Automated seismic acquisition first for Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Total are working together to deploy what they claim will be the world’s first automated seismic acquisition system in Abu Dhabi.

The pilot project, performed with Total’s Multiphysics Exploration Technology Integrated System (METIS®), uses autonomous drones and a ground vehicle to drop off and retrieve seismic sensors without human intervention, lowering project costs. It will be deployed throughout the emirate of Abu Dhabi to contribute to onshore exploration and appraisal campaigns.

Following successful trials of METIS conducted by Total at the end of 2017 over the forests of Papua New Guinea (see Petroleum Review, March 2018), this new pilot project will be undertaken by ADNOC to test the versatility and upscaling ability of the system in a 36 sq km desert environment.

‘Total is focusing on innovation in seismic acquisition to minimise surface impact of petroleum activities and improve the quality of sub-surface images, while increasing our overall operational efficiency,’ comments Dominique Janodet, Vice President R&D of Total Exploration & Production.

‘The ultimate purpose of this collaboration is to be able to jointly develop a safer, faster, more efficient and cost effective acquisition system to acquire 3D and 4D high resolution seismic images of the subsurface, which can be processed in real-time to build a clearer understanding of the subsurface, lowering geoscience and drilling uncertainties and optimising field production’ adds Khadija Al Daghar,