Equipment for reservoir characterisation including vibrator seismic-source vehicles, borehole seismic source equipment, wireless geophones and recording equipment.
NGL offers geophysics equipment that is used to study the subsurface at a depth of 1 to 4km beneath the ground, otherwise known as ‘moderate depth’. The equipment is used to profile and model the subsurface to gain a better understanding of the formations of the Earth.
Vibroseis trucks are one of the tools used for conducting seismic surveys to uncover details about the subsurface of an area.
When used in the field, the seismic waves emitted by the truck bounce off rock formations underground and the returning signals are collected by geophones at or below ground level. The data gathered is then analysed in order to determine the depth and rock properties of the different layers. These results are used to generate maps of the subsurface, with the information checked against observations in wells drilled nearby.
Vertical seismic profiling (VSP) sensors is used inside a well (this could be a standard water well) and the wireless sensors and sensor nodes can be set up across the ground with a wireless base station collecting the data. NGL is also equipped with a logging truck that supports the VSP sensors and can log up to 4km deep.
The equipment is highly flexibility and reconfigurable in that it can be deployed at various scales and in difficult environments. The equipment is able to be operated by a small deployment team making it more economical with a lower environmental footprint than other commercially available set-ups.
NGL’s vibroseis trucks in particular are designed to have minimal impact on the environment and the local community. With a width of less than 3 metres the trucks can pass through ordinary gates without needing to cut fences. The truck also has specifically designed tyres to minimise soil erosion.
Curtin University, Bentley Campus, Perth (field equipment)
Linda Stalker
Linda.Stalker@csiro.au
This suite of moderate-depth geophysics equipment has the capability to image reliably at depths of 4km under the surface for site characterisation and baseline modelling. Once CO2 is injected it can also be used for ongoing monitoring and verification.