What is seismic processing?

Seismic processing is used by reflective seismologists to collect information about the interior of the ground. In reflective seismology, data on the composition of the Earth under visible surface, processed to the computer and then interpreted specialists. Information collected in this process is used in the mining industry to discover oil and mineral deposits that are hidden under the ground.

In reflex seismology, sound waves are focused on the interior of the ground and sensitive equipment is used to listen to echoes. Reflective seismologists use artificial sound sources to create these underground echoes, often explosions. Underground density and composition can be extrapolated. It is possible to perform a seismic processing of studies on the ground, although most of the data is collected in the shallow waters of the ocean, because the device is easier to set and move from one place to another.

Sound data collected in the field is very detailed and must be processed by sophisticated computer progRams before they can be interpreted. It collects so much sound data that it is estimated that 30% of the overall performance of the computer in the world is devoted to seismic processing. Computer programs used in seismic processing effectively create an underground map of numerical data. This allows geologists to find underground oil sources and other materials without drilling holes over the ground surface.

After processing numeric data, seismic display is used to take these numbers and present them as a visual map. This visual map is useful in considering the site for a new mine because it provides information on the distribution of the underground minerals. There may be some areas with too thick to throw themselves and others with air or water pockets that could create an unstable shaft. Seismic processing provides mining engineers invaluable information they can use to create safer andmore efficient mines.

There are a number of companies that specialize in the collection, processing and interpretation of seismic data for oil and mining companies around the world. These companies go to an area that is expected to have undiscovered pockets of oil or minerals and conduct a survey of seismology reflection. Once the data are collected, processed and interpreted, oil and mining companies may decide whether to invest in the extraction of these materials from the country. Most of the new sources of oil and minerals are discovered by reflective seismologists.