A seismic survey is a low-impact, non-invasive method of gathering information about both the location and characteristics of geological formations beneath the Earth's surface. Three phases of the seismic survey are data acquisition, processing, and interpretation. It is a method used to investigate the geological properties of the Earth and is used to explore petroleum, natural gas, and mineral deposits. Seismic surveys are conducted by deploying an array of sensors/receivers and an array of energy sources in an area of interest.
Seismic surveys use sound waves (reflected) to produce a CAT scan of the Earth's subsurface. They can be used to investigate landfill locations, help locate groundwater, and characterize how an Earth's surface will quiver during an earthquake, but they are mainly used for oil & gas exploration. Seismic surveys use acoustic waves to generate images of the Earth through the analysis of vibrations from those waves. Some waves can penetrate fluids and solid rock into the Earth's deep inner layers, while others can travel only along the Earth's surface.
Seismic surveys are used to determine the time interval between the onset of waves at a shot point and the arrival of refracted or reflected waves by seismic detectors. These surveys provide vital information such as types of rocks, gases in the formation, and possible fluids, providing a location of oil and gas reserves and a detailed image of the Earth's subsurface. The seismic survey can explain subsurface discontinuities, layering, and probable rocks/structures. It is suitable for the investigation of groundwater, oil and gas, coal, and massive metallic deposits.
Seismic survey is a method widely used during the exploration phase of oil & gas development. Thus, with the increasing demand for oil & gas, demand for the seismic survey is also increasing. For example, according to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), fossil fuels are expected to account for 77% of the global energy use by 2040. Seismic surveys reduce the likelihood of drilling dry wells, and thereby, help prevent further drilling and reduce the environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration.