversion.

Abstract CGG recently acquired the Tabasco multi-client, high-resolution 3D seismic survey on the North Slope of Alaska. It covers 133 sq. mi (Figure 1) and was designed for optimum imaging of the faulting and onlaps in the Cretaceous and Jurassic hydrocarbon-bearing sequences. The survey was the first multi-client survey performed in the area in over a decade. It was acquired in separate northern and southern parts, both of which were processed independently, and saw the first use of many high-end acquisition techniques in the region. It was the first-ever, high-productivity, extended slip-sweep vibroseis program acquired on the North Slope, breaking previously-established records and setting a new standard at 5,000 records gathered in a 24-hr period. It also introduced the proprietary EmphaSeis broadband vibroseis technique, providing a frequency range of 4-80Hz. Thus, the survey delivered a number of innovative solutions in this challenging environment.

PreviousNext No AccessSEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2013High density, high productivity vibroseis acquisition on the Alaskan North SlopeAuthors: Olivier WinterPeter MaxwellRon SchmidHoward WattOlivier WinterCGGSearch for more papers by this author, Peter MaxwellCGGSearch for more papers by this author, Ron SchmidCGGSearch for more papers by this author, and Howard WattCGGSearch for more papers by this authorhttps://doi.org/10.1190/segam2013-0624.1 SectionsAboutPDF/ePub ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail Abstract Seismic vibroseis acquisition on the North Slope of Alaska has been the method of choice for many decades. However, in order to obtain the denser sampling and higher resolution required to image shallower pay zones, combined with the limited operational season, we are led to the need for higher productivity techniques. In 2012 CGG acquired such a survey. Permalink: https://doi.org/10.1190/segam2013-0624.1FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited ByA hybrid learning-based framework for seismic denoisingThe Leading Edge, Vol. 38, No. 7First production application of high-density vibroseis acquisition on Alaska's North SlopeOlivier Winter, Peter Maxwell, Ron Schmid, and Howard Watt6 May 2014 | The Leading Edge, Vol. 33, No. 5 SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2013ISSN (print):1052-3812 ISSN (online):1949-4645Copyright: 2013 Pages: 5258 Publisher:Society of Exploration Geophysicists HistoryPublished: 19 Aug 2013 CITATION INFORMATION Olivier Winter, Peter Maxwell, Ron Schmid, and Howard Watt, (2013), "High density, high productivity vibroseis acquisition on the Alaskan North Slope," SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts : 4542-4546. https://doi.org/10.1190/segam2013-0624.1 Plain-Language Summary PDF DownloadLoading ...

Over the past decade, there has been rather vigorous activity in developing simultaneous sourcing and slip-sweep techniques for vibroseis acquisition. Such methods include HFVS and C-HFVS (Krohn et al., 2010), ISS (Howe et al., 2008), DSSS (Bouska, 2010), and HPVA and V1 (Meunier and Bianchi, 2002). These methods provide improved vibrator productivity and create a means of cost-effectively improving source density and thus spatial sampling. Egan et al. (2010) have discussed the link between spatial sampling and resolution (spatial and temporal).

PreviousNext No AccessSEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2011What receivers will we use for low frequencies?Authors: Peter MaxwellMalcolm LansleyPeter MaxwellCGGVeritasSearch for more papers by this author and Malcolm LansleySercelSearch for more papers by this authorhttps://doi.org/10.1190/1.3628181 SectionsAboutPDF/ePub ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InReddit Abstract With the increased industry interest in low frequencies down to less than 1 or 2 Hertz, there has been a significant effort in developing techniques that can source these low frequencies. Low‐dwell, non‐linear sweeps and pseudorandom sweeps have been developed by a number of companies to increase vibrator output at low frequencies. Equipment manufacturers have made improvements to vibrators to increase reaction mass and upgrade base‐plates. But what about the recording units and the receivers that make up the remainder of the acquisition system? Do we need something special here? We discuss some of the special requirements for low frequency recording and review different receivers, their applicability and limitations.Permalink: https://doi.org/10.1190/1.3628181FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byLow-Frequency Prediction Based on Multiscale and Cross-Scale Deep Networks in Full-Waveform InversionIEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. 61Multi-Task Learning for Low-Frequency Extrapolation and Elastic Model Building From Seismic DataIEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Vol. 60Deep learning for low-frequency extrapolation from multioffset seismic dataOleg Ovcharenko, Vladimir Kazei, Mahesh Kalita, Daniel Peter, and Tariq Alkhalifah30 October 2019 | GEOPHYSICS, Vol. 84, No. 6Variance-based model interpolation for improved full-waveform inversion in the presence of salt bodiesOleg Ovcharenko, Vladimir Kazei, Daniel Peter, and Tariq Alkhalifah7 September 2018 | GEOPHYSICS, Vol. 83, No. 5High-quality signal recording down to 0.001 Hz with standard MEMS accelerometersAurélien Fougerat, Laurent Guérineau, and Nicolas Tellier27 August 2018Marine, seabed, and land seismic equipment for broadband acquisition: a review31 May 2017 | Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 66, No. 5Study on dynamics of vibrator baseplate at low and high frequencies30 June 2017 | Journal of Vibroengineering, Vol. 19, No. 4An Oklahoma broadband land seismic case historyMike Yates, Grant Byerley, Richard Eden, David Monk, and Simon Voisey1 September 2016Field experiments with digital sensorsJason Criss1 July 2016 | The Leading Edge, Vol. 35, No. 7References26 September 2016Can land broadband seismic be as good as marine broadband?Michel Denis, Valérie Brem, Fabienne Pradalie, Frederic Moinet, Matthieu Retailleau, Jeremy Langlois, Bing Bai, Roger Taylor, Vaughan Chamberlain, and Ian Frith1 November 2013 | The Leading Edge, Vol. 32, No. 11Land and marine equipment for broadband seismicDenis Mougenot13 January 2013 SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2011 ISSN (print):1052-3812 ISSN (online):1949-4645 Copyright: 2011 Pages: 4424 Publisher:Society of Exploration Geophysicists HistoryPublished Online: 25 May 2012 CITATION INFORMATION Peter Maxwell and Malcolm Lansley, (2011), "What receivers will we use for low frequencies?," SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts : 72-76. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.3628181 Plain-Language Summary PDF DownloadLoading ...

PreviousNext No AccessSEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2010Extending low frequency bandwidth using pseudorandom sweepsAuthors: Peter MaxwellJohn GibsonAlexandre EgreteauForest LinGuido BaetenJohn SallasPeter MaxwellCGGVeritasSearch for more papers by this author, John GibsonCGGVeritasSearch for more papers by this author, Alexandre EgreteauCGGVeritasSearch for more papers by this author, Forest LinCGGVeritasSearch for more papers by this author, Guido BaetenShellSearch for more papers by this author, and John SallasgeoMagicSearch for more papers by this authorhttps://doi.org/10.1190/1.3513020 SectionsAboutPDF/ePub ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail Abstract Pseudorandom sweeps have very desirable correlation properties that make them promising candidates for use in simultaneous sourcing. Such sweeps are also attractive for generating low frequencies that are more regularly being sought by the industry. Recently there has been considerable interest in acquiring seismic data sets with good low frequency content. Typically a 30‐dB/octave barrier must be overcome to recover useful low frequency energy. Low‐dwell nonlinear sweeps compatible with vibrator mechanical constraints have been recently introduced as one way to address the challenges of low frequency, but special pseudorandom sweeps provide another viable option. Pseudorandom sweeps reduce the peak demands on the vibrator and can become more effective as the start frequency for the sweep is lowered. Analysis of field test data show that frequencies as low as 2 Hz can be recovered with useable signal‐to‐noise at reasonable fold.Permalink: https://doi.org/10.1190/1.3513020FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited ByMethod of designing pseudorandom sweeps suitable for ISS acquisitionMen Zhe*, Sun Zhe, Ma Tao, Li Ping, and Lei Yunshan24 April 2014The use of pseudorandom sweeps for vibroseis surveys10 November 2013 | Geophysical Prospecting, Vol. 62, No. 1A low-frequency seismic field experimentG.F. Margrave, M.B. Bertram, K.L. Bertram, K.W. Hall, K.A.H. Innanen, D.C. Lawton, L.E. Mewhort, and T.M. Phillips25 October 2012Pseudorandom sweeps for simultaneous sourcing and low-frequency generationThe Leading Edge, Vol. 30, No. 10 SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts 2010ISSN (print):1052-3812 ISSN (online):1949-4645Copyright: 2010 Pages: 4453 publication data© 2010 Copyright © 2010 Society of Exploration GeophysicistsPublisher:Society of Exploration Geophysicists HistoryPublished: 21 Oct 2010 CITATION INFORMATION Peter Maxwell, John Gibson, Alexandre Egreteau, Forest Lin, Guido Baeten, and John Sallas, (2010), "Extending low frequency bandwidth using pseudorandom sweeps," SEG Technical Program Expanded Abstracts : 101-105. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.3513020 Plain-Language Summary PDF DownloadLoading ...

3D land seismic has generally been limited to sparse survey geometries for both technical and economic reasons. As a consequence, land data can be poorly-sampled and noisy. Combine this with the known challenges of the onshore environment and it is no surprise that image quality is poor compared to marine seismic. This is despite the fact that land acquisition has commonly used wide-azimuth geometries, something from which marine seismic has only recently benefited.