Tips to open SEGY file

Can't open the SEGY file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open SEGY files as well as a list of programs that support SEGY files.

SEGY file extension

File Name SEG-Y Geophysical Data
File Category Graphic Files

The SEGY file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the SEGY files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the SEGY file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is SEGY file?

The file with the extension SEGY is the Graphic Files file type. Graphic Files consists of 524 similar files. SEG-Y Geophysical Data is supported by 1 operating systems. These systems consist of Windows, although it may occasionally be found on another system, it will be non-functional. The Petrel application is recommended to open the file. It was released by Schlumberger Limited.

How to open SEGY file?

An often recurring problem with SEG-Y Geophysical Data is that SEGY is not associated with the correct program file. This is manifested by the fact that SEGY files open in unusual applications or do not have an assigned program. How to solve such a problem?

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the SEGY file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Petrel

The first step is to check if the computer has the Petrel program installed. The easiest method is to use the system search engine by entering the program name Petrel in it. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below you will find a list of applications that support SEGY files.

Programs to open SEGY file

Remember to download programs supporting SEGY files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.

Step 2. Create association of Petrel with SEGY files

If, despite the installed application, the SEGY file does not start in the Petrel application, you must create a file association. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. The window will show, among other things, the type of the file and the information by which the program is used to launch the file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the Petrel application as the default for handling the SEGY file.

Step 3. Update Petrel to the latest version

If, despite the association of the Petrel program with the SEG-Y Geophysical Data file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. In this case, use the Schlumberger Limited website or update the program from the application.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the SEGY file

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. The most common file problems are:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This suggests truncating the SEGY file contents when downloading or copying. The file should be downloaded again, making sure that the process has finished correctly.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Alternatively, you can use the scanners available online. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file SEGY or the program directory. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover SEGY files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
Older version of SEGY file may not always be supported by the latest software version. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Sometimes the program itself has options to repair the most popular SEGY file corruption. You can restore the file from a backup or use N/A help.
The program can also signal the fact of encryption. The encrypted SEGY files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. While there is usually no problem reading such a file, it may not be possible to save it. If possible, you can try to move the SEGY file to another location.
This problem usually affects more complex files. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Closing other programs should help. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If nothing helps, please reset the device.