Implementing a wide azimuth towed streamer field trial: the what, why and mostly how of WATS in Southern Green Canyon

Authors:
  • ITIan M. Threadgold
    Ian M. Threadgold
  • KZKristin Zembeck‐England
    Kristin Zembeck‐England
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Abstract
A wide azimuth towed streamer survey, the first of its kind for subsalt imaging in the Gulf of Mexico, was acquired in late 2004/early 2005 over the Mad Dog Field. The purpose was to provide a useable subsalt image in an area where previously acquired data was inadequate due to the inherent sampling deficiencies of conventional towed streamer acquisition. Once the core technique was selected through advanced modeling, a project team was established to identify the technical and operational essentials of the survey. Changes to many parts of the acquisition system were required and it was quickly revealed that the biggest challenge would be to impart all the new learnings from the project team to the marine crew acquiring the data. If the team in the field could effectively understand the novel concept and unique aspects of the technique, it would then be possible to implement plan changes quickly and define critical data quality parameters as new attributes were uncovered in the offshore data set. To accomplish this, several pre‐survey meetings were scheduled where the marine crews were brought in for a series of technical and operational presentations. Post mission analysis confirmed that pre‐survey planning and communications were the two most critical factors contributing to the successful outcome of the survey.