Lesson 1Quality control during acquisition: field checks, live displays, telemetry, timing, and common acquisition problems (ground roll, cultural noise)This lesson focuses on quality control in the field during seismic acquisition, including testing instruments, live displays, and timing checks. It describes how to detect and fix ground roll, cultural noise, statics issues, and problems with arrays or coupling in South Sudanese terrains.
Instrument tests and sensor verificationReal-time displays and noise scansTiming, synchronization, and GPS checksGround roll identification and controlCultural and environmental noise sourcesStatics, coupling, and array problemsLesson 2Seismic data processing essentials for 2D: geometry assignment, velocity analysis, NMO, stacking, migration basics, and common processing artifacts to recognizeThis covers key steps in 2D seismic processing from field records to stacked and migrated sections, adapted for South Sudan's geology. It emphasizes geometry assignment, velocity analysis, NMO, stacking, and basic migration, highlighting common artifacts and their causes from acquisition or processing.
Geometry loading and QC of headersVelocity analysis and semblance panelsNMO correction and stretch effectsStacking, fold, and signal enhancementIntroductory time migration conceptsRecognizing multiples and migration smilesLesson 3Elastic wave propagation in solids: P- and S-waves, velocities, impedance, reflection and transmission coefficientsThis reviews how elastic waves move through solids, defining P- and S-waves, their velocities, and impedance, relevant to South Sudan's subsurface rocks. It explains reflection and transmission at interfaces, angle dependence, mode conversion, and links to amplitude and polarity in seismic records.
Elastic moduli and seismic velocitiesP- and S-wave particle motion patternsAcoustic and elastic impedance conceptsNormal-incidence reflection coefficientsAngle-dependent reflection behaviorMode conversion at elastic interfacesLesson 4Survey logistics and environmental constraints: access, power, landowner permissions, safety, and permitting for onshore seismicThis addresses logistics and environmental challenges for onshore seismic surveys in South Sudan. It covers access routes, power supply, permitting, relations with landowners, safety planning, and ways to reduce environmental impact while following local regulations.
Access planning and line clearingPower supply and equipment stagingPermitting and regulatory complianceLandowner communication and agreementsField safety plans and risk mitigationMinimizing environmental disturbanceLesson 5Simple synthetic modeling and expected seismic sections: convolutional model, generating synthetic seismograms for layered sequences and simple structures (anticline, fault)This introduces convolutional modeling to predict seismic responses from layered earth models common in South Sudan. It covers wavelets, reflectivity series, and synthetic seismograms for flat layers, anticlines, and faults, comparing them with real sections from local data.
Reflectivity series from layered modelsChoice and design of seismic waveletsConvolutional model implementation stepsSynthetics for flat layered sequencesSynthetics for anticlines and faultsComparing synthetics with field dataLesson 6Seismic interpretation basics: reflector continuity, amplitude variations, polarity, horizon picking, fault identification, and structural vs. stratigraphic signs of reservoirsThis introduces basic 2D seismic interpretation for South Sudan's basins, emphasizing reflector continuity, terminations, and amplitude behavior. It covers polarity standards, horizon picking, fault and unconformity recognition, and distinguishing structural from stratigraphic traps.
Polarity conventions and phase standardsReflector continuity and terminationsHorizon picking strategies and pitfallsFault identification and throw estimationUnconformities and onlap patternsStructural versus stratigraphic trapsLesson 7Depth of investigation and resolution: vertical and horizontal resolution, tuning thickness, frequency content, and expected depth limits for target detectionThis examines depth of investigation and seismic resolution limits in South Sudanese contexts. It defines vertical and horizontal resolution, tuning thickness, and frequency content, relating them to wavelet length, velocity, noise, and realistic depth limits for targets like oil reservoirs.
Vertical resolution and quarter-wavelengthHorizontal resolution and Fresnel zoneTuning thickness and interference effectsFrequency content and attenuationDepth limits for target detectabilityImproving resolution with processingLesson 8Seismic sources and receivers: vibroseis, explosive sources, source signature, receiver types, coupling, and noise considerationsThis describes common seismic sources and receivers for land surveys in South Sudan, including vibroseis and explosives. It discusses source signatures, coupling, receiver types, arrays, and noise considerations that affect bandwidth and data quality in local conditions.
Vibroseis principles and sweep designExplosive sources and charge placementSource signatures and deconvolutionGeophones, MEMS, and cable systemsReceiver coupling and planting methodsSource and receiver generated noiseLesson 9Seismic ray theory and wavefronts: Snell’s law, critical angle, moveout, and travel-time calculation for layered mediaThis develops seismic ray theory for layered media in South Sudan, using Snell’s law to describe refraction, critical angle, and head waves. It explains moveout, travel-time curves, and raypath construction for simple velocity layering in 2D surveys.
Snell’s law and ray parameterCritical angle and head-wave formationRaypaths in horizontally layered mediaNormal and dip moveout conceptsTravel-time curves and hyperbolasLimitations of high-frequency ray theoryLesson 10Acquisition geometry for 2D lines: line length, inline orientation, fold, CMP spacing, shot and receiver intervals, and rationale for layout choicesThis explores 2D acquisition geometry for South Sudan's onshore surveys, relating line length, orientation, fold, and CMP spacing to imaging goals. It discusses shot and receiver intervals, spread types, and practical layout choices under terrain and budget constraints.
Inline orientation and survey objectivesLine length versus target depth and dipCMP spacing, fold, and offset distributionShot and receiver interval selectionSplit-spread and end-on layoutsTerrain, access, and cost trade-offs
