Shearwater, Equinor to Develop Seismic Tech

Shearwater GeoServices Holding AS will collaborate with Equinor to develop next-generation marine seismic source technology for more efficient and environmentally friendly data collection.

“This collaboration targets an untapped potential of seismic sources with the goal of delivering better quality seismic data faster than current source technology,” said Irene Waage Basili, CEO of Shearwater GeoServices. “We aim to bring about a step-change in productivity by completing surveys faster and reducing the overall cost and external impact of marine seismic acquisition.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Shearwater will accelerate the development of its marine vibratory source technology. Marine vibrator sources provide total control of the emitted wavefield, which is fundamentally different to existing source technology. The non-impulsive nature of this type of source technology will bring environmental benefits, especially in sensitive, difficult to reach areas and extreme climates.

The development is supported by the Research Council of Norway.

“This new collaboration offers a great opportunity to develop an efficient source with less sound impact on the environment. The project is a good fit in our Sustainable Seismic Solutions research portfolio,” said Klaas Verwer, Vice President, Exploration Technologies Research, Equinor.

Shearwater will have the exclusive rights to market the system, and Equinor will have initial, preferential access to the technology.

(Image: Shearwater GeoServices)