Electromagnetic seabed logging (SBL) is a resistivity-based tool for more directly detecting the presence of oil and gas reservoirs in exploration prospects prior to drilling.
It is a valuable complement to the seismic method which can only (under certain circumstances) point indirectly to the presence of hydrocarbons.
Learning more about what a potential reservoir holds before deciding to start drilling reduces the uncertainty and cost of wildcatting and cuts the number of dry wells (dusters).
StatoilHydro invented SBL in the late 1990s and established a subsidiary company in February 2002 to commercialize the technique – ElectroMagnetic GeoServices (EMGS). Two years later EMGS was sold to the American investment fund Warburg Pincus.
StatoilHydro is probably in the forefront having originated the idea, aggressively acquired new datasets and developed advanced methodologies (modelling, depth imaging, inversion and visualization).
However, this statement has to be seen in light of SBL still being in its infancy.
Published 2007-09-30, 14:42 CET | Updated 2007-09-30, 15:05 CET
