--> Abstract: Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems in Stakeless 3D Land Seismic Acquisition Operations, by H.H. Gazaz, #90188 (2014)

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Satellite-Based Augmentation Systems in Stakeless 3D Land Seismic Acquisition Operations

H.H. Gazaz1

1Saudi Aramco

Abstract

In 3D land seismic acquisition operations, several positioning measurement techniques can be utilized. Traditionally, Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) Global Positioning System is used to stake out vibrator shooting positions. During active seismic acquisition, vibrators navigate to these staked positions for shooting. Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) services have been recently adopted by a seismic crew operating in Saudi Arabia to enable stake-less vibrator operation. Vibrator trucks are equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that uses an SBAS service subscription. This enables vibrator trucks to navigate to shooting positions with a high degree of accuracy without the need for stakeout by a survey team. The use of stake-less seismic acquisition operation yields a dramatic increase in production rates. Meanwhile, no additional survey team personnel are required. These benefits come at the cost of reduced measurement accuracy compared to using RTK techniques, which has a published accuracy of approximately 2 cm horizontally and 3 cm vertically. This paper evaluates the accuracy, availability and use of SBAS in 3D land seismic acquisition projects. A completed seismic acquisition project that used SBAS revealed that high accuracy SBAS service corrections were available 99.4% of the time. The average accuracy results for SBAS were approximately 19 and 29 centimeters for the horizontal and vertical positions respectively. Based on interviews with geophysical experts, these results are considered to be within acceptable source positioning accuracy requirements for 3D land seismic projects.

 

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90188 ©GEO-2014, 11th Middle East Geosciences Conference and Exhibition, 10-12 March 2014, Manama, Bahrain