(WO) — As Australia embraces renewable energy, optimising existing gas fields remains critical to meeting rising global energy demand. Technological advances, particularly in enhanced gas recovery (EGR) processes, are making field optimisation projects more viable across the country.
Design of seismic surveys for the Galilee gas project
Despite this potential, these projects face challenges such as high costs, technical complexity, environmental regulations and safety risks.
“Although Australia’s onshore fields are significantly smaller compared to offshore basins, they still hold significant potential for the domestic and international gas market,” said Cameron Grant, Chief Commercial Officer at STRYDE. “Overcoming the challenges associated with EGR techniques requires financial prudence, careful planning, technical expertise and effective risk management to ensure the success and sustainability of enhanced gas recovery projects.”
To address these issues, seismic data technology has emerged as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution. Recent advances enable high-resolution subsurface imagery with minimal environmental impact. Brendon Mitchell, Managing Director of Oceania Geo, highlights the benefits of using high-quality seismic data to improve production optimization. “Pad3D, our new offering, quickly delivers drill-ready subsurface imagery, helping to make informed drilling decisions while minimizing environmental impact,” explains Mitchell.
The STRYDE node, a compact and cost-effective seismic sensor, is at the heart of this technology. It is designed for use in various terrain environments and enables rapid surveys with minimal ground disturbance. This approach improves the accuracy of subsurface images and improves the efficiency of field optimization, especially under complex operating conditions.
Pad3D was recently piloted for Galilee Energy in collaboration with STRYDE and Earth Signal Processing. The pilot demonstrated the feasibility of small-footprint 3D seismic surveys at lower cost and with less environmental impact. The project, which focused on structural and stratigraphic safety, was completed in seven days with a small crew and without incident. The technology enabled dense seismic coverage and rapid data processing.
Mitchell concludes: “The success of the Galilee Energy pilot demonstrates the effectiveness of STRYDE nodes in maximizing hydrocarbon recovery. This solution not only benefits oil and gas production, but also opens up new opportunities in the renewable energy sector, including mining and geothermal projects.”
