Reproduced with permission from Geophysical News
Ask a geophysicist for the characteristics of an ideal seismic source, and the wish list might look like this:
Low cost
Safe operations
High mobility and easy of deployment, especially in challenging terrain; ability to explore hard-to-access areas.
Near-zero environmental footprint – no or reduced permitting and remediation cost
High productivity – multiple source points per hour
High trace density – more source points per unit area
Clean and consistent source signature
Ability to provide dynamic, moving images of migrating gas, water, oil or injected CO2 in a geological formation
All these features are now available in a source which adapts patented beam steering technology originally invented by a leading NASA scientist. Developed and implemented in the Middle East through a collaboration between Precision Impulse and Euro Mechanical, the technology uses acceleration/deceleration of a mass to create a clean, precise and repeatable signal (Figure 1). Small and light enough to be deployed by a standard pick-up truck, the source makes exploration possible in previously inaccessible areas and enables 4D seismic in the Middle East. Furthermore, it can be buried to minimize attenuation of the seismic signal by near-surface formations and avoid weathered zone effects on data repeatability.
How can a source so small go up against a massive vibroseis vehicle? Advances in signal and data processing mean results from a low-energy source are comparable to those from much larger and heavier vibroseis units (FIGURE 3). Since source cost is low and in-country value is high, a suite of micro-sources over an area of tens or hundreds of kilometers can be fired repeatedly to provide high-fidelity, 4D visualization of fluids over time—and at a fraction of the cost of repeated vibroseis surveys. In the hands of skilled geophysicists assisted with AI, this visualization will yield the high-quality images of CO2, fluid and gas movement necessary to build confidence in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS). At the same time it will maximize recovery, optimize hydrocarbon production and verify secure CO2 placement so the storage owner can get paid for CO2 storage and low-carbon hydrogen from methane.
This goal is now within reach thanks to new seismic technology that enables acquisition of high-resolution data on demand and with near-zero environmental impact. This advancement will provide the knowledge to accelerate a clean energy future with reduced cost. It will abate emissions from traditional fuels, earning oil and gas the social license to continue as the world’s primary supplier of energy to power while enabling responsible expansion of carbon capture and storage.
