This year's seismic vessel survey provides considerably more details about the vessels, their experience, and their potential capabilities. If fully disclosed by owners/operators, the data reveal genuinely useful information about the acquisition capabilities of the operators and the vessels they use. Furthermore, it provides an indication of the enormous effect 3D seismic acquisition is having on the offshore petroleum industry.
New technological capabilities such as 4D, deepwater, high density, ocean bottom, and vertical acquisition are included for the first time, as are a vessel's onboard data compression systems and its ability to transmit data by satellite to shore.
There has been some contraction in the industry, with two companies being bought and several others ceasing activity. Last year, 156 of the world's seismic vessel fleet were accounted for, but this year, we believe the 140 vessels listed here represent more than 99% of the world's dedicated fleeet that is presently working or capable of working. Unless indicated by an asterisk, all data presented here was provided by the companies listed. Limited information is provided on vessels belonging to companies with unknown addresses and those that did not respond to the survey.
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