Introduction to Modern Marine Seismic Surveys: Scope, design and implementation

Course Description

Seismic surveys are essential tools for imaging the Earth’s subsurface using sound. These surveys generate detailed maps that help identify geological structures and, in many cases, infer rock properties. They are widely applied in hydrocarbon exploration and development, as well as in assessing and monitoring emerging carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.

Survey design is dependent on a project’s development stage—whether early exploration, field development, or ongoing monitoring. Factors such as geological complexity, water depth, and regulatory environments also influence survey objectives and technology choices. For example, oil and gas exploration often targets deep water and complex subsurface environments, while CCS projects are typically nearshore, in ultra-shallow water, due to infrastructure and customer proximity.

The evolving complexity of these ventures—combined with advances in acquisition, processing, and imaging—demands more customized and technically sound survey designs. Modern workflows require professionals who not only understand survey design fundamentals but can also link them to processing strategies, imaging objectives, operational constraints, and business drivers.

This two-day course addresses marine seismic acquisition through three distinct perspectives:

 • Subsurface Objectives: Linking subsurface objectives to survey design across exploration, development, and CCS projects

 • Seismic Value Chain: Understanding how acquisition design choices influence processing, imaging, and interpretation, and how feedback from those stages informs and refines acquisition strategies

 • Business Context and Operational implementation: Connecting technical and business objectives with implementation, from project framing to operations

This training offers an integrated approach to survey design—with a strong emphasis on understanding which technologies to select and why those choices matter. 

The course follows Shell’s seismic project management practice which brings together venture geologists, seismic processing experts, imaging and interpretation geophysicists, and subject matter experts (SMEs). Together, they define the project scope and carry out an initial risk assessment. This initial framing sets the team up for the next phases: survey design, project initiation, tendering and execution.

By mirroring this staged approach, the course provides both technical insights and a clear understanding of the business and planning context. While it emphasizes the technical aspects of survey design and how technologies address subsurface challenges, its integrated perspective makes it equally valuable for geologists, geophysicists involved in seismic processing and interpretation and asset or venture managers.

By embedding technical knowledge within a broader business and operational framework, the course equips participants to deliver high-quality seismic data that supports stronger, better-informed business decisions timely and safely.