This course provides a focused and practical treatment of quality control (QC) for land and marine seismic data, covering both raw field records and processed products, together with the optimization of acquisition parameters. Participants will explore the full seismic workflow from survey design through acquisition, preprocessing, imaging, and final delivery, with emphasis on how QC decisions at each stage affect data quality, reservoir imaging, and business value.

The course explains in detail how acquisition parameters (geometry, sampling, source and receiver layouts, recording specifications) influence signal-to-noise ratio, spatial sampling, resolution, and the ability of processing to deliver reliable structural and stratigraphic images. Participants will learn how to design and apply practical QC procedures in the field and in processing centers, including real-time monitoring of raw data, geometry, and navigation control, noise characterization, and verification of processing steps such as statics, deconvolution, multiple attenuation, migration, and attribute generation.

Through case examples from onshore, offshore, three-dimensional, and time-lapse projects, the course highlights common problems, how to detect them early, and strategies to mitigate their impact or redesign acquisition parameters where necessary. By the end of the course, participants will be able to specify, evaluate, and optimize seismic surveys and processing flows, ensuring that final seismic products are fit for purpose for interpretation, reservoir characterization, and field development planning.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of the course, the participants will be able to:

• Explain the role of seismic data QC in the exploration and development workflow and its impact on technical and commercial decisions.
• Describe the main acquisition parameters (geometry, fold, offset, and azimuth distribution, sampling, frequency content) and how they influence data quality and imaging.
• Distinguish between different types of noise in seismic data and recognize their signatures on raw and processed products.
• Design practical QC plans for land and marine seismic surveys, including field, office, and processing QC activities.
• Evaluate raw field records for signal quality, source and receiver performance, coupling, repeatability, and operational issues.
• Assess geometry, binning, and navigation data for completeness, accuracy, and consistency with the acquisition design.
• Review and critique preprocessing steps (editing, filtering, deconvolution, statistics, gain) from a QC perspective.
• Evaluate velocity analysis, statics solutions, and residual moveout as part of imaging and migration QC.
• Assess the quality of key processed products such as stacked sections, migrated volumes, angle stacks, and attributes relative to project objectives.
• Identify acquisition-related problems such as footprint, acquisition shadows, poor illumination, or azimuthal gaps, and propose parameter optimization strategies.
• Use diagnostic plots, maps, and statistics (coverage maps, fold maps, amplitude and noise maps, spectra, gathers) in a systematic QC workflow.
• Participate effectively in survey design and pre-survey feasibility studies to ensure acquisition parameters are optimized for processing and interpretation.
• Communicate QC findings, risks, and recommendations clearly to contractors, processing centers, interpreters, and management.
• Apply lessons from field case studies to improve future survey designs, contracting strategies, and internal QC standards.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

• Geophysicists and seismic interpreters involved in exploration and development projects
• Seismic acquisition and survey design engineers
• Seismic processing geophysicists and processing supervisors
• Exploration and reservoir team members who rely on seismic data for decision-making
• Project geoscientists are responsible for supervising contractors and approving deliverables
• QC coordinators and technical auditors for seismic projects
• Technical managers who need to review and challenge seismic acquisition and processing reports

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximise the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and after the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants who complete at least 80% of the total attendance time requirement.