AOA Geophysics are recognized experts in deepwater geohazard assessments.  Our technical roots come from the mid 1990′s when the techniques and methodology for identifying and assessing hazards and constraints  in the deepwater were developed by the super-major oil companies and key geohazard and geotechnical contractors.  Steep slopes, irregular topography, variable soils, protected deepwater benthic communities, seafloor vents, active faulting, overpressured sands, gas pockets, and gas hydrates, can all pose hazards or constrain the well design or development plan.

• At the Exploration and Pre-Development Stage-  we typically use conventional 3-D seismic data.  Although lacking vertical resolution for foundation zone studies, the lateral resolution is extremely useful in initial site characterizations and is adequate to define exploration hazards for most deepwater drilling situations.  Shallow gas, sand mapping, fault mapping, and gas hydrate identification can be accomplished with good-quality conventional 3-D seismic data.

These assessments are used by oil and gas exploration companies to plan their drilling operations and casing plans.  These same assessments generally have a dual purpose for getting authorization to drill from government permitting authorities (such as the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) or for rig insurance.

High resolution geophysical data acquired from an AUV (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) are used for the pre-development deepwater development survey.   These are simply the shallow water high resolution tools flown close to the deepwater seabed- multibeam echosounder, side-scan sonar, and subbottom profiler.  From these data, soils characterization, erosion assessments, fault displacement assessments are made.

Whether the project is a rank wildcat well or a field development, AOA delivers high quality geohazard assessments that you can plan by- on time and on budget.

For deepwater geohazard assessments, pipeline routing, and field layout planning:
contact Dan McConnell +1 713 532-2624
Email Dan

(image courtesy Mariner Energy Inc.)