Enhanced 3D seismic surveys using a new airborne pipeline mapping system

Abstract

Summary The need to accurately locate pipelines and other cultural features is of paramount importance to the safety, planning and quality of 3D seismic data. With the current industry trend being to maximize production from known reserves, there is an increased practice of shooting 3D seismic surveys over mature and previously abandoned oil and gas fields. In many instances, the infrastructure in the abandoned, and even the active oil and gas fields is poorly documented, and hazard locations are inaccurate. This lack of knowledge about the location of pipelines, well heads and other oil field infrastructure poses a danger to the seismic crews drilling shot holes within the boundaries of the oil field. It can also cause degradation of the quality of the seismic data; gaps in the shot point positions, created by safety requirements to avoid areas of uncertain pipeline location, result in poor, or zero, seismic fold coverage in the areas of most interest; the oil field itself. The purpose of this paper is to present a new airborne technology for the detection and mapping of oil field infrastructure, and to review how this technology, when used in conjunction with modern 3D seismic planning software, can result in cost savings, enhanced safety and higher quality 3D seismic surveys.