EM-technology further developed by NGI
NGI works today on further development of EM in two areas. The hardware area includes development of improved EM sensors and cables, whilst the software area is concerned with developing improved program applications for use in analysis of data-flows from EM surveys.
The seismic methods have made enormous strides since their beginning in 1922. EM-technology is poised for a similar development, which will include far more detailed imaging of reservoirs containing oil and gas.
About 15 NGI employees, physicists and engineers, are today busily engaged in further developing EM-technology, both in internal projects and also in co-operation with, amongst others, the world-leading EM concern EMGS (ElectroMagnetic Geoservices ASA), Statoil ASA and the research project Petromaks at The Research Council of Norway.
NGI has long experience of modeling EM in 1D and 3D, and has over 10 years developed one of the market's fastest and most precise tools. As demand rises, tools for modeling of EM in 3D, inversion of EM data and integration with seismics are under development.
The technique is as follows: Seismic data is used to build several different digital models of the estimated geology, then experiments are carried out whereby simulated EM-waves are transmitted through these digital models. Thereafter the results from the models are compared with the results from measurements in the field. Finally, EM experts interpret how the geology should be envisaged to give the best match with measurement results.
This is number-crunching on a big scale. To process the data we have built a computer cluster at NGI and also developed our own software for cluster calculations. In addition, says Andreas Aspmo Pfaffhuber, (Discipline Leader for geophysics in NGI¿s department of Instrumentation and Geophysics), both Statoil and EMGS have their own clusters.
NGI's biggest clients in EM-technology are Statoil ASA and Multifield Geophysics (MG), a Norwegian company owned by Statoil, Wavefield Inseis ASA and NGI. NGI has developed a complete hardware system for MG, comprising a unique pilot cable with seismic sensors and EM equipment.
NGI is alone in supplying this advanced equipment and MG has completed two field tests with promising results. The company now plans to start production of this cable.
The industry's 'holy grail' now is to further develop EM such that surveying using a single towed cable is possible. Pfaffhuber believes this will allow oil companies to survey large geological areas in a quicker, cheaper and in greater detail.
NGI - an independent consultant
As a private institution, NGI has no commercial ambitions and generally withdraws from projects as they become commercial. This gives NGI the unique ability to act as an independant consultant to both energy companies and service suppliers.
The comprehensive experience derived from research into EM-modeling and equipment development is valuable in assignments for clients in medium-sized energy companies and for clients reliant on unbiased opinions for their decision making processes, e.g. the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate.