Testing the reliability of paper seismic record to SEGY conversion on the surface and shallow sub-surface geology of the Barra Fan (NE Atlantic Ocean)

Owen, Matthew J.; Maslin, Mark A.; Day, Simon J.; Long, David. 2015 Testing the reliability of paper seismic record to SEGY conversion on the surface and shallow sub-surface geology of the Barra Fan (NE Atlantic Ocean). Marine and Petroleum Geology, 61. 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2014.12.009

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2014.12.009

Abstract/Summary

Marine seismic reflection data have been collected for decades and since the mid-to late- 1980s much of this data is positioned relatively accurately. This older data provides a valuable archive, however, it is mainly stored on paper records that do not allow easy integration with other datasets. A method for converting these records to digital SEGY format has been reported previously, although the accuracy and reliability has not been documented. Using 3.5 kHz pinger, bathymetric and side scan sonar data we test the accuracy and data resolution of converted paper seismic records on the surface and shallow-subsurface of the Barra Fan, NE Atlantic Ocean. Frequencies of navigational updates and printed fix marks are vital in determining positional accuracy as interpolation between fixes, which may be 30 minutes apart, is a significant source of potential error. Vertical data resolution of the converted records is primarily governed by the dimensions of the printed record, with order of magnitude differences noted between the scanned BGS and NOC pinger records. Positional accuracy of pinger data is observed to be within the resolution of the bathymetric grid. BGS 1985 pinger data is located within 40 m of bathymetric constrained locations at 635 m below mean sea level and NOC 1998 pinger data within 25 m of bathymetric locations at 1180 m below mean sea level. This paper-to-digital conversion is not a replacement for modern data acquisition, but it does provide a valuable complement to such data. Where appropriate archival paper data is available for conversion it could be used to assist efficiency of forthcoming surveys and may be used to provide time series evidence of seabed processes.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2014.12.009
ISSN:	02648172
Date made live:	06 Jul 2015 12:19 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/511245

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2014.12.009

ISSN:

02648172

Date made live:

06 Jul 2015 12:19 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/511245