Schlumberger Introduces Q-Marine & Q-Borehole Seismic Technology at Annual SEG Conference in Calgary

Schlumberger Oilfield Services has taken the occasion of this year's annual Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) International Conference and Exhibition in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to unveil two new components in the company's Q seismic acquisition and processing system, Q-Marine and Q-Borehole.

Q-Marine
Successfully field tested in the US Gulf of Mexico, Q-Marine technology offers what is called a new level of precision for seismic reservoir characterization and evaluation and is said to bring the seismic industry closer to its goal of delivering reservoir images at a resolution similar to that of downhole measurements. (Schlumberger introduced the first component in the system, Q-Land, in March of this year.)

The Q-Marine towed streamer seismic data acquisition system combines the benefits of Schlumberger streamer steering technology with single-sensor recording. Exploiting recent advances in both electronics and data communication networks, the system allows recording by more than 4000 individual hydrophones on each of as many as 20 streamers, giving a maximum of 80,000 channels. Sophisticated signal processing software enables real-time digital group forming of the single-sensor data and correction of perturbations in the seismic data. The real-time intelligent dynamic group forming incorporates high-fidelity data-adaptive noise attenuation.

According to Terje Nikolaysen, vice president for Schlumberger Reservoir Evaluation Seismic, "One area that will benefit particularly from the introduction of Q-Marine technology is the acquisition of 4D seismic surveys. Q-Marine acquisition introduces new levels of control, which now enable the cost-effective towed streamer method to accurately fulfill the principal requirements of 4D ready data.

Nikolaysen says that Q-Marine acquisition, 4D ready data with both forward and backward compatibility can be delivered.

Q-Borehole
Optimizing all aspects of borehole seismic from job planning through acquisition, processing, delivery, and interpretation, Q-Borehole technology offers improved imaging of complex subsurface structure in less than half the time taken to deliver conventional borehole seismic results.

Q-Borehole acquisition technology uses a versatile, field-configurable downhole tool with up to 20 multicomponent sensor shuttles that provide real-time data at varying sample rates. The downhole tool provides excellent signal fidelity on all recording components through the use of a small sensor package that is decoupled from the main tool body, further reducing noise. Advanced software ensures a high level of interactivity during acquisition, then provides automated quality control and processing that deliver data in time to impact drilling decisions. According to Olivier Peyret, vice president Schlumberger Reservoir Evaluation-Wireline, "Q-Borehole technology paves the way for the efficient acquisition of complex borehole seismic surveys that have previously been considered uneconomic or impractical. This is much more than the introduction of a new downhole tool. Q-Borehole components represent a complete engineering concept that enables integration with other seismic surface-related equipment as well as transparent connection to Q-Land and Q-Marine surface seismic systems."

Edited by Dev George
Managing Editor, Oil and Gas Online