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Geologists In Norway Are Using Drones With Cameras To Hunt For Oil

Posted by Soulskill on from the just-like-the-us-army-in-iraq dept.

garymortimer writes "Geologists have long used seismology on the bottom of the ocean or have been throwing dynamite from snowmobiles when they look for oil. But now researchers at Centre for Integrated Petroleum Research, a joint venture between the University of Bergen and Uni Research, have found a new preferred method – using drones to map new oil reserves from the air. ... The group’s main task is to create digital maps in 3D of potential oil fields. Using laser scanners, infrared sensors and digital cameras, the researchers create realistic, virtual models. ... Pictures shot with the help of a drone complement the images from low-level terrain that the researchers already have in hand. The end result is more precise and complete 3D models."

44 comments

  1. Where's the proof? :) by tatman · · Score: 2

    I was hoping for link to an article that explained this in more detail.....

    --
    I've always said English was my second language. Had Romeo and Juliet been written in C, I might have understood it.
  2. This would work great in the Middle East. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    We could combine anti-terrorist drone strikes with seismological surveys and get a pretty decent map of the oil reserves. Win-win!

  3. Hunting for oil? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So, what do they shoot the oil with? A 7.62mm NATO?

    Or is it catch and release?

    1. Re:Hunting for oil? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Duh! They said "drones", so obviously it's Hellfire missiles.

  4. Re:Where's the proof? :) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I can't see how any of this relates directly to oil.

  5. Re:Where's the proof? :) by i+kan+reed · · Score: 1

    If they did, there's a good chance they'd be letting out trade secrets that other oil companies could use too.

  6. Nothing new by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I work for a geoscience company, this isn't new technology just a refinement or techniques already in use

    1. Re:Nothing new by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I work for a geoscience company, this isn't new technology just a refinement or techniques already in use

      Isn't that how it always works? Refine something, paste a new buzz-word to it, and Profit! ?

    2. Re: Nothing new by toastar · · Score: 1

      Are there companies offering grav/mag drones? I've had surveys delayed months due to the pilot being unavailable.

    3. Re:Nothing new by ColdWetDog · · Score: 1

      Yeah. Like Cessna 172s. I'm not sure why this is so different from flying around in a single engine prop plane - the kind you can rent for a couple of hundred per hour. Or buy for a small multiple of a drone cost. And it comes with a pilot so you don't have to worry (too much) about crashing.

      --
      Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  7. Dream job by Nidi62 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    throwing dynamite from snowmobiles when they look for oil

    Damn, I should have been a geologist.

    --
    The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
    1. Re:Dream job by jeffmeden · · Score: 1

      throwing dynamite from snowmobiles when they look for oil

      Damn, I should have been a geologist.

      "What's all that dynamite for?"

      "Who cares? it makes a real fucking cool boom..."

    2. Re:Dream job by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      throwing dynamite from snowmobiles when they look for oil

      Damn, I should have been a geologist.

      That's the infancy of seismic survey for you. Light a stick of dynamite. Mark the time and call that time zero. Throw the stick in the approximate direction of source. Then you read whatever was recorded and compare with detonation time and location. Crude, but cool. Not like the wimpy differentiated/corrected GPS we use for precision source positioning and timing nowadays.

    3. Re:Dream job by antdude · · Score: 1

      It's not too late. :)

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  8. Re:Where's the proof? :) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Hey, you don't need a link. You can't trust stuff on the Internet. Trust me.

  9. Re:Where's the proof? :) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No, no, I want to know who thinks drones _without_ cameras for doing anything would be a good idea. *boom*

  10. Fascinating link, thanks! by tocsy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Mediocre summary as usual, but TFA was really well written and interesting!

    1. Re:Fascinating link, thanks! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Very funny. It wasn't that impressive, but I think this is the link they forgot.

  11. Aerial mapping is not new ... by perpenso · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Aerial mapping is not new. The only thing that has changed is that the pilot is now remote. Is every instance of data acquisition from an aerial platform where the pilot becomes remote some sort of breaking news event?

    1. Re:Aerial mapping is not new ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Next, you can fly from city to city with giant _manned_ drones!

    2. Re:Aerial mapping is not new ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      '...with a drone.' is kind of like '...over the internet.'.

    3. Re:Aerial mapping is not new ... by garymortimer · · Score: 1

      Well, the mapping is getting smarter, cheaper and faster. The technology is not coming soon to the USA due to FAA and industrial military complex roadblocks. This is perfect for the rest of the world. As ever Europe leads the way in aviation.

  12. EXTRA!! EXTRA!! READ ALL ABOUT IT! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Pornographers shooting scenes from the air using DRONE technology!

    1. Re:EXTRA!! EXTRA!! READ ALL ABOUT IT! by tatman · · Score: 1

      We definitely need links to see this :)

      --
      I've always said English was my second language. Had Romeo and Juliet been written in C, I might have understood it.
  13. Why not just by LeadSongDog · · Score: 1

    program the drones to look for big red trucks with "Halliburton" signs?

    --
    Oh, I'm sorry sir, I thought you were referring to me, Mr. Wensleydale.
  14. Trust me by PPH · · Score: 1

    You walk into an AutoZone looking for a case of 10W50 with a lit stick of dynamite and the clerks will help you out pretty damn fast.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  15. Re:Where's the proof? :) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Trust the parent that you can trust stuff on the internet, but don't trust me.

  16. geophysicists not geologists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Geophysicists not geologists use siesmology data...this is a common misconception of people outside of the field. There is a big distinction between the two. Geologists look at the first 10 feet of rock...Geophysicists look at everything below that.

  17. Re:Where's the proof? :) by hurfy · · Score: 1

    When you hover your mouse over the map it says "oil"

  18. Don da da da da don, da da da da da don by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "throwing dynamite from snowmobiles," was that a Moore or Connery? I'm thinking Jaws was in it too so probably the former.

  19. The Radio by JBMcB · · Score: 1

    I have no problem with drones flying around uninhabited border areas looking for stuff. Fly 'em around the US national parks to look for poachers or campers in trouble, patrol the borders of Canada and Mexico, monitor oil pipelines - whatever.

    I have a major problem with them flying around inhabited areas. The RF spectrum is relatively clean out in the boonies. When you get into inhabited, and especially industrial areas, it gets downright vicious. You have high tension power lines, cell towers, microwave repeaters, industrial gear that dumps garbage all over the spectrum (plasma cutters, giant high-torque AC motors, arc welders) FM, AM and landmobile towers, weather and aviation radar - it's a nightmare. I don't want anything flying around that doesn't have a manual override over my house.

    --
    My Other Computer Is A Data General Nova III.
    1. Re:The Radio by anyanka · · Score: 1

      Norway's mostly uninhabited anyway, so it shouldn't be a problem in this case.

    2. Re:The Radio by mikael · · Score: 1

      Makes me want to see what the RF spectrum of a city would look like from street view levels - I'm imagining seeing all the buildings in X-rays and all the noise sources looking like sparklers reflected by the steel frames, walls and signs.

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  20. Re:Where's the proof? :) by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

    Obvious: GP works for BP.

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
  21. Re:Where's the proof? :) by OhSoLaMeow · · Score: 1

    When you hover your mouse over the map it says "oil"

    Only if you have "Tool Tips" enabled.

    --
    They can take my LifeAlert pendant when they pry it from my cold dead fingers.
  22. I wanted to be one - a geologist by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I wanted to be a geologist because i think rocks are cool.

    The program meant taking - almost majoring in all: chemistry, physics, math, earth science (geology).

    Good god! 15+ course hours of ALL lab science for 4 years!

    When physicians bitch about their training, I just smile to myself and think of the geologists.

    Please, a year of calculus, physics, chemistry, organic chem and biology to get into med school? That's it? And then to study what's basically sr. level science for a year or two and then learning to say "turn your head and cough"? Really?

    The AMA has done a great job of keeping mediocre science students employed and making a great living.

  23. Re:Where's the proof? :) by anyanka · · Score: 1

    I guess this is publicly funded research, so the results should be available. That being said, it's kind of refreshing to not even have the ability to RTFA.

  24. Drill baby drill by zmaragdus · · Score: 1

    Drone baby drone? Yeah yeah, it's Norway and not the US...

    --
    (((dB)))
  25. Re:Where's the proof? :) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Here a Google Translated link to an article with a video (English commentary) that explains the drone is cheaper than a helicopter.

    http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.cipr.uni.no/%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26hs%3DRMn%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=no&u=http://www.uib.no/aktuelt/nyheter/2013/04/med-droner-paa-oljejakt&usg=ALkJrhhAFqjt25NmQO0EFk7IwtE7mtXOjA

  26. Re:Where's the proof? :) by mikael · · Score: 1

    Advertising banners and messages ...

    --
    Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  27. LINK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    http://www.uib.no/news/nyheter/2013/05/the-drones-of-oil

  28. We have enough oil already by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We have already used up the easy oil, but we are still addicted to the stuff and have made no real attempt to break free from the stuff. If we stop subsidizing the exploration of it, maybe we will have to work on creating better ways to power cars and trucks that don't pollute and corrupt.

    And who are the real eco-terrorists...Exxon, Kock brothers, BP, OPEC, Halliburton, and the tar sands idiots.

  29. Re:Where's the proof? :) by omglolbah · · Score: 1

    http://www.uib.no/news/nyheter/2013/05/the-drones-of-oil

    There you go :)