Seismic technology has been around for some time, but recent advances in this technology mean that it could have new applications here in the Middle East.
With the Middle East being amongst the world’s oldest and most reliable producers of oil and gas, there is an increasing focus on new technologies that will help to bolster the region’s output.
A recent report estimates that total spending in upstream oil and gas E&P will reach $1tn by 2017. Despite this enormous investment, new oil discoveries are at an all time low and the 15 billion barrels of new oil discovered each year is doing little to sate the global thirst for oil.
With countries across the Middle East looking to dramatically increase their output, a key challenge will be how to get the most out of existing finds as well as locating new ones.
“We believe that there will be an increase in unconventional exploration and production techniques in the coming years,” said Shamis Al Dhaheri, managing director of oilfield services company Ali and Sons.
Seismic surveying technology has traditionally been associated with deep water, offshore plays, and has therefore not been highly deployed in the Middle East, where offshore plays tend to be far more shallow.
However, the Middle East may be about to take the lead from producers in the Gulf of Mexico, where seismic surveying technology is being used to produce super detailed profiles of shallow water reservoirs.
“New challenges require new skills and the change in the energy sector’s structure will strengthen the collaboration between universities and companies in the region on research initiatives. We will also see an increased exchange of knowledge and experience between industries and across disciplines throughout the world,” said Nick Noreen, area manager for MENA at Lloyds Register.
Seismic technology uses sonic canons to fire ultra sonic waves down into the earth’s surface. These waves are then captured as they rebound off of the earth’s geological formations and interpreted by some of the world’s most sophisticated super computers. The result is a startlingly clear visual image of the reservoir, on a previously unimaginable scale.
Local as well as international firms are starting to invest heavily in seismic surveying technology, as the Middle East begins to comprehend the scope of its application.
“There is technology on the way which will make your downhole operations as visible as your above ground operations. Visualise it. You could see every aspect of your operation downhole below the earth’s surface. This is the dream of every person working in oil and gas, to be able to see things so clearly. The applications are almost endless,” said Al Dhaheri.
As seismic surveying technology becomes more advanced, larger and more powerful computers are needed to interpret the data that is collected by various companies.
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This in itself requires a significant amount of investment and a constant process of upgrading and tinkering to ensure that the seismic survey data can be comprehensively interpreted.
Total’s new super computer, the epically named Pangea, is an example of just how far IOC’s are prepared to invest in this emerging seismic technology.
Pangea costs a hefty $60mn to build. Capable of processing 2.3million billion (2.3 petaflopes) operations per second, the supercomputer is fed by 110,000 processing cores. Pangea is 15 times more powerful than Total’s previous super computer and is capable of solving geological equations that previously took weeks to calculate, in a few short hours. Despite these impressive statistics, the pace of IT development means that Total estimate that Pangea will be obsolete in just five years time.
Supercomputers like Pangea are capable of interpreting sonic data and converting it into a clear three dimensional image, providing analysts with the clearest images yet of hydrocarbon reserves locked thousands of metres below the sea bed. This imaging technology is dependent upon the use of sophisticated algorithms. The better the computer, the more complex the algorithm can be and, therefore, the clearer the resulting image.
The clarity of the image is important not only for ascertaining the volumes of oil and gas present in a reservoir, but also for assessing the safety of the reservoir prior to drilling. Seismic survey technology helps drilling engineers locate highly pressurised pockets of gas before they commence drilling. Advances in seismic technology will therefore help to further improve the Middle East’s record on workplace health and safety.
The Middle East is home to some of the oldest oil and gas fields in the world, some of which have been producing for over 50 years. Research conducted by Total suggests that new advances in seismic technology could even help to increase production levels at the regions brownfield sites.
Total believe that maximising the Middle East’s production levels at its brownfield sites is absolutely critical to securing a viable global energy supply for future generations.
Indeed, Total are taking the issue so seriously that they have moved their chief scientific and technology advisor, Noomane Keskes, from their research centre in Pau, France, to Abu Dhabi in order to work on some collaborative research that is specific for the region.
Keskes is the developer of Total’s seismic data interpretation software, and brings over 35 years of experience to the region. By using seismic software packages such as this, drilling engineers can now send highly detailed reservoir profiles to each other at the click of a button, allowing for greater levels of collaboration during the decision making process.
Recent advances in this technology mean that geologists can now study the geology of a reservoir in near microscopic detail.
A research project currently under way in the Middle East involves the study of flow rates through carbonate rocks, which directly affects the rate at which a reservoir can produce. If scientists can identify the flow rate of a reservoirs geology, they can design a more efficient extraction route and boost production levels.
The last ten years have seen the Middle East make enormous strides forward with regards to HSE in the oil and gas industry. Seismic surveying technology is not without its detractors, particularly in the environmental camp and Middle East operators will need to tread lightly if they are to attain a balance between increased productivity and environmental responsibility.
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Environmentalists argue that the sonic canons which are used as part of the surveying process can interfere with the echo location senses of whales, dolphins and other aquatic mammals.
“No company, large or small, wants to be the one making headlines.
“Reputational management and integrity of operations is critical, as the primary responsibility for ensuring health and safety in the oil and gas industry lies with those who create risks and those who work with them,” commented Jason Knights, global communications manager at Lloyds Register.
However, Knights believes that the region’s oil and gas firms are now taking heed of the environmental impact of their operations.
“Today’s decisions create tomorrow’s world and this raises crucial questions about the decisions that will shape the future of our global energy industry.
“Commitment to safety and integrity requires more than opening a cheque book; it is about investing in the right way, being prepared to participate, and being willing to continue to learn,” he said.
Seismic survey technology has tradionally been used in deeper waters than the Middle East. But as some of the region’s older fields show their age having been plundered for a half decade or more, this approach will help ensure further exploration efforts are a success.
