Global Seeps
Infoterra is a world leader in the provision of offshore oil seepage information products to the oil exploration industry. Investment from our parent company, EADS Astrium, has allowed us to develop the Global Seeps programme. Global Seeps is a a non-exclusive database of offshore oil slicks, constructed by systematically screening the worlds offshore basins to water depths up to 3,000 metres. Shown above is our current Global Seeps coverage.
Oil Slick Detection
Global Seep screening uses satellite data acquired over the ocean to detect any natural oil seeps that may be present on the sea surface. 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 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.
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.
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.
Global Seeps Database Content:
- SAR data is well suited to imaging natural oil seeps on the sea surface
- We have extensive experience in interpreting SAR images to locate natural oil seeps
- Used by oil companies as a vital element of their prospecting activities for new off-shore reserves
- Over 12,000 interpreted scenes
- Over 14,000 potential seepage slicks identified
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
The database is delivered as a plug & go GIS product and is available on a local, regional or global license. Infoterra can host the dataset making it available to multiple users across an organisation using secure web access.
The current Global Seeps database comprises over 12,000 satellite scenes. Individual country/basin studies derived from this data are available for purchase off-the-shelf with project deliverables ready for immediate delivery.
| Satellite Name | Data Type | Scene Size |
|---|---|---|
| European Remote Sensing (ERS) satellites 1 and 2 | 25m SAR | 100 km x 100km |
| RADARSAT 1 Satellite | 25 W1 SAR | 165km x 165km |
| RADARSAT 2 Satellite | 25 W1 SAR | 165km x 165km |
| Japanese Earth Resources Satellite (JERS-1) | 18 SAR | 75km x 75km |
| TerraSAR X | 18m SAR | 100km x 165km |
| ENVISAT ASAR | 30m SAR | 100km x 100km |
| Landsat TM | Optical Panchromatic 15m | 170km x 183km |
| ASTER | Optical Multi-spectral 15m | 60km x 60km |
Infoterra has been providing offshore projects in support of the oil and gas industries for over 15 years. Primarily using data from spaceborne SAR systems due to their virtual weather independence and strong ability to detect oil, ships, ice and other features of interest.
Contact us for further information about Global Seeps and how we can meet your objectives.