en.Wedoany.com Reported - Petrobras has completed the first phase qualification of a new four-dimensional (4D) seismic acquisition technology at the Mero field in the pre-salt Santos Basin, offshore Brazil. The On-Demand Ocean Bottom Node (OD OBN) system was jointly developed by Petrobras' research and innovation center Cenpes, in collaboration with Shell, Sonardyne, and Senai Cimatec.
During the first phase qualification, Senai Cimatec and Sonardyne successfully deployed 84 OD OBN units on the seabed at a depth of approximately 2,000 meters. Valter Beal, Innovation Project Leader at Senai Cimatec, stated that the deployment of the first 84 units represents a significant step for the project and product commercialization, reflecting the maturity achieved in technology development, and the team continues to advance toward the next phase.
The technology aims to support reservoir management through 4D seismic acquisition, monitoring fluid behavior within the reservoir. The OD OBNs act as sensors that capture seismic waves reflected from the reservoir. After processing by supercomputers, the data is used to adjust production rates and strategies for water and gas injection to stimulate well output. The core distinction of this technology lies in its ability to operate continuously on the seabed for up to five years at depths of 3,000 meters, with remote activation and deactivation capabilities, while data retrieval is achieved through wireless optical communication with underwater vehicles.
This qualification marks a milestone in eight years of technology development, encompassing conceptual design, prototype manufacturing, laboratory testing, and over 2,000 days of deepwater trials. During deployment, some units also underwent verification tests for data transmission using laser-based optical communication.
Manoela Lopes, Technology and Innovation Director at Shell Brazil, noted that the initial deployment of OD OBN at the Mero field represents a key step toward creating tangible value with this technology. Subsequent phases of seismic acquisition, data retrieval, and interpretation will be conducted over the coming months to evaluate system performance and its potential to support reservoir management.
Lílian Barreto, Executive Manager at Cenpes, stated that this is the first time Brazil has developed a technology capable of enabling seismic monitoring in pre-salt fields, demonstrating that collaboration between companies and research institutions can drive industrial development in the country.
Sonardyne provided underwater acoustic and optical communication technology, enabling wireless control and data retrieval of the nodes in deep water, and jointly with Senai Cimatec, was responsible for manufacturing the pilot OD OBN system in Brazil. Shaun Dunn, Project Director at Sonardyne, believes the successful deployment of the system is a strong validation of the technology and collaborative R&D, and looks forward to the full commercialization and manufacturing of OD OBN in Brazil.
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