Global Seeps
Infoterra is a world leader in the provision of offshore oil seepage information products to the oil exploration industry. We have been providing offshore projects in support of the oil and gas industries for over 15 years. Space-borne SAR systems are preferred due to their virtual weather independence, and strong ability to detect oil, ships, ice and other features of interest.
Global Seeps is a non-exclusive database of offshore potential oil seepage slicks, constructed by systematically screening satellite data over offshore basins.
The current database comprises over 13,000 satellite scenes. Shown above is the current extents of the Global Seeps database, covering the majority of the worlds offshore basins to a water depth of 3000m with multiple images.
Individual country/basin studies derived from this data are available for purchase off-the-shelf with project deliverables ready for immediate delivery. New areas are screened and existing areas are updated as part of the rolling Global Seeps programme and new acquisition can be programmed according to user request.
Oil Slick Detection
Global Seep screening uses satellite data acquired over the ocean to detect any oil slicks that may be present on the sea surface. The imagery is interpreted to identify slicks which may be sourced from natural seepage from hydrocarbon reserves. When oil leaks from a reservoir under the sea floor, small oil coated gas bubbles travel up through the water column to the sea surface, where they form a very thin film on the water. This film can then be detected on satellite imagery and mapped, providing the data is collected under the correct weather and ocean conditions.
To ensure the quality of the Global Seeps results, all imagery used is extensively screened for weather compliancy and a minimum of two dates of imagery per scene footprint is acquired for all offshore areas. Using at least two image dates helps to increase the confidence of each feature found as well as pinpoint source points for multi-date seeps.
Global Seeps Database Content
- Over 13,000 interpreted scenes including scene outlines, metocean interpretation details, ship traffic and rig/platform information
- Over 14,000 potential seepage slicks identified, including slick source points, slick vectors, probable slick type and confidence levels
- Digital geo-coded calibrated data for the full scene at 100m resolution
- Slick subset images at 25m resolution
Key Applications
Oil seep information is valuable to oil exploration companies for the detection and monitoring of natural seepage and oil pollution on the oceans surface. It is a cost-effective resource for risk-ranking new exploration regions and for baseline oil pollution mapping.
Typical applications include:
- Cost effective risk ranking tool prior to new exploration
- Seismic Planning & Seismic Integration
- Screening Frontier Basins & new exploration licensing rounds
- Planning Geochemical Sampling programmes
- Oil spill detection and pollution monitoring
- Assessing Offshore and Coastal Activities (e.g. ships, oil rigs etc)
- Initial Environmental risk assessment environmental impact statement or a full environmental baseline
In 2009 Infoterra partnered with GORE sampling surveys based in the U.S to offer a joint service involving Near Real Time satellite tasking and slick interpretation combined with Geochemical sampling teams at sea using the GORE slick sampler kits. Slick locations are sent directly to the vessels directing them to probably seepage slicks in order to obtain successful samples to validate and characterise the petroleum system.
Contact us for further information about Global Seeps and how we can meet your objectives.
Global Seeps GIS Database
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