3D Seismic Technology: Application to the Exploration of Sedimentary Basins / Технология 3D сейсморазведки: применение для исследования осадочных бассейнов

Three-dimensional (3D) seismic data have had a substantial impact on the successful exploration and production of  hydrocarbons. Although most commonly acquired by the oil and gas exploration industry, these data are starting to be used as  a research tool in other Earth sciences disciplines. However despite some innovative new directions of academic  investigation, most of the examples of how 3D seismic data have increased our understanding of the structure and stratigraphy  of sedimentary basins come from the industry that acquired these data. The 3D seismic tool is also making significant inroads  into other areas of Earth sciences, such as igneous and structural geology. However, there are pitfalls that parallel these  advances: geoscientists need to be multidisciplined and true integrators, and at the same time have an ever-increasing  knowledge of geophysical acquisition and processing. Notably the utility of the 3D seismic tool seems to have been  overlooked by most of the academic community, and we would submit that academia has yet to take full advantage of this  technology as a research tool. We propose that the remaining scientific potential far exceeds the advances made thus far and  major opportunities, as well as challenges, lie ahead <...>