Apache using land, marine seismic nodes

Apache Corp. is using nodal technology to shoot a 3-D survey in the Cook Inlet basin, onshore and offshore, technology which the company calls state of the art and which minimizes impact. (See story on Apache in June 17 issue, “Making strides,” at www.petroleumnews.com/pnads/426944557.shtml.)

So what do those nodes look like?

Apache provided the accompanying photos, which show the two types of nodes — offshore and onshore — as crews ready them for deployment.

The marine nodes are tethered with rope, and retrieved within 15 days, the company said, to minimize impact to the environment.

Apache said the land nodes are “the first and only truly cable-free seismic land system in the industry.” Each unit is self-contained in a 4.8 pound package and the cable-free technology eliminates the need for lay lines. Apache said deployment crews are smaller, reducing environmental impact.

The nodes are autonomous; there is no communication between components. The nodes record continuously and store data on internal flash memory until retrieved. Each unit is also self contained, with all the elements and technologies needed to sense, acquire, digitize, filter and store seismic data.

—Petroleum News