Representatives with Seitel appeared before the Natchitoches Parish Council on March 16 to outline plans for a large-scale seismic survey that will cover portions of Natchitoches and Sabine parishes as part of a project to collect underground geological data.
Jason East and Brad Slay told council members the survey will cover approximately 300 square miles and will involve modern 3D seismic technology used by energy companies to analyze subsurface formations and identify potential mineral resources.
According to the representatives, the project will use a network of small ground sensors placed across the survey area. These sensors record signals generated by specialized vibration trucks that produce controlled vibrations on road surfaces.
In wooded or remote areas where trucks cannot operate, crews will drill small holes and place charges to generate the signals needed for the survey. Representatives said the charges are specifically designed for seismic testing and are much smaller than traditional explosives historically associated with seismic exploration.
The signals produced during the process travel through underground rock layers and are recorded by the sensors. The resulting data is later analyzed to determine the geological structure beneath the surface.
Council members asked several questions about how the project would operate and its potential impacts on roads, homes and private property.
Representatives explained that vibration trucks weigh roughly 60,000 pounds and travel in pairs along roadways while conducting testing. The vehicles use large tires designed to distribute weight and reduce pressure on road surfaces.
Officials noted that the trucks are designed to travel straight along roads during testing, as sharp turns on hot pavement could potentially damage asphalt. If necessary, crews would move vehicles onto nearby shoulders or pastures to allow traffic to pass.
If any damage occurs to parish roads or private property during the survey process, representatives said the company would be responsible for repairs.
Council members also asked about the distance seismic testing would occur from homes and other structures. Representatives said testing is conducted away from man-made structures to prevent vibration impacts and that structures are typically evaluated within a safety buffer of several hundred feet.
The project will also require permission from landowners before crews can enter private property. If land is owned by multiple individuals, permission from at least one owner would allow crews access, though separate approval is required when mineral rights are involved.
Representatives said the company is currently working to obtain permissions from landowners and mineral rights holders before the next phases of the project begin.
The survey process will take place in several stages, beginning with surveying and mapping locations for sensors and drilling points. Crews will then install equipment, conduct drilling and complete the seismic data acquisition.
Officials estimated the entire process could take about 18 months to complete.
Representatives also provided the parish with a map outlining the general boundaries of the survey area, which they said is centered near Robeline and extends across portions of both parishes.
Based in Houston, Seitel is a leading provider of seismic data and related geophysical expertise to the petroleum industry, as well as the rapidly evolving carbon sequestration and renewable energy sectors. The company focuses on providing high-quality seismic data in major onshore oil and gas basins across the United States and maintains one of the largest seismic data libraries in North America.
The collected data from the survey will ultimately be provided to energy companies that funded the project and are seeking information about potential underground resources in the region.
