The value of very low frequencies and far offsets for seismic data in the Permian Basin: Case study on a new dense survey from the Central Basin Platform

Abstract

The depth of penetration and multidimensional characteristics of seismic waves make them an essential tool for subsurface exploration. However, their band-limited nature can make it difficult to integrate them with other types of ground measurements. Consequently, far offsets and very low-frequency components are key factors in maximizing the information jointly inverted from all recorded data. This explains why extending seismic bandwidth and available offsets has become a major industry focus. Although this requirement generally increases the complexity of acquisition and has an impact on its cost, improvements have been clearly and widely demonstrated on marine data. Onshore seismic data have generally followed the same trend but face different challenges, making it more difficult to maximize the benefits, especially for full-waveform inversion (FWI). This paper describes a new dense survey acquired in 2020 in the Permian Basin and aims to objectively assess the quality and benefits brought by a richer low end of the spectrum and far offsets. For this purpose, we considered several aspects, from acquisition design and field data to FWI imaging and quantitative interpretation.