Seismic Data Acquisition

Techniques

Part 3

Seismic Data Arrangements

Table of Contents
Seismic Data Arrangements .............................................................. 1
Multiple Coverage / Fold Coverage ................................................... 4
The Fold Coverage equation .............................................................. 7
Special Coverage Issues .................................................................... 7
Over Shooting / Under Shooting ....................................................... 8
Obstacle’s Coverage at Offshore ........................................................ 9

Seismic Data Arrangements

All the Seismic Exploration methods depend on an Energy Source Point
“SP”, that is represented by an inverted triangle, and the Reflected Energy
receiver point (RP) that is represented by a triangle. The receiver points are
arranged in a straight line with certain intervals, this is known as the
“Spread” which has certain arrangements.
When the SP is located at one of the spread ends with the same interval,
it is called “End-On Shooting”. By this way the receivers spread receive
reflected energy from only one end where the spread is laid out. All the
seismic operations start with this configuration, it is suitable for the Off-
Shore operations.
When the SP is at the middle of the spread, all are on a straight line, this
configuration is known as “Split Spread” which is the most common
configuration.
We have now a SP with its receiver points all are arranged at each side of
it. We must consider always the limitation of the XIR distance to avoid the
distortion caused by the overriding Refracted Head Waves.
Until now, it seems that by recording the reflected data picked up by the
spread elements we have accomplished our job. Actually not yet, because
we found that we have to enhance the acquired subsurface data by multiple
acquisition methods to obtain a big amount of the reflected data.

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 The Seismic Oil Exploration industry has accomplished different
acquisition methods to enhance the acquired data.
We found that if we shifted the SP and all the spread elements one interval
forward, we can acquire another data, most of which will match geometrically
and geophysically with the previously obtained one, and so on.
This interval shift has a well-known establishment.
We have here tow actions: “Roll-Along and Drop-Along”. Obviously when
we shift all the spread including the SP one interval forward we are going to
need one RP at the front end, and at the rear end there will be one RP un-
needed to be omitted.
The below figures explain these principles.

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The upper figure shows the field job. The first point of the line is at the left side, which is the first SP. Arranged on a straight
line at equal intervals away from it to the right direction are the receiver points RP which are 10 in this example.
Progressing forward, the figures are obtained.

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 We got to know now that the seismic job starts by the ”End-On Shooting”
method. The SP is the first point in the line followed by the RP bigger
numbers (11-20). The receivers (11-20) are in front of the SP towards the
progress direction.
The shape at the middle is representing this situation. By shifting the SP
one interval towards the front, an increased RP is added at the front,
meanwhile the rear point was dropped out, it will belong to the other split
part of the spread and it will be with number 10.
The third graph represents the gradual build up in the RP’s which are
behind the SP until they were completed as 10. This makes 10 RP in front
the SP and 10 RP behind the SP; which is the “Split Spread” shooting norm.
We have to consider that at the end of line (by the right end), the front RP
will be dropped out gradually, the opposite of the start as the build up. By
the end of line the last point is the last SP. There will be no RP at the front,
but 10 RP behind the SP.
We are going to adopt here the “Coverage” principle. Referring back to
the middle figure, we can notice that some “Common Depth Points” or
“Common Mid Points” were covered twice due to the shifting method. Here
we can establish a certain configuration to gain a benefit by repeating the
“CDP” or “CMP” by “Multiple Coverage”.
Multiple Coverage / Fold Coverage
Now we have found that the subsurface reflection boundary could be
“Multiple Covered”, which means repeated information.

In the above diagram we can see two points on the ground surface. If we
assumed that one of them is SP and the other is RP, then the subsurface
reflection point is covered one time. Then by exchanging the function of the
ground surface points, the subsurface reflection point has been covered
twice.

As the ground surface points are increased, and by exchanging their

functions, we have obtained 4 times coverage for the subsurface reflection
point.

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 Here we have 20 points on the ground surface, their function as SP and
RP was exchanged symmetrically. By this action the subsurface reflection
point has been covered 20 times.
How could we benefit out of this “Multi Coverage” principle for the
subsurface reflection points? In condition to consider economy and time
waste.
Assume that we have a 2D seismic survey of 20 data channels in split
spread configuration.
We have to construct what is known as “Stacking Chart”. It contains a
horizontal line representing the ground surface, plotted on it all the SP and
RP’s.
The Stacking Chart represents the CDP positions.
To represent a subsurface reflection point, (CDP) we plot below the
surface line an inverted right angle triangle with side base angles of 45°, its
base connects the SP and the corresponding RP each time. Its head
represents the subsurface reflection points corresponding to each RP.
The indicated inclined line at the left includes the subsurface reflection
points which belong to the 10 surface RP’s.
All the subsurface points which are below the line representing the
ground surface are in front the SP, as shown in the figure below.

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 By shifting all the points one interval in the progress direction, then SP2
will take the position of RP1, and we are going to have one RP behind the
SP, and always 10 RP’s in front the SP.
Now for the RP that is behind the SP2, its right angle triangle but it is atop
the horizontal line of the ground surface, its base connects SP2 and the RP
behind it.
By continuing the shift to the front, SP3 will take the position of RP2, we
will have 2 RP’s behind SP3, and there are 10 RP”s in front of it as usual.
The drawing will include Three points above the ground surface.

Each time we make a shift, new RP’s will be added behind the SP until
the complete number of the RP of the split spread is complete (which is
10+10 in this example).
The account of the vertical projection of the CDP points is the Fold
Coverage.
the diagram below you will find the stacking chart of the start of a seismic
line. It is too important to determine the Full Fold Coverage particularly at
the prospect boundary.
The asked question is how to maintain a Full Fold Coverage at the
prospect boundary?
By examining the diagram below for a stacking chart, you will find that
we have to go outside of the prospect by a quarter spread.

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 In this example we need to put 5 points outside of the prospect, we have
to obtain the acceptance of its authority, in guarantee to provide them a
copy of their area data as their rights.

The shown part of the stacking chart explains how the “Multiple
Coverage” is accomplished, and how the “Fold Coverage is obtained.
It means that we can “Stack” the data of a certain channel to another
channels in order to build up a full stacked data.
From the above figure, the vertical addition of the CDP’s will indicate the
Fold Coverage.
At the start there were only Two CDP’s, then two again, then it was
increased to 4 CDP’s, and so on until the Fold Coverage was completed to
10 Fold for this example. Whatever you progress forward, the fold coverage
will remain constant calculated value unless either you kill some RP’s or
you are approaching to the end of line, where the coverage will decrease
gradually in an opposite manner to the start.
The Fold Coverage equation
𝑵𝒖𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑹𝑷 × 𝑹𝑷 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒍
𝑭𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 =
𝟐 × 𝑺𝑷 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒍
𝟐𝟎 × 𝟓𝟎
𝑭𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 (𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆) = = 𝟏𝟎
𝟐 × 𝟓𝟎
Special Coverage Issues
At certain condition, the seismic line passes by an obstacle that stops its
progress. Many simple people used to shift laterally the SP to one side of
the line. This is a grave exorbitant error. The lateral shift will provide a CDP
out of the original plane of reflection, which means useless data.
Here we insist on the principle that both incident ray and the reflected
ray are included in one plane perpendicular to the reflector plan at the CDP.

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 the upper diagram we find that the lateral shift has created a new plane
including a new CDP, which is out of the original plane.
That is why we do not follow the lateral shift idea.
So, what is the solution?

Over Shooting / Under Shooting

Assume in the upper diagram that we found an inaccessible SP N. First
solution here is to apply the “Over Shooting method”. We repeat shooting
from the previous SP. This means that we are going to shoot twice from the
same SP, the first one is the normal one. For the second SP we shifted it
following the principle: “Shifting the SP a certain interval to a certain
direction corresponds to shifting the spread the same interval but to the
opposite direction”.
At the upper part of the upper shape we find that the original SP N was
going to cover the indicated red parts.
By shifting the SP N one interval to the rear direction to be SP N-1, we
have to shift also the RP spread one interval to the forward direction. This
is known as “Over Shooting”.

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 We can find from the lower part of the diagram that the obtained coverage
has fulfilled the original one.
The second solution is the opposite, it is to shift SP one interval to the
forward direction, and shift the RP spread one shift backwards. This is
known as the “Under Shooting”.
This solution has maintained all the points in the same vertical plane.
Obstacle’s Coverage at Offshore:
Coverage Platforms

Streamers
Air Guns

Streamers Air Guns

The shown above top view shape, the streamers’ boat will make an offset
to another side pass at a safe distance from the obstacle (marine
installations). There will be another Air-Gun boat to pass at the other side
of the obstacle at the same offset of the streamers’ boat.
The lower part of the shape is a section view.
It is clear that the subsurface coverage was maintained without any risk.
By the end of this part, I wish you have comprehend the following points:
1- Refraction principal and its application.
2- Reflection Principle and its validity,
3- The True Velocity and The Apparent velocity for the reflected energy.
4- The “NMO” concept for the reflected energy arrival times.
5- Spread types.
6- Fold Coverage calculation
7- Over Shooting and Under Shooting.

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