Innovation: The Use of Seismic - A Game Changer in Defining Prospects

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President's column Early in my career, my colleagues in the exploration department had especially large tables, upon which they spread large seismic sections with many wiggles (which seemed to make sense to them but not me) so that they could identify potential exploration targets. This has changed over time, especially with the advent of 3D seismic. In this month’s column, I wish to focus on the innovative ways that have emerged in exploration. That is where our journey starts, as we would not have a thriving oil and gas industry without the geoscientists who continuously find hydrocarbon accumulations that can be developed, produced, and brought to the market. The advent of huge computing capability and the availability of high-capacity telecommunications facilities make the early exploration processes sound as if they were of the Stone Age, particularly to today’s young geoscientist sitting behind large desktop screens viewing and manipulating data. I give the example of the application of 2D, 3D, and 4D seismic coupled with new acquisition and processing techniques to illustrate what innovation can do and has contributed to our industry. Prior to the advent of seismic data, the search for hydrocarbons was based on observation of surface phenomena (outcrops, seeps, etc.). The use of seismic waves to define the subsurface emerged in the early 1900s following observation of waves that were created by earthquakes. Some innovative scientists saw the potential of how surface-induced waves could be used to better define the geology of the Earth and, through the data obtained, provide a better picture of the subsurface structure and the potential for hydrocarbon accumulation. The first well to find oil through the use of seismic was drilled in Brazoria County, Texas, in 1924. Subsequently, thousands of prospects all over the world were identified and drilled based on this technology, which was innovative when first used (Seismic, 1999). The early explorationists were trained to “eyeball” potential accumulations by using their experience to evaluate seismic sections that were displayed as a 2D plane to generate maps that were used to drill exploration wells.