 How to detect and record seismic waves

We can use seismic waves in oil and gas exploration onshore and offshore

1. How we can make seismic exploration onshore:

Firstly, what is the seismic waves?

the same type of waves used to study earthquakes, are also used to explore deep
underground for reservoirs of oil and natural gas.
What we use in exploring for Earth’s energy resources is called reflection seismology. When you
use seismic waves in the study of earthquakes, the earthquakes are the source of energy, that is,
the source of the waves. But, in using reflection seismology for oil and gas exploration, we have
to deploy some kind of an acceptable energy source on the surface of the Earth and then
distribute an appropriate number of seismic sensors across the Earth’s surface that will record the
waves that are reflected back.
There are a variety of energy sources used. The most common one that is used on shore is
called vibroseis. They are very large, heavy vehicles that weigh 60,000 to 70,000 pounds. They
apply a base plate to the Earth, and they have a hydraulic system integrated into the vehicle that
vibrates that base plate over a predetermined frequency range. So, the vibroseis – which is what
we would call the source station – becomes the energy source of the seismic waves.
The wave field generated at the source station radiates away from that point as a three-
dimensional wave. It goes down and reflects. The reflected wave field from each rock interface
that is encountered in the propagation of this down-going wave field is then recorded at the
Earth’s surface by sensors, which we call geophones. They are distributed in specific
geometries on the surface, above the area of interest. We use those sensor responses to image the
interior of the Earth, in places where we are interested in getting a very detailed understanding of
the geology
Geophones is a very simple little device, but geophones have now gotten to be
extremely sensitive
we have to stop seismic recording if winds get up to, say, 20 miles an hour or higher. The reason
is the wind shakes the grass and affects the signal. It just builds up background noise in the
geophones that is undesirable.

2. How we can make seismic exploration offshore:

there are really more seismic data acquired offshore than on shore. There is a different kind
of technology being used offshore. Because of very justifiable environmental concerns for
marine animals – primarily whales, dolphins, and such – air guns are the only seismic
source used offshore.

air guns:
are devices that are towed behind ships. The air gun arrays, when they release
compressed energy, generate a powerful pressure wave. The pressure wave
travels through the water column, then enters the seafloor strata, propagates on
downward to illuminate the geology. The reflected wave fields then come back up
and travel through the water column to hydrophone cables that are towed by the
same vessel, or by a separate companion vessel