The Application of GeoSAR Radar Mapping for Oil and Gas Exploration

Remote Sensing platforms continue to expand to increasingly larger Regional scales for oil field exploration, development and production applications. This paper presents the unique applications of the GeoSAR system, a dual-band, dual-sided interferometric synthetic aperture radar (IfSAR). GeoSAR provides solutions for imaging or mapping in triple canopy, rugged terrain in challenging frontier areas from equatorial regions to extreme high latitudes. The system operates on a Gulfstream II at an altitude of 36, 000ft, MSL, simultaneously and interferometrically collecting X- and P-band radar data in swaths 10-12 km wide on each side of the aircraft at a data rate of nearly 400 Mb per second. The antenna configuration allows four or more independent looks for most points on the ground in each frequency band. GeoSAR’s 3 cm wavelength, 3 m posted X-band (9630-9790 MHz) frequency scatters off vegetation and other first surfaces, providing excellent resolution for first-surface features and feature height. As a complement to X-band data, the 85 cm wavelength, 5 m posted P-band (270-430 MHz) frequency penetrates vegetation and scatters off substructure, showing surface features hidden beneath foliage. This paper will demonstrate how these capabilities allow for high accuracy DEMs and radar-based imagery where all other sensors are unable to operate effectively. Various products include thematic maps, topographic maps, and orthorectified imagery. Product examples will show how these data are used for geologic evaluation, to evaluate potential hazards related to flooding and watershed delineation, slope stability, pipeline route selection and infrastructure planning.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90142 © 2012 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, April 22-25, 2012, Long Beach, California