Paper submitted to NPF Biennial Geophysical Seminar 2026, by M. Widmaier, S. Baldock, T. Kluever, H. Tabti and M. Cvetkovic (TGS)
Summary
The last five years have been notable for the commercialisation and increased utilization of low frequency sources. Wolfspar® (Dellinger et al., 2016) and the Tuned Pulse Source (TPS) (Ronen and Chelminski, 2017) have been designed to provide low frequency data for Full Waveform Inversion (FWI). Others, such as the Gemini extended-frequency source (Brittan et al., 2020) are designed to generate low frequencies and higher frequencies. The Gemini technology is based on a single-element (8000 cu. in.) source design that generates low frequencies down to ~1.5 Hz for FWI while preserving the mid-frequency range of the seismic bandwidth for subsurface imaging, making it suitable as the sole source for a range of exploration objectives. It produces significantly less energy above 800 Hz compared to conventional airgun arrays, lowering the impact on marine mammals. Here we review our recent experience and results using Gemini in conjunction with deep tow multisensor streamers in large scale exploration surveys in the Eastern Mediterranean and West Africa, and with sparse OBN geometries in the Gulf of America.