Fosar Deep: Deepwater Permanent Reservoir Monitoring Using Fibre Optic Seismic Arrays

There is a compelling need to increase oil and gas-field reserves recovery, particularly in areas such as the UK continental shelf (UKCS) where many fields are approaching or have passed peak production. Techniques such as permanent seismic reservoir monitoring (PRM) have been successfully applied in fields such as Valhall (Norwegian North Sea), and Clair (UK North Sea). Such techniques have been estimated to increase reserves recovery by between 3% and 6% and hence are of enormous potential value. The International Energy Agency estimates that applying technology such as permanent reservoir monitoring to enhance recovery from existing oil reserves and technically challenging fields could contribute more than 20 million barrels of oil per day (bpd) by 2030. Such monitoring techniques are becoming established for fields in relatively shallow water depths (below 200m) and where topside facilities are available in close proximity to the field. There is however a technology gap for deeper water and more remote fields where high drilling and recovery costs make PRM even more attractive. FosarDeep is focussed on development of a deepwater fibre-optic PRM system and associated installation methodology. The FosarDeep project extends the range of applicability of the Fosar technology (previously the subject of Technology Programme funding under project H0299E) to deeper water fields in the UKCS and other oilfield provinces, as well as to fields remote from a host.