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Shooting seismic from the sky

If environmental restrictions, rugged terrain or dangerous wildlife make it difficult to appraise oil and gas prospects from the ground, companies turn to helicopters If environmental restrictions, rugged terrain or dangerous wildlife make it difficult to appraise oil and gas prospects from the ground, companies turn to helicopters.
By The Wildcat 16 July 2013 0 2813
Empire Oil & Gas performed the Perth Basin's first-ever heliseismic survey. (Empire Oil)

For just under two years, Empire Oil & Gas waded its way through Western Australia’s (WA’s) complex environmental approval process before getting the go ahead to survey a Perth Basin gas and condensate prospect. The problem? The resources sit under a protected nature reserve. The answer? Drop the 3D seismic survey equipment from the sky.

After receiving WA’s approval in May, Empire began the Perth Basin’s first-ever heliseismic survey. The company used helicopters to drop seismic drilling rigs, geophones and other equipment into the Boonanarring Nature...