Triple Source in Seismic Exploration – Experiences Offshore Norway

In this paper we present best practices, learnings and benefits of using triple source configurations in connection with large marine exploration campaigns. The utilization of more sources behind a streamer vessel will increase efficiency and improve sampling in between the streamers leading to cost savings and improved quality of data. In addition, using a source setup of two sub-arrays instead of three sub-arrays, will reduce the sound pressure level from each source, hence reducing the environmental impact from each shot. However, despite the reduction in sound pressure levels, sufficient acoustic energy is still available for maintaining a good signal-to-noise ratio, and hence, producing excellent data volumes. The process of deblending of overlapping recorded shot data was found to be data dependent and different schemes had to be applied to the data from the two different geological regions. However, when comparing the 3D fast-track migrated data volume with the vintage 2D data confirmed that the deblending workflows preserved deeper structures in the zones of overlapping records. The use of tripe source has become a new standard in marine seismic exploration campaigns.