Reducing Exploration Risk - New Marine Seismic Methods

Recent improvements in seismic data acquisition and analysis are reducing the risk of drilling unsuccessful exploration and development wells. This article describes innovations in seismic illumination made possible by probing seismic targets from several angles, and discusses new vertically aligned configurations of sources and receivers that are increasing signal quality in hard-to-image areas. Examples from the Gulf of Mexico, West of Shetlands, and offshore Mexico show how improvements in seismic technology are reducing drilling risk.