Information about Seismic Data Acquisition
Who is Seitel Data, Ltd (SDL)?
- SDL is an oil and gas service company that is engaged with the creation and marketing of 2D and 3D seismic data.
- SDL staff has the capabilities to design, manage, acquire, process, and deliver 2D and 3D seismic products shot in varied terrain and climate to a diverse clientele.
- Our clients include a multitude of oil and gas companies ranging in size from the smallest to largest in the industry.
- SDL maintains one of the largest seismic libraries in North America
Acquisition Process
Source and Receiver Preplan
SDL has in-house survey designers who have created a preplan for the layout of the source and receiver devices.
Permitting
SDL has contracted DAS to seek permission in the form of legal permits from all surface owners who own or control an interest in any land that is planned to contain source and receiver devices before entering the property during subsequent phases of acquisition
Surveying
Source and receiver devices will be placed on the ground in their allowed location, marked with survey flagging, lathe, or other method. The estimated timeline for this activity is May, 2026 – October, 2026.
Drilling
For surveys using dynamite source points, holes will be drilled and loaded. The estimated timeline for this activity is June 2026 - September 2026
Acquisition
The deployment of source and receiver devices, followed by data recording. The estimated timeline for this activity is August 2026 - October 2026.
Pickup
The removal of all survey flagging materials and data recording equipment (either by ATV or helicopter).
What is Seismic?
3D seismic shoots are performed by laying out a grid of source (dynamite or vibroseis) and receiver (geophone) devices which will record soundwaves as they travel to the base of the earth and then reflect back up to the surface.>
Why Seismic Matters
Energy exploration is very expensive, and seismic data creates the ability to analyze subsurface reservoirs before placing wells to drill for oil and gas. It is an invaluable resource for the energy industry, as it allows more certainty before beginning the drilling process. This means wells are less likely to be placed in low production areas, thus increasing economic activity and lessening total environmental impact.
Why Landowners Matter:
By permitting an entire survey, with no holes due to lack of permission to acquire seismic data, SDL can create a better dataset to pinpoint the location of oil and gas reservoirs with higher accuracy. It is important for land and mineral owners to understand the contribution of their cooperation in the seismic acquisition process.