Mapping Overpressure Zones Using Acoustic and Seismic Techniques

Summary A combination of acoustic and seismic methods was applied in order to define hazard on the sea floor and overpressure zones for planning drilling activities in the Caspain Sea. The following methods were used: Multibeam Echosounder Swath mapping (MES), in order to produce accurate bathymetry and map seafloor irregularities, faults and obstructions that could influence drilling operations. Side-Scan Sonar mapping (SSS), needed to identify obstacles on the seafloor with a very high resolution and particularly to locate positions of abandoned wells. Sub-Bottom Profiling and multichannel high-resolution seismic mapping (MCS) with the intention to resolve the stratigraphy of the area, identify faults, map high pressure zones and provide the link between the very shallow structures and those dominating at depth. The obtained results proved the efficiency of the methods proposed in satisfying engineering requirements.