Geoscience and Geohazards
 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 hyd rocarbon seeps, near-surface gas, and gas hydrate. 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.
Additional Resources
For more information on Gas Hydrate and Shallow-Water-Flow studies download our Geohazard PDF.
For examples of gas hydrate traps in Northwest Walker Ridge, download Dan McConnell's paper, "Images of the base of gas hydrate stability in deepwater Gulf of Mexico." |
