The Role and Value of Geophysical Studies to Design and Approve Dense ISS® OBS Survey Designs - A Review from Indonesia

Successfully demonstrating the value of a new, dense, wide azimuth Ocean Bottom Seismic (OBS) survey design requires wide stakeholder engagement and consensus (technical, business, partner and government). In a sustained low-oil price environment this is an even greater challenge. In the case reviewed in this paper, shallow gas, thick karst, and a high current shallow water environment further complicate the technical challenge and it’s effective communication to stakeholders.

This paper reviews the importance of multiple geophysical technical studies, leading to a successful approval to tender and award an optimized 820 sq.km wide azimuth, long offset, dense ISS® OBS survey. Initially, studies to understand the imaging challenges, then to optimize the design for efficiency and high end processing, and finally translate the expected data requirements impact (identified by the business) into a seismic promise.