Development and Application of a Global Offshore Oil Seeps Database Using Satellite Radar Data

Offshore oil seep detection using satellite Radar is an increasingly established method used to assist in the reduction of exploration risk in frontier basins or for re-evaluating previously explored areas. The presence of seepage slicks implies that an active source is present and that there are also leaking traps within the basin. Over the last 20 years a global database of offshore seeps has been developed consisting of ~14,000 potential seepage slicks and over 17,500 Radar scenes. Seep information is most useful when integrated with other geochemical and geophysical datasets. Seepage can be intermittent and drift caused by currents and local weather conditions can make sampling slicks for geochemical analysis difficult. Near-real time methods have been developed for guided geochemical slick sampling.