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A Synergistic Combination of Technologies

May 03, 1999 - Abstract

Exploration and production in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico is hampered by an absence of existing survey data. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, NOAA ventured to map the deep Gulf of Mexico with multibeam sonar. Unfortunately, this visionary project lacked both the funding for completion and the technology to provide the survey accuracy and resolution presently desired.

An aggressive campaign has been initiated to acquire and evaluate collocated multibeam bathymetry, acoustic reflectivity, gravity, magnetic, and sub-bottom data across 17,000 square miles of the uncharted deepwater Gulf of Mexico. Evaluation of these data is being accomplished with new technology developed by the University of New Brunswick, Canada, which interactively integrates them into one common graphical environment. “Fly-throughs" of georeferenced data provide construction planning, production analysis, and allow for the establishment of geologic correlation. Interrelationships associated with the collection, processing, and interpretation of these various data sets and the benefit of multibeam bathymetry on the 3D Bouguer correction are discussed.

Copyright 1999, Offshore Technology Conference

This paper was prepared for presentation at the 1999 Offshore Technology Conference held in Houston, Texas, 3–6 May 1999. This paper was selected for presentation by the OTC Program Committee following review of information contained in an abstract submitted by the author(s). Contents of the paper, as presented, have not been reviewed by the Offshore Technology Conference and are subject to correction by the author(s). The material, as presented, does not necessarily reflect any position of the Offshore Technology Conference or its officers. Electronic reproduction, distribution, or storage of any part of this paper for commercial purposes without the written consent of the Offshore Technology Conference is prohibited. Permission to reproduce in print is restricted to an abstract of not more than 300 words; illustrations may not be copied. The abstract must contain conspicuous acknowledgment of where and by whom the paper was presented.

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