The early detection of active oil and gas seeps in frontier or under-explored basins can greatly reduce exploration risk by establishing both the presence of a mature source and, by inference, the existence of oil and gas accumulations (from which the seeps originate). Fugro NPA's Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) seep detection technique maps slicks on the ocean surface which are then interpreted and categorised into a number of seep confidence categories.
The interpreted oil slicks form the basis of the Global Offshore Seepage Database (GOSD) which is instantly available for 90% of the world’s offshore basins. Fugro NPA have been running the project since 1992 with their joint venture partner TREICoL, who together have unrivalled experience in this field.
The principal benefit of satellite SAR is that it provides low cost, multi-pass, non interventionist global coverage, and therefore provides valuable indication on source presence ahead of any exploration commitment.