Illuminating reservoirs with traditional marine seismic acquisition has always been challenging. Much of the challenge has to do with the variation, or lack of it, in the azimuths of the recorded seismic ray-paths. Novel acquisition techniques such as multi-azimuth (MAZ), wide-azimuth (WAZ), and rich-azimuth (RAZ) are recent innovations aimed at addressing the illumination problems inherent in traditional narrow-azimuth marine seismic.
Multi-, wide-, and rich-azimuth surveys provide a step-change improvement in imaging. These types of survey improve signal-to-noise ratio and illumination in complex geology and provide natural attenuation of some multiples. Modeling studies and tests on real data are essential to optimize survey design. WesternGeco Q-Marine technology such as streamer steering, single-sensor recording, large steerable calibrated source arrays, and improved shot repeatability, as well as benefits such as better noise sampling and attenuation, and the capability to record during vessel turns, all contribute to the improved imaging.
The sketches above of different acquisition techniques and their related rose plots showing the level of 'hits' from different azimuths, aptly illustrate the possible advantages of the techniques depending on the challenge being faced.
WesternGeco has vast experience in these acquisition techniques (MAZ, WAZ, RAZ) spanning many of the worlds major basins. For more details please take a look at some of the articles below that WesternGeco have published recently on this topic.
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