Earth Observing Application: Supporting Deepwater Oil and Gas Exploration and Production

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Earth Observing Application Supporting
Deepwater Oil and Gas Exploration and Production
A Day Without Space

• Steven P. Anderson, Ph.D.Chief ScientistHorizon
  Marine, Inc.

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Deepwater oil production expected to
doubleduring the next 5 years.
Northeast Atlantic
Canada
Gulf of Mexico
SE Asia
Venezuela
West Africa
NW Shelf
Brazil
Deepwater Development Regions
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Operational Use of Satellites

• Weather and ocean forecasting

currents
severe weather
wind
waves
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The Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)

• A system of systems that routinely and
  continuously provides data and information on the
  current state of the ocean from the global to
  local scale.
• Improve predictions of weather and the safety and
  efficiency of maritime operations.
• Improve national and homeland security.

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EDDY BRAZOS

• Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)
• a space-borne sensor located on the National
  Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  family of polar orbiting platforms (N-POES)
• The primary purpose of this instrument is to
  monitor clouds. However, it has proven useful for
  imaging the ocean surface during clear-sky
  conditions.

LOOP CURRENT
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3.5 KNOT CURRENT ON COLUMN AT INDEPENDENCE HUB
They (the photos) really do no justice to the
spectacle we are actually witnessing.
photo courtesy of the Anadarko
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How do we use satellites to track ocean currents?

• Remote Sensing Satellite imagery and altimetry
• Positioning Tracking of oceanographic buoys
• Data Telemetry from remote deepwater instruments

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Satellite Altimetry ? Ocean Currents
Courtesy of R. Leben CCAR-CU
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• Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)
• Clouds often block satellite imagery of the ocean
  surface

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OCEANOGRAPHIC DRIFTING BUOYS

• Over 2500 FHDs successfully deployed at sea since
  1983.
• Directly measure surface current drift.
• Real-time data telemetry through Service Argos
  and Globalstar.
• Positioning through GPS or Service Argos.

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Spray Glider Autonomous Underwater
Vehicle -Capable of surveying for 4
months -Profiles Temperature and Salinity
Courtesy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

• Iridium and Argos Satellite
• Data Telemetry
• Global Positioning System
• Space-based systems that enable this emerging
  technology.

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• Deepwater exploration and production of oil and
  gas is a complex endeavor that requires extensive
  planning and mitigation of risks to achieve
  success.
• Space-based assets provide indispensable
  environmental data and communications that aid in
  safe operations and planning.
• This is just one of many examples of how small
  businesses are creatively using space technology.
• The availability of NOAA and NASA remote sensing
  systems creates opportunities for value added
  products and services.

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A Day without Space

• Failures do occur at both the ground stations and
  on the platforms themselves.
• Like other companies, we utilize many different
  satellite systems for redundancy.
• If one or two systems are down for a few days, we
  can continue working but sometimes at a degraded
  level.
• If all space-based assets fail at the same time,
  we would not be able to conduct our business as
  we do today. However, our clients depend on
  satellites and they would have other immediate
  safety concerns.