The oil and gas industry requires high-quality seismic data to accurately assess exploration prospects for commercial viability and to effectively monitor producing reservoirs.
At International Petroleum Week 2010 last week, HP and Shell announced a collaboration to develop a wireless sensing system to acquire high-resolution seismic data on land. “We think this will represent a leap forward in seismic data quality that will provide Shell with a competitive advantage in exploring difficult oil and gas reservoirs, such as sub-salt plays in the Middle East or unconventional gas in North America,” said Gerald Schotman, Executive Vice President for Research and Development and Shell.
We spoke about this project and collaboration with Rich Duncombe, an HP Strategist at the company’s Technology Development Organization.
MEMS Investor Journal: What will HP's sensors measure?
Rich Duncombe: HP’s MEMS inertial sensors can be used to measure vibrations, shock and changes in velocity to provide highly accurate data points.
MEMS Investor Journal: Is this data not currently measured by Shell?
Rich Duncombe: HP’s sensing solution provides up to 1000x greater sensitivity levels than are currently available using high-volume devices on the existing market. Combined with HP’s system integration, the overall solution offers a higher performance, end-to-end seismic sensing for greater accuracy in oil and gas exploration activities.
MEMS Investor Journal: Why is this data needed?
Rich Duncombe: The oil and gas industry continues to face challenges with highly accurate oil and gas reservoir location, as well as the ability to produce more from existing well placements. In order to obtain more accurate “pictures” of the subsurface, higher resolution sensing capability is required. HP’s MEMS sensing solution offers a combination of significantly increased sensitivity levels and broader frequency range to deliver more accurate seismic imaging capability.
MEMS Investor Journal: Will HP's sensors be integrated with an existing device currently used by Shell?
Rich Duncombe: Shell and HP have a very strong ongoing relationship. Part of the relationship is exploring where HP’s technologies can contribute to Shell’s core business. After learning about HPs’ sensing technologies, Shell was interested in partnering with HP to develop an end-to-end sensor network for seismic imaging.
MEMS Investor Journal: Which companies offer competing sensors? How does this sensor from HP compare?
Rich Duncombe: The MEMS sensor market is comprised of several companies offering inertial sensor devices designed for applications like automotive safety systems that require low-cost, small-size and lower performance devices; or for applications like aircraft guidance and inertial navigation that require high performance and high resolution. However, HP’s high-volume inertial MEMS sensors offer up to 1000x greater sensitivity than is available from current high-volume devices.
MEMS Investor Journal: What are the key metrics and parameters that are required for this sensing applications?
Rich Duncombe: Heightened sensitivity levels, broader frequency range and high channel counts. Also, increased data points for measurement and analysis, resulting in more accurate imaging for higher resolution in field surveys. The wireless technology also supports flexible survey configurations to optimize the value of the data for a given field.
For Shell’s business, this new seismic sensing system represents a leap forward in technology and builds a solution for completing seismic surveys on land. Unlike existing seismic imaging systems, the HP/Shell system is scalable, flexible and wireless. Many of today’s systems employ heavy sensor devices that are connected by cables. While frequency range for the devices can vary widely, the systems can be difficult and expensive to deploy, and the risk of losing entire chains of sensors is high. The scalability and flexibility of the new system is possible thanks to the HP MEMS devices at the heart of the system. Our lightweight, low-power devices are able to be deployed easily and cost effectively, even in rugged terrains. The wide frequency range of the devices will allow for the collection of high-resolution data in real-time.
MEMS Investor Journal: How many sensors will be deployed? When?
Rich Duncombe: The new wireless sensing system will feature a high channel count and the flexibility to scale down and or up – to the order of a million – depending on the application or project need. The sensing system is part of a multi-phase, multi-year agreement, and is currently in the development phase.
MEMS Investor Journal: Is HP targeting any other applications for this sensor aside from oil and gas? Which applications?
Rich Duncombe: HP’s sensing technology can be applied to any market that requires the collection and analysis of large amounts of data for real-time data management and decision making. Some possible applications for HP sensing solutions technology could include infrastructure health monitoring, geophysical mapping, mine exploration and seismic monitoring.
Copyright 2010 MEMS Investor Journal
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