Seismic Crews/Doodlebugs

Generally, the seismic crews create small earthquakes in the ground using explosives to make vibrations through the earth, and then measure these vibrations or waves using special equipment. The data collected creates a map of the rock formations, which a geophysicist can interpret. Many different jobs are available with a seismic crew. A seismic helper is part of the layout crew. They are more commonly called a jughound or jug hustler because the machines they are using look like jugs. This is an extremely physical job, which involves carrying and positioning seismic cables and geophones. The jughound has to work in all weather and any terrain, even up the sides of mountains. Many times the locations are extremely isolated where the crew can only come in and out of the area in helicopters. The supervisor of the jughounds is the crew chief, who is also a jughound.

Another job the jughounds have is as a troubleshooter as they are responsible for any problems with the equipment. They also can be shooters or blasters. They use radio controllers to detonate the dynamite in the shot holes. This hazardous job is conducted in a safe and efficient manner by trained professionals and requires a blasting ticket. The shooter is assisted by an operator who handles all the filed data and is responsible for the entire crew, as well as any problems with the readings or equipment. The bag runners also have a hazardous job. They connect bags of seismic equipment to hooks on a carousel hanging below the helicopter, which is then transported to the layout crew. Veritas DGC Inc. has developed an automated retrieval system, which may replace this position. At the top is the party manager who is responsible for the operation, reports to the head office, and serves as the client’s representative in the field.

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