Key points
- Shearwater worked with EMINENT partners over two years to acquire seismic data over Deep Insight Hill on the Mohns Ridge.
- In 2023, a passive seismic experiment using Shearwater’s Pearl seabed nodes ran over a week with Adepth Minerals, Seabed Solutions and DeepOcean.
- In 2024, an active seismic experiment with the University of Bergen combined a high resolution streamer with Pearl seabed nodes.
- Data from both surveys will help EMINENT evaluate methods for quantifying seafloor massive sulphide deposits, says Shearwater’s Svein Arne Frivik.
Seismic experiment with Pearl nodes tested on the seabed
Shearwater has, over the last two years, collaborated with different partners in EMINENT to acquire seismic data on top of Deep Insight Hill, a Seabed Massive Sulphide deposit (SMS) on the Mohn’s ridge. While identification of SMSs on the seafloor can be done with high-resolution bathymetry data, the real assessment /appraisal of such a deposit is only possible with a 3D description of the SMS versus its surrounding host rock.
Several measurement methods can be used to characterize the extent of the deposit, and seismic is one of them. In 2023 we conducted a passive seismic experiment and acquired data for more than a week, along with Adepth Minerals, Seabed Solutions and DeepOcean. The Shearwater Pearl nodes were used to acquire seismic data. In 2024, along with the University of Bergen, we conducted an active seismic experiment with both a high-resolution streamer and Pearl nodes on the seabed. Both datasets collected will be used by the EMINENT project to evaluate measurement methods and their suitability, and the technologies used to quantify SMS deposits.
“We see immense value in joint research collaborations like the EMINENT project, where our technologies and expertise in acquiring seismic data can help find new resources. Active participation and teamwork are creating new knowledge and understanding both in terms of technology, data acquisition and imaging of new resources. The EMINENT project is a key project for the mineral exploration business both for Norway and internationally. The EMINENT partners collaborate and work together to gain new insight into the deep ocean.” Svein Arne Frivik, Shearwater
Shearwater is a global marine geoscience and technology business.
