What is Seismic Survey?
Seismic survey is a method used by geoscientists and engineers to image the subsurface of the earth using seismic waves. During a seismic survey, energy pulses are generated at the surface and sent into the subsurface. The energy propagates through rock layers and is partially reflected back to seismic sensors when it encounters interfaces between different rock types. The reflected seismic waves are recorded and processed to form 2D and 3D images of underground rock structures that may contain oil or natural gas accumulations.

Equipment Used in Seismic Survey
Performing a Seismic Survey requires specialized equipment to generate, record and process seismic waves. The main equipment used includes seismic energy sources, geophones, cables, seismic recording systems and workstations for processing data. Common energy sources are explosive charges, vibroseis trucks or airguns. Geophones placed in direct contact with the earth detect the seismic waves. Cables connect thousands of geophones deployed in a grid pattern over the survey area to recording systems. The recording systems digitize the signals from geophones for further processing and analysis.

Data Processing and Interpretation
Seismic data recorded in the field requires extensive processing to transform it into a useful image. Processing techniques such as deconvolution, velocity analysis, migration etc. are applied to remove noise, align waveforms and produce stacked and time or depth migration sections. The processed sections are interpreted by geophysicists and geologists to map subsurface structure, lithologies and fluids. Attributes derived from amplitude, frequency and waveform variations help delineate hydrocarbon reservoirs, faults and stratigraphic features that oil companies use for exploration and appraisal drilling decisions.

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