SpecialReport: Gulf of Mexico Update FIGURE 5 Complex Ray Paths ulate has never been greater. Industry's greatest challenge still remains the quality of input data. As discussed earlier, the last round of activity on the Shelf saw 104 THE AMERICAN OIL & GAS REPORTER application of new imaging technology for seismic data and WAZ data, where accessible. An example of this can be seen in Figure 4, which represents the uplift from NAZ streamer data to MWAZ streamer data. So, how does one get the same advantages on the Shelf? All has changed with development of ocean bottom nodes. With the ability to record data continuously for 45 days utilizing autonomous nodes deployed on the seafloor, combined with the ability to deploy equipment in any and all configurations, true full-azimuth data are now a reality. Looking to forward modeling (data driven solutions) using advanced fullimage rays to determine what is required to image salt structures and the subsalt, one sees that all azimuths and offsets up to 20 kilometers are valuable for optimizing the subsurface image (Figure 5). The good news is that we no longer are limited by vessel/streamer configurations. Today's limitations are optimizing operational efficiencies using configurations that meet the technical objectives (modeling-based) in a cost efficient manner.