Mitigating the Environmental Footprint of Towed Streamer Seismic Surveys

The environmental risks associated with marine towed streamer seismic surveys can be categorized into four main emission components; solid, fluid, gaseous, and acoustic. Sources for each component can be identified with respect to the maritime technologies incorporated into the design of the seismic survey vessel and the seismic acquisition technologies and methods applied to specific geophysical objectives. To facilitate this analysis, we introduce the concept of an emission risk matrix. Within this matrix the potential risk level of each emission component associated with the survey vessel and the seismic equipment can be assessed. Once the primary risks have been identified, mitigation measures can then be identified which, when applied, can significantly reduce the environmental footprint of the towed streamer survey effort.