US Sensor Systems has developed a small, ultra-reliable fibre-optic geophone sensor for oilfield seismic exploration and production.
The all-optical multi-directional sensor is designed to replace the traditional magnetic coil geophones used by the oil industry for the last 50 years.
It can provide a clearer picture of untapped underground oil or gas than traditional sensors and has been developed in response to the need for high-performance sensors for permanent four-dimensional monitoring.
Dr Bjorn Paulsson, a prominent oilfield geophysicist and chief executive officer of Paulsson Inc, said the sensor is the best solution he has seen.
"For over ten years, the US Department of Energy, every major oil company, and all of the oilfield service companies have been looking for a small, reliable, low cost sensing system for permanent surface and downhole monitoring applications," he commented.
US Sensor Systems designs and manufactures fibre-optic sensing systems for the energy and defense markets.