Seismic in the New World

Michael J. Doyle
Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors, Calgary, AB

We, as the CAGC, see the line width issue as the fundamentally most important issue in the coming year and going forward. The seismic industry has been at the forefront of environmental stewardship as a subcomponent of the Oil and Gas Industry for the past decade. We have reduced our line widths by a factor of more than 50 % in the last 5 years alone. However as one area of the industry supports this stewardship another is concerned about the effect this continuing pressure will have on what our industry looks like.

Change will not come easily. Some things are for certain though. We will have to deal with this issue sooner or later as the cumulative effects of the industries on the land have grown exponentially over the past decade. All parties seek to maintain a sense of balance between the need for economic growth and the need for environmental protection.

If done correctly, such change could be to create a much healthier seismic industry. Specialized work and equipment may keep the number of players at a level that is more economically supportive. As our work continuously evolves so will our marketplace. The business in the frontiers will grow. These areas require money to get in and set up infrastructure. They also require a much softer environmental footprint in how we operate. The rearguard fight is not an option in these areas.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90039©2005 AAPG Calgary, Alberta, June 16-19, 2005