Satellite Imagery for Monitoring Offshore Oil and Gas Infrastructure

John Amos – SkyTruthShepherdstown, WV

November 2006

Slick Detection

• Radar satellite images a proven method for slick detection over large areas

• Demonstrated for both human-caused and natural oil slicks– Routinely used as offshore exploration tool– Routinely used for offshore pollution

monitoring (UK, Norway, Canada)

Gulf of Mexico: Unoiled water (top) and schematic diagram showing good backscatter of incident radar energy.

Active seep area in same region (bottom) with thin layer of floating oil. Note flattening of capillary waves. Schematic diagram illustrates poor backscatter from slick.

Floating beer cans for scale. Wind speed 11 knots.

SOURCE: MacDonald et al., AAPG Memoir 66, 1996

Slick Detection

Natural Seeps

Slicks formed above natural seafloor oil seeps, GoM

10 km

Prestige sinking off NW SpainNovember 17, 2002

Prestige sinking off NW Spain, Nov. 2002

RADARSAT image of oil slick (red highlight), South Pass.

Pipeline rupture followed hurricane in October 1998.

Pipeline Leak

Hurricane Katrina – August 28, 2005

Hurricane Rita – September 23, 2005

Gulf Monitoring (proposed)

RADARSAT-1 Image Collection Modes

ScanSAR-Narrow acquisition program (4 scenes)

Gulf Monitoring (proposed)

Gulf Monitoring (proposed)

Wide-mode acquisition program (4 scenes)

• Could use existing CSTARS facility– Based at Univ. of Miami– Currently used to monitor vessel traffic in

Caribbean Basin– Can cover entire Gulf of Mexico Basin

• Current research at Texas A&M to automate oil slick detection and mapping (Dr. Ian MacDonald)

• Planned radar satellites will have improved capability to estimate volume

Gulf Monitoring (proposed)

• Products– GIS-compatible digital files of map-rectified

RADARSAT imagery– GIS database of detected slicks– GIS database of known natural seeps, shipping

lanes, pipelines, platforms– Internet-distributed alerts– Google Earth-style public interface

• Program Cost: $350 - $450K Annually

Gulf Monitoring (proposed)

• Ancillary Applications– Severe storm follow-up– Monitoring ship traffic in sensitive areas

(Flower Garden Banks marine sanctuary) – Monitoring discharge from drilling and

production platforms, LOOP– Monitoring bilge discharge from ships– Detecting and tracking strong eddy

currents shed from Gulf Stream

Gulf Monitoring (proposed)