The Application of the 3D Seismic Surveying Technique to Coal Seam Imaging: Case Histories from the Arckaringa and Sydney Basins

Two dimensional seismic surveying is commonly used in the coal mining industry to assist the mining and development of coal deposits by seismically imaging coal seams. A specialised three dimensional seismic surveying technique has recently been performed over coal mining leases in South Australia and New South Wales, to trial its applicability to coal mine planning and extraction operations.

The first two case histories of its trial in Australia are presented, and the conclusion drawn that the specialised three dimensional technique developed to date offers the ability to image coal seams in three dimensions and thereby improve mine planning in regions of complex faulting.