
At 08:00 on April 6, 2020, the first shot was successfully acquired
on a 3D seismic exploration of the Qiulin block in the Sichuan Basin. SmartSolo seismic sensor nodes
and accompanying technologies are being used on this hybrid acquisition.
The Qiulin
block 3D project has 52820 source points and 114445 receiver points, and SmartSolo
will be used on a total of 750 square kilometers. The
main geological objectives are to examine the tectonic form, find trap dimensions
and shallow target locations, and to look at fault distribution patterns in the
region.
There are many operational considerations for this exploration that will traverse a region largely comprising hills and valleys of dense vegetation. The survey runs across the entire county, including the Peijiang urban area with infrastructure including roads and industrial parks. Production will face winter, spring and summer conditions, but most notably a very arduous rainy season which typically arrives early in Sichuan.

SmartSolo sensor nodes always had the advantage of layout
flexibility, and have demonstrated on many previous projects their ability to
work in and around obstacles, while maintaining data integrity and production
efficiency.

On this new seismic acquisition in Sichuan, it is expected the greatest challenge will be the heavy
rain, as it presents a particularly testing environment for both equipment and
field operations. Through innovative design and quality manufacturing, the SmartSolo
nodes are firmly protected against water ingress and other unwanted dust and
dirt, and can be used in exceptionally wet environments.
With a blend of 3-component and single-component acquisition on a large scale, and likely to encounter such a mix of operational hurdles, the project presents another good opportunity to showcase the capabilities and productivity using SmartSolo.