EXPLORER - American Association of Petroleum Geologists

EXPLORERFavorable regulationsEXPLORATIONINNOVATIONSNorway Proves to Be Nice for UAV TechnologyBy LOUISE S. DURHAM, EXPLORER CorrespondentDrones, i.e. unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs), are not welcome justanywhere.Their reputation as stealth machinesperforming unwelcome activities tends toovershadow the good side of these roboticconveyances.Norway is among the countries withrelatively less stringent regulations regardingUAV flights.It’s home base for a group ofresearchers using some excitingapplications of varied cutting edgetechnology, including the drone.BUCKLEYThe Virtual Outcrop Geology (VOG)research group, based in the Centre forIntegrated Petroleum Research (CIPR)“We help improve knowledgeso that new and existing fieldscan be exploited to a higherpotential.”in Bergen, is drawing attention for itsinvolvement in using an array of geospatialtechnologies – including laser scanning,image processing and the UAV – to create3-D virtual models of outcrops of geologicformation.The UAV technology can take on asignificant role in acquiring needed data ininaccessible areas, which a drone often canreach much faster than a pricier helicopter“The virtual models of the outcrops canbe used by the geologists to gain a deeperunderstanding of geological features andtheir impact on subsurface reservoirs,” saidSimon Buckley, CIPR senior researcher andproject leader in the VOG group.The VOG group was formed in 2004with the goal to expand the quantitativeapplication of outcrops in reservoirs.“The main aim of the VOG techniqueis to obtain high resolution and accurategeometric information that can be used as aframework for interpretations,” he said.“Ultimately, we don’t do exploration,”Buckley emphasized. “We help improveknowledge so that new and existing fieldscan be exploited to a higher potential.”Precisely AccurateHe noted that over the past 10 years theVOG has acquired considerable expertiseusing 3-D laser scanning to scan surfaceswithin a centimeter of accuracy.“The main contribution is the highresolution and precision,” he noted. “Thisallows the geometry of geological featuresto be recorded and measured to anincreasingly high degree, which can then beused for reservoir modeling, for example.“In fact, a common use of the virtualoutcrop model is to digitize key surfacesthat are then exported to a reservoirmodeling system and used to buildgeocellular models.“Building geocellular models fromoutcrops creates a bridge between thesubsurface and the outcrop analog,”Buckley emphasized. “The modelsprovide an improved understanding of thestratigraphic architecture and can be usedto simulate fluid flow in the analog.“They also can provide a focal point fortraining and field trips,” he added.Assets and Challenges18 NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.AAPG.ORGThe specially designed, camera-equippeddrone piloted by the research team featureseight rotors displayed on spokes emanatingfrom the central body. The accoutermentmeasures only a few feet across and tips thescales at just a few pounds.It affords a stable platform for the camerasensors, being easily and quickly guidedinto position over the target area whilecontrolled by an operator nearby on theground.“UAVs are proliferating rapidly intomany applications,” Buckley said. “We sawthe advancements in both the platformtechnology and the processing methodshad reached the point where we couldadapt them into our existing workflows.“Advantages of the UAV are that itprovides optimum camera positions for takingimages, is fast to use and is cost-effective inrelation to lidar equipment,” he noted.“Challenges are perhaps mostlyrelated to logistics and operation,” hesaid. “User training is required, weatherconditions must be suitable (