Heli-seismic operations — Canadian style

Published in Vertical magazine, December 2004/January 2005
Article and photos by Dave Lowery

While helicopter operators will remember the summer of 2004 because of the lack of fires in most of Canada, those that specialized in seismic operations were able to keep themselves busy in Western and Northern Canada. And, with the price of oil remaining at over US$50 a barrel, their fortunes can only get better.

Utilizing helicopters for seismic oil and gas exploration is not a new concept. What is new, though, is the long-awaited, comprehensive buy-in from the oil and gas industry, and the understanding that utilizing helicopters to transport crews, portable drills, power units, and delicate geophones will offer more protection to our environment. This move toward helicopters may be due in part to the fact that seismic operations have changed dramatically in the past 10 years — largely due to environmental concerns and the need for increased efficiency. Although, the process itself has remained essentially the same. During seismic exploration, ground crews lay out lines of receivers called geophones. Mechanical vibrations, or dynamite explosions, along the surface create seismic waves that are reflected back from rock layers, and recorded by the geophones. The resulting three dimensional seismographs are then read by geologists to determine where gas or oil reserves may lie. As large, heavy power units and air hammer drills are required to create the thousands of 20-meter (66-foot) deep holes, not to mention the high explosive depth charge that go into each hole, one can see that the helicopter can be most advantageous in quickly and efficiently moving people, equipment, and supplies to remote sites that have no roads.

Eliminating traditional environmental damage

With oil and gas prices continually breaking all-time highs, energy companies are beginning to realize that the potential return on their investment justifies helicopter assistance in seismic exploration. Interestingly, helicopters are also better for the environment, as they support low-impact seismic (LIS) methods. LIS is now predominantly used in Canada, and exclusively used when park and protected areas are being explored. LIS dictates that the space cut for seismic lines is limited to one-and-ahalf meters, and that damage to surrounding trees must be avoided whenever possible. Combined with portable, self-contained inertial navigation systems, LIS has greatly minimized the related impact on the environment.

One company that is quickly becoming an industry-leader in heli-portable seismic operations, is Skyline Helicopters Ltd. Rob Gallagher, Skyline's systems safety manager and 212 training pilot, shares the proven belief that using helicopters in seismic exploration, despite their fairly expensive up-front operating costs, improves safety and helps protect the environment. Said Gallagher: "When we work for companies such as Shell, we have specific guidelines we must follow. First, it's obvious that we want to do no harm to our crews, but, second, and equally important, we cannot harm the environment."

Skyline works exclusively with Bertram Drilling Corporation, who is contracted by energy companies for seismic exploration. Together, the two companies, "...have taken extensive measures to ensure that their operating policies keep in line with the oil industry's high environmental standards," explained Gallagher.

To read the full feature, please purchase the December/January issue of Vertical magazine available at newsstands or by ordering your copy on line at www.verticalmag.com.

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