Best Practice Seismic Acquisition in the Canadian Arctic: Mackenzie Delta and Colville Hills, NWT

Michael E. Enachescu¹, John Hogg¹, Fred Kierulf¹, Paul Price¹, and Allan Châtenay^2
1MGM Energy Corp., Calgary, AB, Canada.
²Explor, Calgary, AB, Canada.

A three year cycle was generally needed to adequately plan, execute, process and interpret a medium size 2D or 3D seismic program in the Canadian Arctic. The tasks of designing, supervising and monitoring the seismic surveys is divided between the oil and gas exploration company, a seismic management company and a seismic contractor based in NWT with significant native content. To properly complete these seismic programs, extensive efforts and experienced manpower is needed to manage the environmental considerations in the survey area.

Respecting federal, territorial and local regulations and maintaining productive relationships with the area’s First Nations is imperiously required in all phases of program implementation.

Best Practice measures have to be adopted throughout the execution of an Arctic seismic program. Several examples of beset practice seismic acquisition based upon recent exploration efforts in the Canadian Arctic are presented.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90130©2011 3P Arctic, The Polar Petroleum Potential Conference & Exhibition, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, 30 August-2 September, 2011.