E!115080 - SubcID™ Offshore oil and gas exploration by DNA-biomarkers, seismic data and ocean-bottom nodes deployed in swarms

iDROP a/s had with the SubcID(TM) project to develop- and test equipment and a system methodology for autonomous collection of seabed samples, and together with project partner Biodentify (NL) map and analyze DNA biomarkers from the sediments. The markers will form the basis for a database and data set that can be used to compare future samples and thus predict whether it is highly probable that there are oil or gas deposits in the ground beneath the test area. Any test-samples will be processed by Biodentify post-test and not affect the success criteria for the physical sampling with the autonomous drop-node Oceanid™. iDROP's contribution to the project is to introduce and further develop the autonomous drop-node Oceanid™ as a sensor carrier, which will dramatically streamline the collection of such seabed samples, quickly and without the use of extensive resources in terms of personnel and materials. The starting point is a vessel that only uses gravity as propulsion, and therefore constitutes a minimal environmental impact. In addition, the proposed collection system, including mechanically taking a sample of seabed sediments, would be operated passively, without the use of an air cannon or other surface source, to determine whether there are hydrocarbons in the area where they have been collected and seabed samples analysed. The method could potentially be combined with active seismic acquisition and or other types of data acquisition on the seabed or in the water column above. The goal is to be able to collect several hundred samples per day, and thus be able to cover a large geographical area, regardless of the distance between sensors and thus the density of the samples.

Prosjektet har avdekket et stort potensiale i å benytte autonom teknologi, med et begrenset støtteapparat på overflaten, for effektivt å innhente fysiske sjøbunns prøver, og med dette et uavdekket potensiale i å skalere metoden opp til å dekke store havbunns arealer. Metode og mekanisme for å innhente unike prøver av sedimentene er utbedret slik at denne også kan benyttes til å plante sensorer ned i sjøbunnen for andre typer og/eller komplementære målinger. Prøvetaker utstyret vil også kunne modifiseres til å ta prøver av i vannsøylen, enten på vei ned fra havoverflaten eller opp fra sjøbunnen.

This Eurostars proposal will develop, test and qualify a novel hydrocarbon exploration method for deep waters. This will be achieved by combining an novel concept and efficient drop-nodes for seismic data acquisition with seabed soil sampling and DNA-fingerprinting. These new methods will be based on the combined results of individual Dutch and Norwegian EU-H2020 funded research under the EASME scheme. The conolidated methods will be innovative and cost-effective compared to currently used surface deployed drop-core method. Field pilot test(s) offshore Norway are envisaged in collaboration with oil companies. These tests will be used to calibrate and qualify the new methods and tools, as well as to provide new types of comparable data sets that may be used for future oil and gas exploration. Three main challenges is addressed during this research project - the autonomous swarm technology based on the drop-node Oceanid, the mechanical sampling method and the DNA-analysis of the seabed soil samples.