Gene Kliewer • Houston
Technology advancements
GX Technologies Imaging Solutions has improved its reverse time migration (RTM) data assessment technique for application in the complex azimuth marine acquisition while also reducing analysis turnaround time, says ION Geophysical Corp.
In particular, this will reduce the time required to perform RTM on data acquired using complex azimuth geometry such as for subsalt lines.
“RTM is the depth migration technique that is capable of delivering seismic images of the highest quality and integrity, especially in structurally complex areas or when imaging reservoir targets that are located beneath salt,” says Nick Bernitsas, senior vice president of GXT. “With the proprietary enhancements GXT has made to RTM implementation … our clients can obtain RTM-derived images in the same amount of time it would take to depth migrate the data using other commonly accepted methods, such as wave-equation migration (WEM).”
TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. has added its reverse time migration algorithm to its commercial product list for the first time.
TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Co. ASA is acquiring Phase II aeromagnetic and aerogravity data of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Phase I was acquired, processed, and interpreted in 2007 and comprised 46,000 sq km (17,761 sq mi) of non-exclusive aeromagnetic data. The second phase, over the same area, will comprise aerogravity and infill aeromagnetic data. The survey is supported by industry pre-funding and is being carried out in collaboration with Petrovietnam.
With this addition, TGS proprietary depth migration tool box includes two-way and one-way wave equation, and Kirchoff and beam algorithms complemented with velocity modeling which covers WEM scan, full-azimuth tomography, and anisotropic parameter estimation.
“The TGS RTM implementation combines the best attributes of one-way wave equation migration’s ability to image events under salt and Kirchoff migration that can image steeply dipping and even overturned events,” says Zhiming Li, vice president of Imaging Services for TGS.
RSK (UK) Ltd. has implemented a new 3D visualization center using a Barco Galaxy HN-12 projection system.
The new projection system, controlled with mouse and keyboard, can project local and networked sources simultaneously in windows that can be resized, moved, or overlapped. This allows RSK teams to display multiple geologic modeling, reservoir modeling, and well development modeling tools at once on the theater’s large glass screen. The Galaxy NH-12 can display both stereo 3D and non-stereo data at 1080p HD resolution.
“RSK wanted to visualize all facets of geo-data on a large intuitive display, so our technical teams could collaborate, analyze, and make better informed decisions more efficiently,” says Wayne Kelley, managing director at RSK.
Rock SolidImages has partnered with Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Mathematics to develop a next-generation pre-stack seismic data conditioning software, interpretation, and visualization platform.
“Most available pre-stack seismic data-sets are optimized for structural imaging workflows and are unsuitable for quantitative pre-stack seismic interpretation such as AVO and simultaneous inversion,” says Richard Cooper, Rock Solid’s president and CEO. “By enabling AVATAR signal processing algorithms within PSPRO’s advanced, real-time processing and visualization platform, we will provide our geophysicists with state-of-the-art tools for efficient and robust processing, analysis and Q/C of large-volume pre-stack gather data-sets.”
Survey status
MEO Australia Ltd. has contracted PGS Australia Pty Ltd. to acquire and process 3D seismic data over the Blackwood prospect in exploration permit NT/P68 offAustralia.
The 350-sq km (135-sq mi) survey was scheduled to begin April 20 using theM/V Orient Explorer and to be completed in 25 days. The survey aim is to improve depth conversion and mapping of the feature intersected in the Blackwood-1 discovery well.
Also in Australia, Fugro-Geoteam’sGeo Atlantic has completed acquisition of 1,400 sq km (541 sq mi) of 3D seismic data in WA-398-P of Browse basin offshore northwestern Australia. The data is being processed with the aim to establish a drilling site for 3Q 2008.
ConocoPhillips says the partners have chartered the Transocean semisubmersibleSedco 703 to drill one well on the permit. It is expected on site in August.
ConocoPhillips (60%) and Karoon Gas (40%) are partners in the permit.
Fugro and Constructora Subacuatica Diavaz have won a $40-million contract to conduct a multi-site high-resolution geophysical and geotechnical survey for Pemex in theGulf of Mexico.
While much of the program is in shallow water, it also has areas with water depths to 1,600 m (5,249 ft). This survey is believed to be the first at such depths in Mexico’s GoM.
