Seismic surveys are created using bursts of acoustic energy that are referred to as “marine sound, or noise, depending on your perspective.”
With that thought, John Young, director of the sound business line for CSA Ocean Sciences, introduced a recent panel discussion that included seismic innovators working on new sound sources designed to produce better subsurface images as well as scientists and regulators concerned about the environmental impact of that noise. At that session and others at the recent annual meeting of the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG), there was discussion about multiple ways to move away from the intense pulses of acoustic energy produced by air guns. The industry standard emits both useful sound for seismic imaging and higher-frequency noise that dissipates in the ground.
Their goal is to “de-risk” vibrator technology, said Mike Jenkerson, geophysical advisor for marine seismic at ExxonMobil, who represented the Marine Vibrator Joint Industry Project (JIP) at the conference. The JIP managed by Texas A&M University is supporting development and testing to determine if there is an alternative to air guns that is effective and reliable even with a smaller acoustic signal.
Offshore Seismic Feeling Pressures to Change
Stephen Rassenfoss, JPT Emerging Technology Senior Editor
30 December 2015