Structural Mapping

MSI provides structural mapping services to assist operators in their exploration and production efforts. Through the use of MSI’s unique array designs and proprietary software called PSTT^® (Passive Seismic Transmission Tomography), passive seismic data is acquired and processed to determine accurate velocities and integrated with key geological data to develop structural maps.

This is achieved through the recording and inversion of earthquake data. The method is considered passive since seismic velocity variations are inferred without the use of man-made sources of energy such as dynamite or vibrator trucks.

A typical PSTT^® survey involves the deployment of a dense network of 20-100 micro-array seismic stations covering a target area of 200-2000 km2 depending on desired resolution and field conditions. A several month long data acquisition period will result in the recording of the thousands of small (ML < 1) microseismic events that are then used to obtain high resolution (30-100 meters) 3-D images of the velocity structure and Poisson’s ratio.

A PSTT^® survey offers several key advantages over competing technologies:

• The signals used in PSTT^® are generated within and below the target depths, so complex geological structures (e.g., overthrust) are easily penetrated and imaged.
• Earthquakes generate significant proportions of shear wave energy, thus compressional wave, shear wave and Poisson’s ratio surveys are obtained simultaneously with PSTT^®.
• Optimal resolution is obtained in deep layers (2-6 km, about halfway between the surface and sources at 4-12 km depth).
• Passive data acquisition is environmentally friendly and allows for exploration in remote and/or environmentally sensitive areas.

Services Menu

• Services
• Hydraulic Fracture Mapping
• Reservoir Monitoring
• Data Processing & Analysis
• Geological Interpretation
• Structural Mapping
• Field Operations