Abstract:
A method correlates satellite image data with data taken from multiple upward-looking sonars moored on the sea floor. The correlation of this information facilitates the prediction of ice thickness in later seasons using synthetic aperture radiation only, thus allowing for the assessment of threats to oil exploration, production or completion facilities located in the Arctic Ocean.
Abstract:
Satellite geodesy can identify fault-related surface deformation above onshore oil and gas fields through the use of radar interferometry (InSAR). The method provides an independent and cost-effective approach to identifying faults and damage zones that can be associated with increased reservoir performance beyond traditional tools of subsurface imaging and reservoir evaluation.
Abstract:
An embodiment of a method for processing synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image data includes acquiring a multi-polarization SAR image of a terrestrial region, pre-processing the SAR image to remove or reduce radiometric and geometric errors, and separating the SAR image into a plurality of channels, each channel representing an image associated with a different polarization mode. The method also includes calculating a characteristic of the region for each polarization channel, acquiring ground data and estimating the characteristic of the region based on the ground data, estimating a correlation of the calculated characteristic for each polarization channel with the estimated characteristic based on the ground data, selecting one or more polarization channels having a correlation exceeding a selected value, and generating a SAR image including only the selected polarization channels based on the comparison.
Abstract:
A method deploys an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) configured to sense a property of an ice floe includes defining a sector of an ocean region having a potential for an ice floe where the sector has a first predicted path selected from a first plurality of predicted paths as determined by a first probability function. The method also includes placing a docking station for the UUV at a location in the sector where the location is determined to intersect with the first predicted path. The method further includes sending instructions having an estimated location of the ice floe to the UUV at the docking station instructing the UUV to sail to a second predicted path that is selected from a second plurality of predicted paths that are determined by a second probability function using the estimated location.
Abstract:
A method for estimating a total thickness of sea ice floating in sea water having a sea water level includes obtaining a set of surface topographic data points of the sea ice representing elevation of those surface topographic data points with reference to a sea water level using a surface topography acquisition system, and estimating, using a processor, the total thickness of the sea ice above and below the sea water level using the elevation of each of the points.