Application of 3D Seismic Data for Identification and Mapping of Geological Hazards on The Shelf of The Kara Sea

Abstract

Summary Mitigation of drilling risks associated with geological hazards is a priority task of the site survey offshore investigations. One of the most challenging regions for offshore exploration in terms of near-surface geological hazards is the western Artic shelf. In this region, the near-surface is complicated by presence of subaqueous relict permafrost, intrapermafrost and subpermafrost gas caps, pingo-like structures and various cryogenic deformations. The paper presents our experience of mapping and characterization of the shallow offshore geohazards (including permafrost) using 3D seismic data acquired in different frequency ranges in the Russian Arctic.