Challenges
Exploration and production areas in the desert can be characterized by sand dunes, hard sabkha deposits and buried wadis. These highly variable, near-surface velocity zones and complicated surface conditions make imaging difficult and require new survey design approaches, sensor technology, and processing techniques.
With new exploration and development opportunities in Libya and Iraq and with the world becoming ever more dependent on oil from the desert regions of the Middle East, the oil and gas industry requires imaging technology that solves critical desert imaging and operational challenges:
- Acquiring high quality images in areas subject to extreme near-surface velocity variations
- Deploying seismic receivers to maximize image quality in dune fields and desert sabkhas with poor ground coupling characteristics and statics problems
- Maintaining efficient and reliable field operations in extremely hot conditions and in areas characterized by large temperature variations
Solutions
Combinations of innovative field acquisition techniques and processing technologies are necessary to solve desert operational and imaging challenges. These must be supported by acquisition equipment, thoroughly tested and certified for desert operating conditions. ION offers a range of products and technologies that are designed to enhance image quality and sustain field productivity in desert settings, including:
