Abstract
In the extreme conditions of the Far North and Arctic seas any geological prospecting and survey work is highly labour-intensive and expensive. Thus, an enlargement of the resource base and reasonable drilling potential needs a high-quality and comprehensive survey.
The main negative factors for surveying in the Far North are:
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the long winters with hard frosts, for which many types of equipment conditions and machinery are not designed;
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difficulties with delivery of equipment and personnel in the work areas (absence of roads). The volume and weight of the equipment imposes particular demands.
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absence of developed infrastructure in the research regions.
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and other factors.
Seismic researches in Northern and Arctic sees also have certain limitations. Amongst others are:
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short ice-free period, i.e. depending on the region it can be from 30 to 90 days;
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absence of ports and servicing parks and refueling facilities for vessels;
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high specialists standards for ice-breaking potential survey boats and support vessels;
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reduction of the Russian ice-breaker fleet.
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and other factors.
Therefore, the methods and technologies of the field works should be chosen with discretion. Technical and economic conditions should be considered fully in advance, getting maximum information during the survey.
Methods and technologies of geophysical research are very varied.
There are: gravity prospecting, magnetometer measurements and electrical methods, as well as seismic survey. In order to get reliable information about the subsurface resources structure and a map of rock structure during the search for hydrocarbon accumulation it is necessary to make 2D and 3D seismic surveys.
Seismic surveys are an expensive method, so they demand higher quality and more reliable information.
There are many different techniques, technologies and equipment for undertaking a seismic survey. Correctly chosen methodologies, technologies determine the efficiency of geophysical research. They will give comprehensive information about the field explored.
Also, we should not forget about equipment. During recent decades there has been huge progress in the development of electronic systems, their accuracy and autonomy. Therefore, planning the work is essential when using the most modern equipment, which equipment increases the accuracy, reliability and completeness of the data.
