Oslo, March 27, 2017. Following the successful completion of recent offshore tests of the A3000 node, inApril is planning another project trial this summer. The trial will be carried out in cooperation with a major operator on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and will take place over legacy OBS data. In addition to recording high quality OBN data, we intend to further demonstrate the safety, integrity and the game changing efficiency of the Venator OBN system by deploying and retrieving the equipment at up to 6 knots’ speed, which translates into production rates of up to 20-25 sqkm/day for a large node spread.
Oslo, March 16, 2017. Tim comes to inApril with 35 years of experience managing Ocean Bottom Seismic (OBS) operations around the world and is known as a pioneer of the OBS method. Prior to joining inApril, Tim was Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ION Geophysical’s OBS subsidiary, OceanGeo. In addition to his position at OceanGeo, Tim worked at ION for thirteen years where he served in various roles including Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives where he was responsible for ION’s QHSE program, the R&D process, and corporate marketing. He spent ten years as President of the Seafloor Seismic Division at PGS and nearly twenty years managing OBS and land operations at GSI and HGS.
Oslo, February 28, 2017. Data from the first pilot project using inApril’s A3000 nodes has now been processed and is showing very good data quality (see image). The acquisition took place in shallow water and was efficiently completed without failure of any kind. Nav-merged SEG-Y was delivered within hours of survey completion.
Another small scale test has been carried out with a second potential customer and a third and full scale test is scheduled before summer to demonstrate inApril’s launch and recovery system at up to 6 knots deployment and recovery speed.
Oslo, February 1, 2017. inApril is pleased to announce the appointment of Ronny Bøhn as Chief Operating Officer (COO) effective today. Ronny comes to inApril after more than 15 years in the marine seismic industry, most recently as Vice President of Marine Operations in CGG, responsible for CGG Marine’s Global Operations and QHSE. Prior to CGG acquiring Fugro’s Geoscience Division in February 2013, Bøhn was part of the management team in Fugro-Geoteam from 2008, holding positions with QHSE/Operations, Sales & Marketing, General Management and P&L responsibilities.
inApril´s CEO, Vidar Hovland says, “We are delighted that Ronny is joining inApril. His excellent industry track record is highly relevant to inApril and will strengthen our management capability ahead of a period of commercialization and significant growth.”
Ronny Bøhn adds: “I am thrilled to be joining inApril at an exciting time in its development. inApril has truly developed a disruptive and innovative OBS system and has exceptional prospects for profitable growth. The ability to enter the market and deliver major systems on time and to budget is essential, and I am looking forward to bringing my experience to bear on these challenges.”
Oslo, Norway, December 7th, 2016 – inApril AS has entered into a close cooperation agreement with Profocus Systems AS, a Norwegian company developing recording software, data management, and real time quality Control systems for the high-end marine seismic acquisition industry. inApril has, as a part of the agreement, exclusively received the option to purchase 100% of the shares of Profocus Systems.
”Developing an even closer, and intentionally permanent relationship between our companies, is an important strategic milestone for both companies” said Vidar Hovland, CEO of inApril. ” Through this agreement, inApril secures access to a proven team of seismic software and firmware specialists that have played an integral part in our data management system development. Profocus will continue to focus on delivering solutions to marine seismic acquisition industry in addition to joining us in delivering disruptive technology for the new era of seabed seismic acquisition.”
November 27th, 2016. inApril last week successfully completed it’s first Venator pilot project for Geo Energy Group in the northern Caspian Sea. The vessel installation included nodes, onboard handling and Data Management. Concept Systems supplied the multi vessel navigation package. The pilot was a great success with no operational issues and demonstrated Venator’s great efficiency in shallow water and small vessel operations. The data will be processed by Geo Energy Group.
One of the leading global seismic industry publications has published a paper about the coming disruption of the marine seismic market – “Transforming ocean bottom seismic technology into an exploration tool” – download the linked article to understand the history, current implications and future of of Ocean Bottom Seisimic.
First Break November 2016 article
October 14, 2016
inApril works under strict ethical standards and will always before a sale inform customers of what we know when it comes to other’s IP and patents.
To reduce the risk of anyone, intentionally or unknowingly, trying to patent elements of our Venator solution or ways of operating, we actively use our web page and EAGE / SEG exhibitions to make these elements public. To learn more about our IP and patent policy visit https://www.inapril.com/ip-patent-policy/
Venator solution
The Nodes
The A3000 node is designed to meet the requirements for all types of nodal operations, whether for cable or ROV deployment. However, we also deliver nodes for special markets such as transition zones. Some of our nodes have electronics and sensors in separate pressure compartments.
As has been illustrated in all illustrations published by us, the node is slightly off center weight balance when attracted to the rope. This is to avoid the node from rotating around the rope during deployment and recovery. The imbalance works like a rudder and will stop the node from rotating.
Rope or Cable
Venator is currently designed for rope with a central core payload for the right buoyancy. However, replacing the node’s ‘rope latch’ mechanism may allow the use of other cables such as steel wire. Replacement can be carried out without the need to open up the node’s pressure compartments.
Venator does not use expensive rope termination joints – rope sections are joined together by means of conventional rope splices. This approach was taken because it adds no cost, is quicker to connect, provides a stronger solution and is more flexible in use.
Recording
The Venator nodes can operate in different recoding modes. These include:
- Recording starts as the onboard charging power is disconnected and continues until the charging power is connected again.
- Recording starts when the node has been steady on the seabed for a set time. The recording may also be programmed to stop again when the node detects that recovery has commenced.
- Recording starts after a fixed time from when the node has been deployed from the vessel. The recording may also be programmed to stop again when the node detects that recovery has commenced.
The nodes record and store an RMS value of all four channels at regular intervals in addition to an accumulated RMS. This is used for QC of the data in the data management system.
Data Management System
In addition to its normal task of taking care of the data from the nodes, the Venator data management system also performs the following tasks:
- Keeping track of locations and status of all nodes at all times.
- Selecting the sequence of nodes to be deployed and where the nodes shall be docked once recovered.
- Controlling the rope speed and node intervals/positions on the rope.
The Venator data management system is designed for ‘hands-free’ operations. The flow and processes are mostly automatic and the focus is on monitoring and QC.
Clock
Venator has all nodes connected with power, data communication and a clock synchronization signal at all times while onboard. This means that the clock will normally never be switched off, which again improves the stability of the clock significantly over time. The nodes do however have a ‘standby mode’ for longer storage (ex. Onshore storage).
Docking
A standard Venator system has sufficient docking positions/slots for all nodes. The nodes can dock in any docking slot. Venator uses a ‘crane’ to move nodes between docking slots. The ‘crane’ can carry two nodes at a time, is not linked to any carrier system and can only move nodes between different slots. Dummy docking-slots are used for pick-up and delivery of the nodes. Nodes are pushed or pulled in or out of the dummy docking-slot(s). The ‘crane’ moves nodes between a dummy slot and a ‘real’ slot. The sequence can be to move nodes via dedicated slots for clock sync/drift and/or data downloading before being moved to a parking slot. The parking slots have power, data communication and a clock sync pulse.
Positioning Transponder
The built-in transponder can operate in different modes to extend the battery endurance. These modes are, but limited to:
- Always powered as long as the onboard external charging power is disconnected.
- Powered from when the onboard charging power is disconnected (deployment) and until it has been stable on the seabed for a set time. The transponder power in this mode will normally be programmed to come on again if the node experience movements (typically, but not necessarily, recovery).
- In combination with point two above there are options to preprogram the power to come on at certain times or under certain conditions while on the seabed.
- In mode two and three above the power will remain on for a set time after the last interrogation from the vessel.
