Shell, HP Announce Breakthrough in Capability of their Inertial Sensing Technology

The inertial sensing technology, a joint effort of HP and Shell, was enhanced with higher sensitivity and ability to operate at ultra-low frequencies. This wireless seismic acquisition system helps study the earth’s subsurface better and thusincreasing the prospects for exploring more oil and gas sites in the sea to meet the global energy demand.

The tests conducted at U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory facility in New Mexico revealed the acquisition system to have a noise floor of 10 nano-g per square root Hertz (ng/rtHz). This noise level matches that created by the earth’s ocean waves at the quietest locations. The response from the new sensor was compared with a USGS reference sensor (taken during an earthquake at the Gulf of California) the result was a perfect match upto 25 mHz.

Dirk Smit explains that the fossil fuel industry is tapping deep and complex onshore reservoirs seated in a tight rock due to the demand. He is highly positive that this collaboration will provide flexible and cost-effective solutions for onshore applications giving high quality output. Dirk Smit is the chief scientist for Geophysics and vice president of Exploration Technology at Shell. Rich Duncombe, a senior strategist for Technology Development Organisation of the Imaging and Printing Group is confident that this collaboration will prove to be a breakthrough innovation in seismic data acquisition, which provides improved risk evaluation and decision making.