Sub Basalt

An estimated 30 billion barrels of oil remain unexplored beneath flood basalts. However, basalt reservoirs are particularly daunting to image. Basalt flows often have rugose tops and interbed surfaces that, together with fracturing, cause scattering of the seismic energy. This leads to both noisy data and complicated ray-paths that require sophisticated techniques to correctly image the subsurface. Survey designs that capture long-offset data and acquisition techniques that enhance low-frequency content can help with sub basalt exploration.

ION has extensive experience successfully acquiring, processing, and interpreting seismic data in sub basalt regimes:

• Survey design and acquisition services - to optimize offshore operations in real time while maximizing the offsets and low frequency content
• Marine acquisition technologies - provide enhanced spread control to safely and efficiently execute complex survey geometries
• Advanced data processing techniques - very attentive preprocessing and a full suite of depth migration algorithms and illumination tools to provide the optimal imaging under the basalt

Through our Northeast AtlanticSPAN and IndiaSPAN programs, we have acquired over 35,000 km of depth-imaged seismic data in sub basalt regimes.

Carbonates

With over 60% of the world's oil and 40% of the world's gas reserves held in carbonate reservoirs, E&P companies are looking to improve their understanding of fluid flow mechanisms and reservoir systems to leverage these valuable resources. Yet, carbonates present the industry with some of the greatest challenges, which have inspired the development of new technologies and processes.

ION has a full suite of tools and technologies to better image carbonate reservoirs.

• Seamless project management - ION's GeoVentures group, project managers of our BasinSPAN data library, provides seamless project management, from feasibility studies and survey design, to data processing and interpretation.
• Full suite of acquisition technologies - Depending on the parameters of the project, ION's conventional or full-wave, land or marine acquisition technologies deliver efficient and HSE-friendly operations in the most challenging terrains.
• Advanced data processing techniques - ION's GX Technology (GXT) group has developed custom algorithms suited to the challenges presented by carbonate environments. Our Reservoir Services group leverages the results up to and including prospect generation.

Thrust Belt

Among global hydrocarbon provinces, fold and thrust belts (FTBs) are among the most complex geological systems and technically challenging environments for exploration. FTBs are typically associated with difficult and environmentally-sensitive areas, making acquisition costly. Such difficult terrains, which often include steep mountains and foothills, can suffer from near-surface data and ray-path problems, and no two regions are alike. Such a challenging environment requires a comprehensive approach.

ION offers several distinct advantages to operators in thrust belt regimes:

• Proven program management - Known for managing seismic operations in extremely difficult environments, ION's GeoVentures group has extensive experience in managing programs in rough terrains to ensure safe, efficient data acquisition.
• Survey design software - ION's GMG software is the standard for survey design in challenging environments.
• Specialized data processing techniques - GXT's imaging algorithms have been tuned to address the complex geology associated with thrust belts.