ADNOC and Total innovate seismic acquisition with unmanned drones and vehicle

This pilot project, performed with Total’s Multiphysics Exploration Technology Integrated System (METIS®), uses autonomous drones and a ground vehicle to drop off and retrieve seismic sensors without human intervention, therefore at a lower cost. It will be deployed throughout the emirate of Abu Dhabi, to contribute to onshore exploration and appraisal campaigns — a first in the region.

Following successful trials of METIS® conducted by Total end 2017 in Papua New Guinea, this new pilot project will be undertaken by ADNOC Onshore to test the versatility and upscaling ability of the system in a 36 sq. km desert environment. The seismic sensors will be dropped by six autonomous aerial drones and later be retrieved by an unmanned ground vehicle — whereas they are conventionally manually deployed and recovered by ground based teams.