Gain ultimate clarity with ultra-high-resolution 3D (UHR3D) seismic for a more detailed understanding of the seabed and shallow subsurface for applications across the offshore energy industry.

2025 Ramform Atlas Hywind Tampen Windfarm - straight and crop

Precision Imaging of the Shallow Subsurface

TGS provides ultra-high-resolution 3D (UHR3D) seismic services to deliver detailed insight into the shallow subsurface. Using short streamers, shallow tow depths, and high-frequency sources, UHR3D captures fine-scale features, such as geohazards, soil variability, and buried obstructions, critical to offshore energy development and construction operations, such as, offshore wind, carbon storage and oil and gas site investigation.

UHR3D’s wide-tow configuration with ultra-high-frequency sources, dense source/receiver geometry, broad bandwidth and high-capacity streamer spreads, integrated with full integrity processing and interpretation, provides far more reliable imaging of the near surface. This level of detail improves detection of near-surface features that conventional 2D or sparse 3D methods may overlook, significantly reducing uncertainty around offshore energy development and operations. 

Advantages of UHR3D

tgs-check-25

Sharper Imaging in Ultra-Shallow Water

Higher resolution, broader bandwidth, and improved signal-to-noise performance in ultra-shallow settings
tgs-check-25

Precise Seabed Characterization

Detailed and accurate characterization of seabed and near-surface conditions
tgs-check-25

Faster Offshore Wind Timelines

Supports faster development timelines for offshore wind projects
tgs-check-25

Smarter Site Assessment

Enhances site assessment and risk mitigation strategies
tgs-check-25

Lower Cost, Shorter Lead Times

Reduces lead time and cost by minimizing the need for extensive geotechnical investigations

Applications for UHR3D

UHR3D supports a wide range of offshore applications, from hydrocarbon exploration/development and 4D reservoir monitoring to high-resolution mapping and site characterization for offshore wind and carbon storage sites. It meets the needs of geological investigations for site surveys, de-risking infrastructure construction, jack-up rig siting, geohazard mapping, marine mineral exploration, offshore nuclear infrastructure, and CCS site assessments and monitoring.

  • Offshore Oil & Gas
  • Carbon Storage
  • Offshore Wind

Offshore Oil & Gas

Ramform vanguard side view_1

Offshore Oil & Gas

UHR3D provides a step-change in resolution and completeness of spatial coverage of the shallow subsurface for derisking drilling and construction activities for safe and efficient oil and gas field development planning and operations. Simultaneous acquisition of bathymetry, Side Scan Sonar, Sub-Bottom Profiler, and Magnetometer data with UHR3D in a single survey adds efficiency to the development planning through reducing redundancies and providing opportunities for optimizing geotechnical sampling.

Carbon Storage

Site Characterization Website Update Images 2026 (3)

Carbon Storage

UHR3D integrated with HR3D provide a flexible, repeatable solution for detailed site characterization, and optimized monitoring planning with a robust baseline survey and long-term monitoring  solution with 4D repeat seismic. Its high spatial resolution supports early risk assessment, optimal injection planning and monitoring of storage containment integrity over time.

Offshore Wind

Site Characterization Website Update Images 2026 (2)

Offshore Wind

Ultra-high-resolution 3D seismic delivers the subsurface clarity offshore wind developers need to de-risk turbine placement and optimize intra-array cable routing. UHR3D data helps identify buried hazards, variable soil conditions, and shallow geological complexity, supporting safer, more efficient project planning, design and installation.

Acquisition Configurations & Targets

UHR3D is optimized for smaller areas and complex shallow targets, especially in constrained marine environments. Short streamers towed at shallow depths (2–4 meters) allow for high maneuverability and excellent vertical resolution.

Typical configurations use 8 to 14 streamers spaced 6.25 to 12.5 meters apart, with streamer lengths of 50 to 170 meters and receiver intervals from 3.125 to 6.25 meters. Sample rates down to 0.25 milliseconds and source frequencies up to 4,000 Hz provide detailed near-surface imaging.

TGS vessels can concurrently acquire complementary geophysical and hydrographic datasets, including Multibeam Echosounder (MBES), Side Scan Sonar (SSS), Sub-bottom Profiler (SBP), and Magnetometer (MAG) data.

feature---ne-seeing-is-believing-uhr3d
Seismic Imaging Discussion

Imaging & Processing of UHR3D Data

TGS delivers UHR3D data with advanced processing workflows designed specifically for ultra-high-resolution requirements. Our workflows include advanced deghosting, statics correction, and velocity model building to ensure the highest fidelity subsurface imaging.

Our deghosting solution overcomes the challenges of shallow towing, moderate signal-to-noise ratios, and variable sea states. Statics correction accounts for variations in elevation and acquisition geometry, ensuring data consistency. Velocity model building enables high-resolution imaging with vertical precision down to a few meters and lateral resolution within tens of meters.

Let’s Discuss Your Acquisition Needs

With the industry’s most diverse fleet and integrated expertise, from survey design and acquisition to seismic data imaging, TGS delivers trusted, tailored solutions for complex exploration challenges.

Learn More About Our Fleet

Discover the capabilities, configurations and proven performance of our diverse fleet. Built for reliability and efficiency, our vessels are ready to meet your exploration needs, anywhere in the world.

Start the Conversation

Every project is different. Talk to a TGS expert about your specific acquisition requirements. With decades of trusted experience and integrated capabilities, we’ll help you design the right solution from the start.