The status of wide-azimuth and multi-azimuth seismic acquisition: What is working and what remains to be done

To improve exploration success rates and achieve optimum well placement, better seismic imaging tools are needed. What geologists and geophysicists are learning is that for each geology type, a custom fit of carefully designed data acquisition and processing schemes is necessary for achieving the best answers. One method does not fit all. Rather, geophysicists will continue to evolve a group of tools, each for a specific purpose, including solutions for steeply dipping strata, high-velocity layers (e.g., sub-salt and sub-basalt imaging), highly anisotropic reservoirs and so on. New methods of acquisition that feature wider azimuths and variable azimuths have recently been experimented with, generally, for the purpose of greater reservoir illumination. The spate of interest in bringing the benefits of wide-azimuth and multi-azimuth seismic acquisition is reflected in the literature of the past few years, especially in the sessions from the most immediate SEG and EAGE Annual Meetings.