4 Q-Seabed Benefits

Quality
Q-Seabed 1 (QSB-1) is WesternGeco's most experienced and advanced 4C Seabed operation. They
have completed seabed surveys world wide since 1999 and since 2004 QSB-1 has successfully
operated in the North Sea, Caribbean, Mediterranean, offshore Angola and Arabian Gulf with the
latest generation of seabed cable systems "Q-Seabed".

The Q-Seabed acquisition system along with a best in class operating platform QSB-1 is able to
provide safe 24hr production in the harshest of environments, whilst ensuring the highest possible
quality data set.

WesternGeco's standard QC products and flows have been designed to analyze and quantify the
data using the most efficient methods currently available. Real time QC allows decisions relating
to noise levels and other parameters, to be made quickly and accurately. This data can
subsequently be displayed directly into onshore client offices via SuperVision data transfer
service.

Cable positioning is enhanced with IRMA (Intrinsic Ranging by Modulated Acoustics) ranging
system allowing cable positions to be calculated with a range precision of 0.19 meters. The
positioning of cable via IRMA reduces the need for source positioning runs and noise exposure for
sea mammals.

Data quality is further enhanced by the high vector fidelity of the Q-Seabed system, the use of a
coupling guide which reduces the amount of shear noise recorded, the superior frequency
response for the GAC-C accelerometers and the omni directional nature of the single sensors
used. These factors combined with extensive experience processing multicomponent data will
allow WesternGeco to provide a 4C dataset of outstanding quality.

Efficiency
Long cable capability, with cables up to 30 km in length, allows surveys to be acquired with
minimal spread zippering. The total cable capacity of the operation also allows for increased
efficiency in that a combination of long receiver lines and a large number of receiver lines can be
recorded. The capability to position the cable whilst acquiring seismic data is being acquired
further enhances efficiency.

The cables are normally deployed in a snake fashion, so that each cable makes up two or more
receiver lines. WesternGeco crews are experienced in deploying cables in a snaked configuration.
The use of few risers and long snaked cables, which can be varied in length, leads to a very
efficient and safe operation.

The use of snake functionality in the recording system allows each physical cable to be split up
into several different logical cables. Snake functionality also enables recording of only the sensors
of interest, typically eliminating the data from the loops of the cable. Not only does snake
functionality allow for splitting the physical cable into logical cables, it also reverses the order of
the sensors and renumbers the traces for alternate logical cables. Thus each component for each

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 receiver line will be recorded as a separate channel set with trace numbers increasing in the
same direction. This greatly reduces the amount of manual coding needed to process and QC the
data. The overall efficiency is increased.

Long Cable Capability

Q-Seabed deploys the world's longest seismic cable. Cables up to 30km in length are possible.
Inactive sections of the snake in the turns can be composed of lightweight jumper sections. An
example of a snake configuration is shown. (See Fig. 4.1)

Fig. 4.1 Q-Seabed snaked cable deployment schematic - two physical cables making up six active segments
(logical cables) shown

The advantages of this style of deployment are:

Fewer swathes are required for the same fold and azimuth coverage. This reduces swathe
move time.
In many cases fewer panels are needed to cover a survey area, thus reducing the need for
zipper zones. This of course greatly reduces the total source effort required and likewise
increases efficiency.
Fewer discrete cables are deployed - this eliminates the use of dual risers and/or buoying off
operations; increasing uptime and reducing QHSE exposure.

This translates into a more efficient operation with reduced QHSE exposure.

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 Snake functionality
Snake functionality is an integral part of the TRIACQ recording system.

The use of 'snake functionality' allows each physical cable to be split up into several logical
cables. Snake functionality also enables recording of only the sensors of interest, typically
eliminating the data from the loops of the cable. In practice this means that each receiver line is
one logical cable.

Not only does snake functionality allow for splitting the physical cable into logical cables, it also
reverses the order of the sensors and renumbers the traces for alternate logical cables. Thus each
component for each receiver line will be recorded as a separate channel set with trace numbers
increasing in the same direction. This greatly reduces the amount of manual coding needed to
process and QC the data, thus increasing efficiency.

Cable Handling
The Geco Bluefin and Conti are equipped with the state of the art cable-handling systems. The
back decks of each vessel are designed with a high priority on personnel safety. The cable
deployment and recovery operations use advanced automation and control systems to minimize
personnel intervention. Handling Specialists use portable, remote control boxes that allow the
flexibility to control the system while monitoring all aspects of the deployment/recovery
operation. CCTV and data monitors continuously display critical information on system speed,
tension, vessel position and operation progress. Full-time open communication is maintained
between the back deck, vessel-bridge, acquisition and navigation departments throughout the
operations. The de-tensioning devices incorporated into both vessel systems allow for safe and
efficient handling of the Q-Seabed cable and associated risers/lead-ins, for all water depths. (See
Fig. 4.2)

Fig. 4.2 Q-Seabed Cable Handling. On the right; cables are stored in the center of the vessel with the cable
pretension unit above the reel. The left images show the Cable Overboard Unit (COU), from which the cable is
deployed. A senior acquisition specialist operates the system using a remote console. The COU can be extended
outside the stern and can be tilted to facilitate the operation, especially in rough weather. This results in a very
safe and efficient operation.

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