SHELL and PGS have decided to team up to develop an ultra-high channel count fibre-optic seismic sensing system. Higher channel counts with high-quality sensors recover more seismic energy and help cancel noise. The resultant improved resolution and imaging should translate into better exploration decisions.
Shell intends to use this optical sensing system – based on PGS’s existing fibre-optic technology – for onshore exploration as well as reservoir monitoring.
The super-giant says this approach will enable scalability far beyond what is currently available. It should also overcome some of the challenges the industry faces with conventional systems when scaling up the number of channels, such as the lowering of system weight that is crucial during field operations.
Dirk Smit, Shell VP, exploration technology, said: “This is the latest of a series of initiatives that Shell has been undertaking recently to improve seismic data quality. Prompting this collaboration were Shell technologists who first recognised the potential breakthrough innovation of applying PGS’s underlying OptoSeis technology to onshore seismic.
“This is a clear demonstration of how Shell seeks to deliver technology solutions quickly and efficiently. Integration is key. Given that most of this technology is in existence today, we anticipate a relatively low development risk and expect to deploy the first system soon.”
PGS is talking about the creation of a another game-changer for the industry.
The Norwegian group currently offers integrated reservoir services and full solutions based on the OptoSeis optical permanent reservoir monitoring systems that enable cost-effective time-lapse four-component, or 4D and related 4C, seismic to improve recovery from existing reservoirs.