CPNT Cyprus developed and use a remote sensing exploration for hydrocarbons method based on the model of vertical microseepage
MIcroseepage model
Source: Schumacher, D., 1996, Hydrocarbon-induced alteration of soils and sediments, in D. Schumacher and M. A. Abrams, eds., Hydrocarbon migration and its nearsurface expression: AAPG Memoir 66, p. 71–89, p.83.
According to model hydrocarbons while seeping vertically from deposit to surface on the way produce alteration of microbiological activity which contribute to appearance of a number of geophysical and geochemical anomalies. These anomalies manifest themselves on the Earth’s surface, affecting in various ways the composition of soils, the state of vegetation, the microbiological composition of the animal world, which, in turn, affects the spectral reflection coefficient of natural formations and is detected by specialized scanning.
Equipment
For data acquisition and aforementioned anomalies detection CPNT Cyprus developed airborne multi-zone scanner «Eagle». The hardware allows to obtain data from 26 information channels in different parts of spectrum. Terrain scanning from An-30 aircraft performed from an altitude of about 5000 meters which gives surface scanning span also 5000 meters.
Engineering data of scanner
Number of data channels | 26 |
Instant visual angle | 5 angular min |
Scanning angle | 70о |
Scanning speed | 18, 36, 72 lines/s |
Spectral band | 0.43-12.5 μm |
Temperature range | from 10° С to +40° С |
Power consumption | 27 V, 120 W |
Cooling agent | Liquid nitrogen |
The information acquired while imaging passes through pre-processing stage, where radiometric (impulse-noise filtering, brightness averaging and banding removal) and geometric correction is performed. The result is a mosaic image of scanned area, which is a basis for further thematic mapping of hydrocarbons induced anomalies.
Example of a scanned area stitched mosaic image
Thematic mapping comprises processing of multy-zone image to reveal areas with radiometric brightness similar to brightness on reference location with known hydrocarbons deposit presence or production underway. Information from different zones of spectrum makes different areas of anomalies distribution, although further spatial anomalies overlay makes possible to find out their intercrossing. Zones with maximum coinciding features are considered the most prospective for further surface geology exploration.
The result comes to client as an image of scanned terrain in GIS “Digitizer” with overlayed anomalies areas pertinent to hydrocarbons presence.
CPNT Cyprus remote explorationn technology and GIS “Digitizer” software components are protected by patents.
Computer program №2009616179
«Digitizer» software for multizone images visualization
Certificate of state registration of a computer program.
Computer program №2011615556
Software
«Digitizer-OIL»
Certificate of state registration of a computer program.