GeoGloball Yakutia
GeoGlobAll Surveys Yakutia's Frozen Taiga with INOVA's G3i Recording System
G3i Overcomes Siberia's Harshest Subzero Temperatures Unscathed – The GeoGlobAll Group, a leading oilfield service provider in Russia, has been exploring the Russian republic of Yakutia for many decades. In 2012, OJSC YakutskGeofizika (YGF), a wholly owned subsidiary of GeoGlobAll, was awarded a contract to perform several 2D seismic surveys near the Arctic Circle. They needed a new acquisition system that was highly reliable, easily deployable and consumes minimal power to reduce battery changeouts. In Yakutia, temperatures below -50°C (-58°F) are common during the winter months, which makes the need for rugged and weatherized acquisition equipment essential. With temperatures this extreme, minimizing the time the crew was exposed to the elements was a priority during the seismic operatio
| Segment | Land Seismic Acquisition |
|---|---|
| Region | Yakutia, Russia |
| Technologies | |
| Related Products | G3i® NXT |
The Challenge
When conducting acquisition programs in harsh operating environments, E&P companies and geophysical contractors need reliable seismic technology that enables greater field productivity and crew efficiency. This is critical in regions where ambient temperatures are especially severe— extremely cold or hot—conditions which can significantly impact equipment performance, field operations and data integrity.
The GeoGlobAll Group, a leading oilfield service provider in Russia, has been exploring the Russian republic of Yakutia for many decades. In 2012, OJSC YakutskGeofizika (YGF), a wholly owned subsidiary of GeoGlobAll, was awarded a contract to perform several 2D seismic surveys near the Arctic Circle. They needed a new acquisition system that was highly reliable, easily deployable and consumes minimal power to reduce battery changeouts. In Yakutia, temperatures below -50°C (-58°F) are common during the winter months, which makes the need for rugged and weatherized acquisition equipment essential. With temperatures this extreme, minimizing the time the crew was exposed to the elements was a priority during the seismic operation.
As a long-standing customer of INOVA Geophysical, GeoGlobAll has a close working relationship with INOVA's sales and support personnel. Their strong partnership has resulted in the successful completion of many seismic acquisition projects in Russia using INOVA's systems. Before purchasing any new recording technology, GeoGlobAll wanted to evaluate INOVA's G3i system first hand. INOVA arranged for experts from GeoGlobAll and OJSC YakutskGeofizika to visit China and verify G3i operations in the field. After witnessing G3i's performance, they acknowledged its unprecedented reliability, operational flexibility and superior acquisition capabilities. For their upcoming 2D projects, they selected the flexible G3i cable-based recording system, analog geophones and Yenisei KEM-4 impulse energy source.
Crews kept warm in the recording truck and monitored real-time data using G3i's intuitive software.
The Solution
INOVA's G3i system would be the first system of its kind in the Russian Federation and CIS region. G3i's protective enclosure, low power consumption and power-down-the-line functionality made it the optimal choice for these 2D surveys. In November 2012, INOVA delivered 600 G3i channels, cables and a central station to GeoGlobAll/OJSC YakutskGeofizika. An INOVA technical specialist trained select OJSC YakutskGeofizika operators on the G3i system at the expedition’s base of operations—located in the town of Mirny, Yakutia. The students rated this training with high marks, as it gave them hands-on knowledge to operate the system safely and efficiently. Afterward, they were able to apply their knowledge and gain confidence during the deployment of the initial test line while working closely with INOVA’s field service engineers.
After months of meticulous planning, the first 2D survey began on November 20, 2012. This project was an important opportunity for GeoGlobAll so the Director General, the Technical Director and General Director of OJSC YGF observed the G3i system in person. During deployment, the crew took full advantage of G3i's lightweight design and integrated connectors to easily manage cable connections and quickly escape the arctic temperatures. Because of the 2D survey's shooting schedule, the stations were deployed and recovered daily using conventional field trucks, as well as snowmobiles. The crew said they were impressed with many of G3i's features especially its reliable and easy-to-deploy design.
OJSC YakutskGeofizika personnel endured many challenges in the region and successfully completed the 2D surveys.
The Results
The crew utilized the G3i system in two separate projects over the course of 145 days, from November 2012 to March 2013. Both projects achieved up to two hundred shots per day. And while these numbers may seem low, GeoGlobAll and OJSC YakutskGeofizika were extremely satisfied with the results of the 2D survey, given the harsh weather conditions of Yakutia.
INOVA's G3i system was considered a success on these projects for several reasons. The system operated with high stability beyond its technical specifications at ambient temperatures of -45°C (-49°F), and never had to be restarted. G3i is engineered to consume low power even in the extreme cold. The power management feature extended the operating life of batteries and allowed the stations to run up to three days without having to change the battery. The crew also valued the compactness, reliability and portability of the G3i system compared to other recording systems. Furthermore, G3i's user-friendly software enabled the crew to monitor real-time data and greatly improve their operational efficiency during the seismic operation. Based on the successful completion of the projects and its results, GeoGlobAll plans to purchase additional G3i stations for conducting more complex surveys within Russia.
