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.

Course Objectives: 

-Connect Subsurface Objectives to a technical implementation through Survey Design: Participants understand how seismic acquisition supports the specific objectives of exploration, development, and CCS ventures—translating geological questions into technical solutions.

- Integrate the Full Seismic Value Chain: Participants understand how seismic acquisition links with processing and interpretation, emphasizing the importance of design choices on the seismic image and ensuing interpretation. 

-Bridge Technical, Operational, and Business Strategy: Equip learners with the tools and perspectives to deliver fit-for-purpose seismic surveys by aligning technical decisions with operational realities and broader business objectives.

Course Outline: 

This two day course will review the design and implementation of modern marine seismic surveys, considering subsurface objectives, available acquisition, processing, and imaging technologies, as well as environmental, financial, and operational constraints. The course structure follows roughly the stages of a seismic acquisition project:

Framing the Survey

- Defining project scope and subsurface objectives.

- Identifying objectives for exploration, appraisal, development, and CCS.

- Initial assessment of operational and project risk.

Legacy Data and Technology Review

- Evaluating existing datasets and velocity information.

- Reviewing modern marine acquisition technologies, including: 

   - Broadband 

   - Long-offset, low-frequency acquisition

   - Simultaneous Sources

Survey Design

- Setting parameters: offsets, sampling, bandwidth.

- Tying design to processing, imaging, and interpretation requirements.

Implementation and Execution

- Considering cost and schedule.

- Assessing and mitigating environmental impact.

- Implementing the design with the selected technologies.

•Design Challenge

- During the course, participants will work through an actual survey design problem. We will pause throughout the sections to reflect on how the discussed topics can be applied in practice. Participants are encouraged to actively engage in the discussions.

Participant’s Profile:

This course is designed for professionals involved in the planning, design, or use of seismic surveys across exploration, development, and CCS projects. 

It is especially suited for:

- Geophysicists working in acquisition, processing, or interpretation.

- Exploration and development geologists.

- Asset, venture, and exploration managers.

- Seismic processing and imaging specialists.

- Project planners and operational staff.

- Early-career professionals or non-specialists seeking a structured introduction to seismic survey design.

Whether you're defining survey objectives or using seismic surveys to guide decisions, this course will strengthen your technical understanding and strategic insight.

Prerequisites:

The following background is recommended:

- Basic understanding of geophysics and seismic principles (e.g., wave propagation, processing technologies, imaging).

- Familiarity with subsurface exploration workflows, including exploration, development, or CCS project stages.

- Experience working with seismic data—either in acquisition, processing, interpretation, or project planning.

- General awareness of project management concepts and business drivers in subsurface ventures.

No prior experience in survey design or execution is required, but participants should be comfortable engaging with multidisciplinary teams and technical discussions.

About the Instructor:

Xander is a Principal Science Expert in the Geophysics and Geomatics Operations group at Shell Global Solutions International B.V. in The Hague, The Netherlands. He joined Shell in 2007 after earning an MSc in Applied Geophysics and a PhD in Applied Mathematics from Delft University of Technology.

Xander spent over a decade in exploratory and geophysical research roles, including five years leading Shell’s seismic acquisition research team. For the past five years, he has focused on Geophysical Operations—supporting seismic surveys worldwide, advancing and deploying new technologies, improving seismic delivery, and advising regional ventures globally.