Seitel Data is acquiring a 305 square mile 3D seismic survey in an area centered around Robeline, LA. The purpose of this website is to provide landowners with key information about the project.
| Phase | Start | Completion |
|---|---|---|
| Permitting | December '25 | July '26 |
| Surveying | April '26 | October '26 |
| Drilling | May '26 | October '26 |
| Recording | September '26 | November '26 |
Survey Area Map
Who is Seitel Data, Ltd (SDL)?
- SDL is an oil and gas service company that is engaged with the creation and marketing of 2D and 3D seismic data.
- SDL’s staff has the expertise to design, manage, acquire, process, and deliver 2D and 3D seismic surveys acquired in varied terrains and climates to a diverse clientele.
- Our clients include many oil and gas companies ranging in size from the smallest to largest in the industry.
- SDL maintains one of the largest seismic libraries in North America
3D Seismic Acquisition Phases:
Source and Receiver Preplan
SDL has in-house survey designers who have created a preplan for the layout of the source and receiver devices.
Permitting
SDL has contracted DLM to seek permission in the form of legal permits from all surface owners who own or control an interest in any land that is planned to contain source and receiver devices before entering the property during subsequent phases of acquisition.
Surveying
Source and receiver locations will be surveyed at their pre-planned locations, marked with survey flagging, lathe, or other method. The estimated timeline for this activity is April 2026 – October 2026.
Drilling
DAS crews will drill source locations for explosives at predetermined locations. These source locations will be drilled to a depth of 80 feet, and the explosive charges will be loaded and the holes backfilled prior to the DAS crew leaving the drill source location. The estimated timeline for this activity is May 2026 – October 2026.
Acquisition
SDL has contracted Dawson Geophysical to deploy the recording devices (which are described in the Pioneer – Geospace link below) and acquire the seismic data. Both dynamite and vibroseis will be utilized as an energy source based on terrain conditions. The estimated timeline for this activity is September 2026 – November 2026.
Pickup
Dawson personnel will remove all survey flagging materials and data recording equipment, leaving the area in its original state.
What is 3D Seismic?
3D seismic shoots are performed by laying out a grid of source (dynamite and/or vibroseis) and receiver (geophone) devices which will record soundwaves as they travel through the subsurface layers and reflect back to the surface geophone locations.
Why Does Seismic Matter?
Energy exploration is very expensive, and seismic data creates the ability to analyze subsurface reservoirs before placing wells to drill for oil and gas. It is an invaluable resource for the energy industry, as it allows more certainty before beginning the drilling process. This means wells are less likely to be placed in low production areas, thus increasing economic activity and lessening total environmental impact.
Why do Landowners Matter?
By permitting an entire survey, with no holes due to lack of permission to acquire seismic data, SDL can create a better dataset to pinpoint the location of oil and gas reservoirs with higher accuracy. It is important for land and mineral owners to understand the contribution of their cooperation in the seismic acquisition process.
Vendor Information
| Company | Website | Role in Project |
|---|---|---|
 | Seitel Data, Ltd. | Project Management |
 | Diversified Land Management, Inc. | Surface and Mineral Permitting Contractor |
 | Discovery Acquisition Services (Surveying) | Surveying Contractor |
| Discovery Acquisition Services (Drilling) | Drilling Contractor |
 | Dawson Geophysical Company | Acquisition Contractor |
 | Pioneer - Geospace | Seismic Data Recording Equipment |