Marine Geophysical

Additional Information

Marine Geophysics
Geoscience and Geohazards
Seismic Exploration & Interpretation

AOA Geophysics offers clients a broad range of marine geophysical and related services. We are employed on a wide range of projects, from regional reconnaissance studies to prospect modeling to production site analysis. In all cases, AOA provides specialized support for the in-house staff of our clients.  AOA’s unusually broad expertise enables use of the best available technology, merged with unique methods to assure clients of the highest probability of successful exploration or production programs. “Best-practice” techniques combined with deep experience make for consistent results.

Geophysical Expertise

We have experience with a wide variety of systems

  • 2D, 3D, high-resolution 2D, and high-resolution 3D multi-channel seismic (MCS)
  • Hull-mounted multi-beam (Simrad, Atlas, SeaBeam, Reson)
  • Towed side-scan systems (GLORIA, SeaMarc, AMS-120, -150, and -200, MSSS-1, EG+G, Klein, Datasonics, EdgeTech)
  • High-resolution seismic (Pinger, Sparker, Boomer, Huntec and CHIRP)
  • Water column and sea surface data (Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and Sniffer)
  • Human-occupied and remotely-operated vehicles (ALVIN, Ventana, ROPOS, ATV, EXPLOS Jason/Medea)
  • Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs)

GIS Expertise

We utilize advanced visualization and geographical information system (GIS) software, to both interpret data and to provide the client with easily navigated multi-layered data sets as well as 3D "fly-throughs."

Our People

Our staff include geologists and geophysicists, experts in GIS and charting, and a marine biologist with a background in marine habitat mapping.  Our intention would be to have one project leader follow the job through from first contact with the client to final report production, and we encourage frequent discussion of project goals and any necessary changes as the project progresses.  AOA Geophysics Marine Geosciences Division looks forward to working with you to achieve your goals

AOA is an industry innovator in the design of hydrocarbon prospectivity surveys for frontier basins, high-resolution survey QA/QC, and “high-level” deepwater geohazard interpretation using existing and/or newly acquired data. In hydrocarbon prospectivity surveys, AOA applies the latest generation of hydrographic seafloor survey tools in conjunction with exploration and high-resolution 2D and 3D seismic data to identify natural seafloor hydrocarbon seeps, near-surface gas, and gas hydrate.

AOA Geophysics Marine Geosciences Division has been at the forefront of recent advances in seafloor mapping and visualization to enhance offshore exploration and exploitation.  The company has been a major contributor and innovator in the development of multibeam bathymetry for seafloor mapping.  This technology allows for much faster mapping of a large area than side scan sonar and much more detailed analysis of seabed features than singlebeam bathymetry.  AOA has used multibeam bathymetry extensively in surveys conducted off the west coast of southern Africa, in the Gulf of Mexico and, most recently, offshore India.

Seafloor geochemical surveys to prove hydrocarbon prospectivity are dramatically improved by AOA’s use of real-time acoustic positioning for accurate and precise seafloor sampling.

Our experience with a wide variety of geophysical acquisition systems allows us to design surveys to optimize data quality and coverage while minimizing costs. AOA performs intensive shipboard QA/QC with the goal of identifying and addressing acquisition system issues as early as possible. By using at-sea processing, interpretation, and communication with shore-based parties, AOA can improve the effectiveness of the acquisition program to better meet the survey objectives based on newly acquired data.

AOA also offers services to help mitigate geohazards. Complex problems are evaluated within a framework of understanding active processes based on detailed seafloor and subsurface morphology combined with seismic attribute analysis, offset well, geochemical, and geotechnical information. We specialize in assessing the most critical geohazard risks such as identifying and characterizing slope failures, shallow-water-flows, and gas hydrates.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) analysts at AOA can join disparate geohazard data into highly useful integrated digital libraries. Our project deliverables are GIS-based to ensure usefulness and long-term adaptability.

For more information on Gas Hydrate and Shallow-Water-Flow studies download our Geohazard PDF.