Seismic resolution and field design; success and failure at Taber, Alberta, Canada

Geophysical mapping is presented that suggests a genetic relationship may exist between a band of Glauconitic sandstones and the edge of a large Mississippian structure.A seismic line of late 1970s vintage, covering a thick Glauconitic sandstone reservoir, was reshot with a broader band vibrator sweep, reduced geophone offsets, and shorter arrays. These changes significantly improved the seismic visibility of the sandstone reservoir. However, they also significantly enhanced the vulnerability of the signal to high-noise environments. Such an environment is identified beneath a 163 000 V transmission line with wooden poles, where ground roll from resonating poles and not induced 60 Hz current is the dominant noise system.Examples are shown of the seismic signatures for both structural and stratigraphically controlled reservoirs in the area.